Michael Griffin, Safety For The Tennessee Titans, Cut From The Team


Michael Griffin, ??safety for the Tennessee Titans?, apparently knew this day was coming and was mentally prepared for it. Griffin has been cut from the Titans Tuesday, reports NBC Sports. Griffin himself revealed the news in a tweet, saying, “I knew one day my time would come and I cherished every minute of it.”

Mike Mularkey, Tennessee Titans head coach, recently released a statement in a press release, commenting on Michael Griffin’s leave. “I want to thank Griff for his time here with the organization,” Mularkey said. “He was a leader who showed up to work every day in an effort to get better, and I appreciated his effort both on and off the field for this team. He touched a lot of people in this community and in our organization. I want to wish him the best, and I hope he will always be remembered as a great Titan.”

Michael Griffin, Safety For The Tennessee Titans, Cut From The Team
Michael Griffin, No. 33 of the Tennessee Titans intercepts the ball. [Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images]
It seems that Michael Griffin being cut from the Tennessee Titans has nothing to do with his performance, but everything to do with trying to save money. According to NFL Trade Rumors, $6.5 million has just been freed up in cap space by cutting the 31-year-old Austin, Texas, native from the team. Michael Griffin, now a free agent, had a five-year contract with the Tennessee Titans, worth $35 million with a guaranteed $15 million included, as well. Griffin was set to make $6.5 million in 2016, but now that money has been saved, with $1.8 million in dead money.

“We would like to thank Michael for all of his efforts and impact on the Titans during his nine seasons with our franchise,” Titans General Manager Jon Robinson said Tuesday. “Michael’s reputation around the NFL is as a very durable player who always gives his best both on and off the field. His passion for the game of football, dating back to his college days at Texas, is also well-known, and we wish him all the best moving forward.”

Michael Griffin, during his nine-year NFL career with the Tennessee Titans, has gotten a total of 25 interceptions, became the fifth player in Titans history to get 900 career tackles and Griffin is the highest ranking-safety among those on that list. In his rookie season in 2007, Griffin was drafted with the 19th pick by the Tennessee Titans. In 2015, Griffin’s ninth season, the NFL player recorded 101 tackles, 3 pass deflections, 1 sack, and 1 interception.

Michael Griffin, Safety For The Tennessee Titans, Cut From The Team
[Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images]
In high school, Michael played running back and defensive back, averaging 23.4 yards per catch in his last two seasons, rushed for 2,127 yards and 25 touchdowns. While attending the University of Texas in Austin in 2003, Griffin began his college football career for the Texas Longhorns with a recorded 65 tackles, two sacks, and three forced fumbles, all during his freshman year. In 2004, he played 12 games scoring 49 tackles, blocked two punts, and got one sack. During his junior season in 2005, Griffin recorded 124 tackles, three interceptions, and three fumble recoveries. It seems that Michael got better and better with each passing year, with 238 tackles, five fumble recoveries, and five caused fumbles, four interceptions, three sacks, and six blocked punts.

“I tell people all the time: You never know when your last game may be. (Sunday) might possibly be my last game here, I don’t know,'” Michael Griffin said. “When you don’t know the ‘what ifs?’ you don’t know your future and you have to put it in God’s hands. He knows the future, and I am just going to go along with it.”

Greg Auman and Bleacher Report‘s Ian Wharton seem to suggest that Michael Griffin could play for Florida.

[Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images]

Share this article: Michael Griffin, Safety For The Tennessee Titans, Cut From The Team
More from Inquisitr