Jeffery Simmons strong-arming Titans as contract negotiations start

Former Simmons teammate A.J. Brown took a similar approach during his contract negotiations last offseason before ultimately being traded to the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Simmons, who is set to earn $10.753 million next season under his fifth-year option, ranked second on the Titans last season with 53 pressures and 7.5 sacks en route to his second straight Second Team All-Pro and Pro Bowl selections. He also totaled a team-high 38 hurries, nine tackles for loss, seven QB hits, seven passes defensed and 54 tackles.

Simmons recently told the Titans official website at the Pro Bowl that he had a good initial conversation with new Titans GM Ran Carthon and that the former first-round pick was optimistic about reaching an extension.

“We had a great talk, and him saying I am one of his priorities, that meant a lot,” Simmons said. “I feel like he is the person for this job. There’s not much I can say especially with talk of the contract — my (agent) is handling that. But whenever we get to that point — I feel very confident that I’ll be here in Tennessee, and I want to be in Tennessee. So, we’ll see how that goes.”