2012 NFL season: Tennessee Titans’ QB Matt Hasselbeck faces challenge from Jake Locker as starter
It would be very difficult for Tennessee Titans’ quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck, to have peace of mind at the starting position, in presence of a challenge from Titans' backup QB, Jake Locker, also competing for the starting role in the next National Football
League (NFL) season.
Hasselbeck might get excused for hearing these sorts of threats since Locker's first appearance at the starting line, but he must realise that Locker is well capable of doing so.
It is only a matter of chance that he proves himself worthy of getting the starting role once again as he has already done it before.
As a matter of fact, Locker, during one of his appearances in the starting line, in absence of Hasselbeck, performed so superbly that Titans started giving a second thought to the plan, regarding who they should put as the leader of their attack line.
Lucky for Hasselbeck, he was left for the starting role for that season at least.
He might not enjoy that easy ride this year.
A number of NFL commentators, including Titans’ coach, Mike Munchak, have seen Locker rising very steadily, and strongly challenging Hasselbeck upfront as the leader.
Now, other teammates too foresee it coming in the next season.
Titans’ tight end, Jared Cook, said of the situation:
"I think Matt has a little bit of upside, but I think Jake's got heart, Jake knows what he wants. When you know what you want, sometimes you're going to get it. So I think it's going to be a good competition."
Still, he believes:
"People have been asking me this whole offseason (who the starter will be) I've been telling them it's going to be a good competition. Both guys are good quarterbacks."
Unfortunately, Hasselbeck has been on and off around the uncertainty of his position as the starter since arriving in Tennessee, in July 2011.
Recently, he went through a difficult situation when Titans, all of a sudden, expressed interest in signing former Indianapolis Colts’ QB, Peyton Manning.
At one point, the player admittedly thought of requesting the management for his release but it did not take the team much time to settle down with Hasselbeck and Locker to be their future’s QBs, since Manning opted against signing with Titans.
Titans’ owner, Bud Adams, also admitted that Hasselbeck and Locker were put in a difficult position by the team’s interest in Peyton.
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