Titans GM Jon Robinson backs QB Ryan Tannehill

The last time NFL fans saw Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill in action, he was crashing and burning as the AFC's top-seeded playoff team fell at home to the now-Super-Bowl-bound Cincinnati Bengals 19-16. Tannehill was dreadful in that postseason defeat and completed 15-of-24 passes for 220 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. and 

Head coach Mike Vrabel said after that setback he felt "disappointed" but not "discouraged." 

While speaking at the Senior Bowl on Tuesday, Titans general manager Jon Robinson defended Tannehill. 

"I think Ryan is a leader, I think Ryan is tough, I think Ryan has made a lot of great plays for us," Robinson explained, according to Jim Wyatt of the club's website. "He is our quarterback. I don't know that there is a quarterback who stands in the pocket and looks down the barrel of a blitz and throws the ball as good as he does. I know he works extremely hard, loves his teammates, is competitive. He's played a lot of good football.

"To have a micro-evaluation over one game is not fair to any player. I think you have to look at the scope of the body of work, and what he has done for this football team since he has been here."

As Mike Moraitis noted for Titans Wire, the dead cap and salary-cap hits attached to Tannehill's contract likely mean he'll stay atop Tennessee's depth chart through at least the 2022 season, for better or for worse. 

Titans offensive coordinator Todd Downing received a vote of confidence from Vrabel last week.