Ken Whisenhunt was a wanted man this January, pursued by both the Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns before he decided to accept a coaching job with the Tennessee Titans.
- Whisenhunt built an immediate rapport with general manager Ruston Webster. As Rapoport was told, they're two Southerners who feel like they've known each other for years.
- The coach also appreciated the lack of hoopla surrounding the Titans job, an under-the-radar opening without the huge expectations of the Lions' gig. The Detroit role came with built-in pressure to rattle off double-digit-win seasons and make the playoffs immediately. Tennessee lined up as a place to more patiently build a team.
- The city of Nashville, planted in the low-key South, was a big pull. As former Titans coach Jeff Fisher used to say about Nashville, the only thing he had to worry about -- instead of rush-hour traffic -- was not hitting a deer on his way to work.
- All three teams floated similar money, Rapoport was told. While the Browns didn't make an official "offer," Cleveland let it be known that a deal could be worked out.
- New Titans owner Tommy Smith was aggressive in pursuing Whisenhunt, which impressed the coach. Detroit's ownership is typically more detached. Smith made it a point to promise Whisenhunt that the club would do whatever required to be successful. In turn, Whiz and Smith clicked right away.
- Detroit's looming salary-cap issues also played a role. With three players -- Ndamukong Suh, Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson -- swallowing up such a large percentage of the payroll, building a deeper team would take considerable work with the Lions.
We previewed Championship Sunday and sat down with Rams star Robert Quinn in the latest "Around The League Podcast."
