In preparation for his participation in last night’s Pro Bowl, veteran DE Kyle Vanden Bosch informed the media about his belief regarding his days as a Tennessee Titan coming to end. KVB, who will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, has not been approached with an offer to stay and he’s preparing to extend his career in another NFL city in 2010. Is letting KVB depart via the waters of free agency a good or bad decision by the Titans?
The rags-to-riches story of the emergence of Vanden Bosch from an injury-prone player to one of the game’s better defensive ends has been a pleasure to watch over the last several years. The Titans’ version of the energizer bunny due to his relentless motor, KVB resuscitated a career that was headed nowhere in the Arizona desert by accumulating double-digit sacks total in two of his first three years in Nashville.
Unfortunately, the dreaded injury bug reared its ugly head in 2008 as KVB was limited to only 4.5 sacks while suiting up in only 10 games. In 2009, despite being rewarded with a trip to Miami’s Pro Bowl, Kyle did not have one of his trademark stellar seasons, ending up with only 3 QB takedowns in 16 games.
Due to the decline in production from KVB and the team’s other veteran DE Jevon Kearse, who is also headed out the door, the Titans appear to be in a state of transition at the DE position. With youngsters Jacob Ford and William Hayes stepping up and according to mock drafters, the real possibility of adding a first-round talent at DE, the Titans are in the midst of a youth movement at the position.
As for KVB, he’ll undoubtedly have a suitor or two in free agency. Don’t be shocked if he ends up in Detroit with former Titan defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, who could use the presence of a veteran guy with a winning attitude in the losing climate of Motown.
So what do you think, guys? To let or not let KVB go: that is the question.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
