When Titans' Jeffery Simmons learned that rookie Cam Ward is 'legit'

A story that went viral during the Tennessee Titans' spring workouts involved rookie quarterback Cam Ward head-butting veteran defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons after the two exchanged trash talk on the practice field. 

During Thursday's edition of NFL Network's "Good Morning Football," Simmons addressed that particular moment. 

"It was after a play, we stopped him, and I think I ended up getting a sack," Simmons explained, NFL.com's Nick Shook shared. "All of a sudden, we're talking smack and [head coach Brian Callahan] is giving [Ward] the dang play and I'm still talking smack to him, I'm jawing because that's my game — I want to talk smack, I want to get in your head. It didn't faze him. He's still talking smack while [Callahan's] getting the play to him. He's giving the play to the offense, still talking smack to me. When they gave him that play and came to the line, the next play after the smack talk, he threw an 80-yard bomb to Calvin Ridley. So, that right there showed me we got us one. He's legit."

Most expect that Callahan will soon name Ward, the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, as Tennessee's Week 1 starting quarterback against the Denver Broncos over 2023 second-round choice Will Levis. Callahan seems to want Ward to spend at least a portion of the summer "earning" the gig. That process may include observing how the first-year pro performs in the Titans' preseason opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Aug. 9. 

The perception existed throughout the first four months of 2025 that Ward was the best player in a particularly weak quarterback draft class. As of Thursday afternoon, DraftKings Sportsbook had Ward second among the betting favorites at +350 odds to claim the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award for the upcoming season. Las Vegas Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty topped the list at +250 odds. 

Simmons has seen such takes and doesn't appreciate people sleeping on his quarterback. 

"I've never seen the No. 1 pick overall never get the respect and, quite frankly, the attention that he deserves," Simmons added during his comments about Ward. "...I think where we're at right now with him not getting enough praise, who is not known as a No. 1 pick overall or don't get the attention and the praise that he deserve. But I think that's a chip on his shoulder. You could tell by the way he goes about his business — his swagger, his demeanor — this gonna be one of the ones that I'm excited to see. I'm excited to get back to camp next week to be more around him and learn a little more about him."

Rookie and veteran Tennessee players are due to report to camp on July 22. Perhaps Ward will have some new trash-talk for Simmons and other teammates once practices resume next week.