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Waiting game
Former University of Oklahoma quarterback Paul Thompson (with ball) works out with the Tennessee Titans under the watchful eye of ex-Texas Longhorns star Vince Young (right). Courtesy
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published:
5/12/2008 2:05 AM
Last Modified: 5/12/2008 4:31 AM
Third-string Titans QB deals with job uncertainty
When he patiently waited as a quarterback at the University of Oklahoma, Paul Thompson knew deep down his time would come.
That's not the case any more.
Thompson, a third-string quarterback with the Tennessee Titans, knows he can be cut loose at any moment.
"It's completely different. I'm not just saying that from my eyes. That's what I've heard from a lot of different people," Thompson, 24, said in a recent telephone interview. "A lot of stuff doesn't make sense all the time. That's the business side of it, the money side of it. You see it all the time, guys who were great athletes and great players that are released due to contracts or money."
Thompson, of course, doesn't have tenure or anything else to stand on. After leading OU to the 2006 Big 12 championship, he signed a preseason contract with Green Bay, but was released after the first game. He spent the 2007 season working for a Norman radio station, an Oklahoma City-area home health care company and visiting various NFL teams for tryouts.
Tennessee — the first team that worked him out last year, he said — signed him to a two-year contract in January.
"We're excited about getting him in the offseason program and getting him going," Titans head coach Jeff Fisher said at the NFL combine in February.
Vince Young is the Titans' starting quarterback, and Kerry Collins is his backup.
But Thompson was encouraged when Tennessee in a bit of a rebuild with Mike Heimerdinger replacing Norm Chow as offensive coordinator didn't use a draft choice on a quarterback.
Thompson's chances of sticking around in the fall?
"I think they're good," he said. "In this business, you really never know what they're looking for, what they want. I've said many times, there are a lot of people that have played that I'm better than, and there are some that are obviously better than me. So it just depends on getting in the right position or where the team feels they can use you.
"And obviously there's the business side of it, so money's involved. That has a lot to do with who's kept and who's not as well. I'm going to give it all I've got and do all I can to make myself a better athlete and a better person, and what they do is what they do. I can't really control that. I can control what I do."
Fisher said he was eager to get the offseason program started and see what Young and the rest of the Tennessee offense can accomplish under Heimerdinger. The team had two OTAs — organized team activities, or spring practices — in March and two more at the end of April.
As for Thompson, Fisher said he would be "working very closely with (quarterbacks coach Craig) Johnson, and we'll see what he can do."
Thompson said under Johnson he's learned many "little things that I hadn't ever thought about or been coached up on," and has "really improved where the ball comes out in my release."
At OU, Thompson came out of redshirt late in 2002 as a freshman, then spent 2003 as a backup.
He redshirted 2004 he was the emergency backup for Jason White as OU marched to the national championship game for a second consecutive year.
In 2005, he won the starting job in a close battle with Rhett Bomar, but was moved to wide receiver after a dismal opening performance.
Then just before practice began in 2006, Bomar was kicked off the team for NCAA violations and coach Bob Stoops asked Thompson to return to quarterback.
That season, Thompson completed almost 61 percent of his passes for 2,667 yards with 22 touchdowns and 11 interceptions, one of the best statistical seasons in school history. His highlight was a third-and-10 completion from the 1-yard line that jumpstarted a 99-yard touchdown drive against Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game.
But those days, as enjoyable as they were, are far behind Thompson now.
"It's not like you're going to class and you get up and you pretty much are there for four or five years, or you know that once the guy in front of you leaves, you're kind of next in line. It's not that kind of progression," Thompson said. "With free agency and things like that, you can be a 3 or 2 your entire career.
"It's completely different from college. Once you're on the team and playing football, you're playing football. But all that other stuff that goes with it, that's the whole business side of it, which a lot of people don't enjoy too much."
John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
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comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Mack Brown
, Austin (5/12/2008 9:49:36 AM)
Paul is a nice kid, but look for him to be cut after training camp. Does not have what it takes............
Report Comment
fed up
, (5/12/2008 3:11:51 PM)
Thought that you would like to see what the dumbos are trying to do in Washington . Especially the "Speaker of the House".
Windfall Tax on Retirement Income
Adding a tax to your retirement is simply another way of saying to the American people, you're so darn stupid that we're going to keep doing this until we drain every cent from you. That's what the Speaker of the House is saying. Read below...............
Nancy Pelosi wants a Windfall Tax on Retirement Income.. In other words tax what you have made by investing toward your retirement. This woman is a nut case! You aren't going to believe this.
Madam speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to put a Windfall Tax on all stock market profits (including Retirement fund, 401K and Mutual Funds! Alas, it is true - all to help the 12 Million Illegal Immigrants and other unemployed Minorities!
This woman is frightening.
She quotes..." We need to work toward the goal of equalizing income, (didn't Marx say something like this), in our country and at the same time limiting the amount the rich can invest." ( I am not rich, are you)
When asked how these new tax dollars would be spent, she replied:
"We need to raise the standard of living of our poor, unemployed and minorities. For example, we have an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in our country who need our help along w with millions of unemployed minorities. Stock market windfall profits taxes could go a long way to guarantee these people the standard of living they would like to have as 'Americans'." (Read that quote again and again and let it sink in. Lower your retirement, give it to others who have not worked as you have for it.
Report Comment
Marlin
, (5/12/2008 8:33:47 PM)
fed up.......what's your thoughts about Abortion within the NFL?
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