NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—The Tennessee Titans will be returning their
starting offensive line intact after left guard Leroy Harris(notes) signed Saturday.

Harris’ agent, Hadley Engelhard, confirmed Saturday that the left guard
agreed on a two-year deal. The Titans had wanted to bring the 6-foot-3,
303-pound guard back because of his versatility to play both center and guard.
Harris started all of 2010 for Tennessee at left guard.

Coach Mike Munchak said after practice he knows the other coaches will be
happy to have Harris back, even though he won’t be able to practice with the
Titans until Thursday when veterans freshly signed can finally work with the
team.

“That would’ve been a big problem if we didn’t get him signed,” Munchak
said.

The Titans had a practice Saturday morning indoors with no helmets that was
closed to reporters and another practice with helmets outside in the afternoon.
The Titans held receiver Kenny Britt(notes) out of the afternoon session, and Munchak
said they are trying to be careful with players who have a history of hamstring
injuries like Britt.

REPORT DATE: July 29th

SITE: Baptist Sports Park, Nashville, TN

CAMP OBJECTIVES: Change is the central theme in Tennessee, where the Titans
will have both a different head coach and quarterback to guide them into the
2011 season. Battle-tested vet Matt Hasselbeck takes over as the new leader of
the offense, and the free-agent signing of the longtime Seattle field general
serves the dual purpose of allowing the team to rid itself of malcontent Vince
Young and bring the franchise’s signal-caller of the future, rookie Jake
Locker, along at its own pace. While Locker still figures to see plenty of
preseason action, one youngster who may be immediately thrown into the fire is
fourth-round pick Colin McCarthy, a candidate to start at middle linebacker if
the Titans can’t retain free agent Stephen Tulloch. A defensive line that won’t
have leading sacker Jason Babin back is a spot to monitor as well, particularly
in 2010 first-rounder Derrick Morgan’s recovery from a torn ACL the promising
pass-rusher suffered in October. There’s also a budding crisis Mike Munchak’s
got on his hands on the eve of his first camp, with Pro Bowl running back Chris
Johnson set to stage a potentially prolonged holdout due to a contract dispute.
His expected absence will give the team an extended window to evaluate third-
year man Javon Ringer and rookie Jamie Harper, the two players vying to be
Johnson’s backup.

PRESEASON SCHEDULE (All Times Eastern):

Aug. 13 – vs. Minnesota, 8 p.m.
Aug. 20 – at St. Louis, 8 p.m.
Aug. 27 – vs. Chicago, 8 p.m.
Sep. 1 – at New Orleans, 8 p.m.

©2011 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans have reached a deal with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, according to a person familiar with the agreement.

Hasselbeck spent the past 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, and the Titans are hoping he can bring stability to the position and work with rookie Jake Locker, the No. 8 overall draft pick.

Veteran Kerry Collins retired three weeks ago, the Titans plan to trade or release Vince Young before training camp opens Friday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. ESPN.com first reported the agreement, which was reached Wednesday morning.

Free agents aren’t allowed to sign contracts until Friday, and terms of Hasselbeck’s agreement were not immediately available.

“I think it’s a good move,” Titans wide receiver Damien Williams said Wednesday. “Obviously, we’ve got a bunch of young guys with Jake and Rusty (Smith) and they’re not quite acclimated. We’ve got a brand new system, so to bring in a veteran that knows how to adapt quickly I think that’s a good move. Those guys can have someone to learn from.”

The Seahawks reached a deal Tuesday with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, a clear sign they were moving on without Hasselbeck. Back in January, coach Pete Carroll pronounced that re-signing Hasselbeck was Seattle’s No. 1 priority, but the two sides could not reach an agreement before the 4 1/2-month NFL lockout.

During the 2010 season, the 35-year-old Hasselbeck played in 14 games, throwing for 3,001 yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing 59.9 per cent of his passes. Originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 draft, the three-time Pro Bowl selection has 29,579 yards passing, 176 touchdowns and 128 interceptions while completing 60.1 per cent of his passes in 12 seasons.

Hasselbeck comes to Tennessee already familiar with Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt, who worked in the Seahawks’ front office before joining the Titans in 2007, and Locker, who played for the Washington Huskies.

“From college to the NFL is a big adjustment,” tight end Jared Cook said. “To have somebody to learn under, especially somebody as experienced as Matt Hasselback, I think is going to benefit all our quarterbacks.”

In the post-lockout rush to complete rosters, the Titans needed to sign nine draft picks, including Locker, work to keep some of their own free agents and possibly add a veteran defensive tackle, linebacker and safety. They agreed to terms with 14 undrafted rookies Tuesday.

The challenges don’t end with signing players, either. The start of training camp will mark the first time players get to work out with coach Mike Munchak and a staff of new assistants.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP)—The Tennessee Titans have reached a deal with
quarterback Matt Hasselbeck(notes), according to a person familiar with the agreement.

Hasselbeck spent the past 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, and the
Titans are hoping he can bring stability to the position and work with rookie
Jake Locker(notes), the No. 8 overall draft pick.

Veteran Kerry Collins(notes) retired three weeks ago, the Titans plan to trade or
release Vince Young(notes) before training camp opens Friday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because
the deal had not been announced. ESPN.com first reported the agreement, which
was reached Wednesday morning.

Free agents aren’t allowed to sign contracts until Friday, and terms of
Hasselbeck’s agreement were not immediately available.

“I think it’s a good move,” Titans wide receiver Damien Williams said
Wednesday. “Obviously, we’ve got a bunch of young guys with Jake and Rusty
(Smith) and they’re not quite acclimated. We’ve got a brand new system, so to
bring in a veteran that knows how to adapt quickly I think that’s a good move.
Those guys can have someone to learn from.”

The Seahawks reached a deal Tuesday with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson(notes), a
clear sign they were moving on without Hasselbeck. Back in January, coach Pete
Carroll pronounced that re-signing Hasselbeck was Seattle’s No. 1 priority, but
the two sides could not reach an agreement before the 4 1/2 -month NFL lockout.

During the 2010 season, the 35-year-old Hasselbeck played in 14 games,
throwing for 3,001 yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing
59.9 percent of his passes. Originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the
sixth round of the 1998 draft, the three-time Pro Bowl selection has 29,579
yards passing, 176 touchdowns and 128 interceptions while completing 60.1
percent of his passes in 12 seasons.

Hasselbeck comes to Tennessee already familiar with Titans general manager
Mike Reinfeldt, who worked in the Seahawks’ front office before joining the
Titans in 2007, and Locker, who played for the Washington Huskies.

“From college to the NFL is a big adjustment,” tight end Jared Cook(notes) said.
“To have somebody to learn under, especially somebody as experienced as Matt
Hasselback, I think is going to benefit all our quarterbacks.”

In the post-lockout rush to complete rosters, the Titans needed to sign nine
draft picks, including Locker, work to keep some of their own free agents and
possibly add a veteran defensive tackle, linebacker and safety. They agreed to
terms with 14 undrafted rookies Tuesday.

The challenges don’t end with signing players, either. The start of training
camp will mark the first time players get to work out with coach Mike Munchak
and a staff of new assistants.

Nashville, Tn – The Tennessee Titans have reached a deal with quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, according to a person familiar with the agreement.

Hasselbeck spent the past 10 seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, and the Titans are hoping he can bring stability to the position and work with rookie Jake Locker, the No. 8 overall draft pick.

Veteran Kerry Collins retired three weeks ago, the Titans plan to trade or release Vince Young before training camp opens Friday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. ESPN.com first reported the agreement, which was reached Wednesday morning.

Free agents aren’t allowed to sign contracts until Friday, and terms of Hasselbeck’s agreement were not immediately available.

The Seahawks reached a deal Tuesday with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, a clear sign they were moving on without Hasselbeck. Back in January, coach Pete Carroll pronounced that re-signing Hasselbeck was Seattle’s No. 1 priority, but the two sides could not reach an agreement before the 4 1/2-month NFL lockout.

During the 2010 season, the 35-year-old Hasselbeck played in 14 games, throwing for 3,001 yards, 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions while completing 59.9 percent of his passes. Originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 draft, the three-time Pro Bowl selection has 29,579 yards passing, 176 touchdowns and 128 interceptions while completing 60.1 percent of his passes in 12 seasons.

Hasselbeck comes to Tennessee already familiar with Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt, who worked in the Seahawks’ front office before joining the Titans in 2007, and Locker, who played for the Washington Huskies.

In the post-lockout rush to complete rosters, the Titans needed to sign nine draft picks, including Locker, work to keep some of their own free agents and possibly add a veteran defensive tackle, linebacker and safety. They agreed to terms with 14 undrafted rookies Tuesday.

The challenges don’t end with signing players, either. The start of training camp will mark the first time players get to work out with coach Mike Munchak and a staff of new assistants.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)