Titans coach Robert Saleh’s seed oil removal initiative receives brutal ‘gimmick’ take from NFL insider

John Frascella calls Robert Saleh’s Tennessee Titans seed-oil move a gimmick

John Frascella on X ripped Robert Saleh’s seed-oil initiative with the Tennessee Titans after the coach discussed the change.

Frascella wrote: “I’m sorry, this is a gimmick… this is why I couldn’t stand Robert Saleh with the Jets… show us your TACTICAL advantages ON THE FIELD…”

He added, “No one cares about eliminating seed oil and you running up and down the stairs for the cameras before the game… if the Seahawks or Rams eliminate seed oil, then let me know, maybe it’ll mean something.”

The reaction came after Saleh said one of the first things Tennessee did after his arrival was remove seed oils from the building.

Saleh also praised the Titans’ nutrition staff, saying the food operation inside the facility was among the best he had seen across his NFL stops.

Robert Saleh must make Tennessee Titans nutrition talk matter through football results

The pushback exists because Saleh’s reputation is still shaped by his Jets tenure, where strong defensive credentials never turned into enough winning.

Saleh was fired by New York after a 20-36 record across three-plus seasons, which made some critics less patient with any off-field messaging that sounds like branding instead of football substance.

In Tennessee, the seed-oil move can be viewed as part of a broader attempt to modernize the team’s performance environment rather than a standalone solution. The problem is that the Titans hired Saleh to fix football first, and that is where Frascella’s criticism lands.

Removing seed oils may help some players feel better about nutrition, routine, and recovery, but it will not matter publicly if Tennessee still lacks sharper game plans, better quarterback development, and stronger weekly execution.

Saleh now has a fresh chance to rebuild his head-coaching image with the Titans. The facility changes may support that effort, but the only convincing answer to the “gimmick” label will come on Sundays.