NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Amid the Titans’ dysfunction, Mike Borgonzi brought the calm reassurance expected from a new GM at his introductory press conference.
He brings great credentials and promise. He said a lot of smart things. But he acknowledged his new franchise for what it is: a three-win football team with plenty of work ahead.
So as we sort through his early message, I’d say, be slow to jump on the “Borgonzi Scheme,” add “Let Borgo Bake” to your Twitter profile or to print up “Let’s Go with Borgo” T-shirts.
He’s got a good resume, he’s been in a cabinet of quality decision makers for the best team in the league in Kansas City and that’s all encouraging. But the Titans’ decisions recently have been predominantly bad. Let’s take the wait and see approach and award the gold stars as things are proven and they are earned, not in advance.
Onto some of what he said, which we may revisit in bigger fashion soon.
On organizational impatience considering recent firings:
Borgonzi: “I know the urgency to win in this league, no matter where you are. We’re going to be disciplined in what we do. We’re not going to make rash decisions to try to improve the roster in ways we don’t think it should happen. Like I said, we’ll supplement in free agency. But we want to build through the draft. We need to build that core foundation of players, really to change the culture. That takes a little bit of time.”
I think we’re likely to see more players added like Sebastian Joseph-Day. He was a solid, role-playing starter, but the Titans weren’t looking for a star in him the way they were with L’Jarius Sneed (actually a trade) or Lloyd Cushenberry. Those were not unreasonable moves considering the holes and money the Titans had. But they had a big class of expensive players.
We’re more likely to see one big fish (Trey Smith?) and more pieces like Joseph-Day.
Borgonzi talked about filling role players and good locker room guys. He cited tight end Anthony Fasano (later a Titan) and defensive end Mike DeVito who the team signed coming off a 2-14 season in 2012. They helped a turnaround to 11-5.
On draft-and-develop strategy:
Brinker said: “[We] can’t pass on a generational talent and we won’t do that” with the No. 1 p[ick in the draft. But he also said he’d love for the franchise to have 30 picks in the next three years with 12 of them in the top 100.
The Titans have nine picks this draft, with only two in the top 100, No. 1 and No. 35.
Over the next three drafts, they currently have 23 picks with eight in the top 100.
“It’s possible to do that,” Borgonzi said. “We just have to have discipline in the draft as we’re going through the process. Draft picks are our biggest form of currency. So when there are opportunities to trade back and collect more picks, we’re going to do that. That’s always the goal, to get as many picks in the top 100 as you can.”
On quarterback:
“Every quarterback is different,” Borgonzi said. “In terms of development and what they need. And that’s the important part for us to figure out in the spring. …We’re keeping an open mind on this. The quarterback is the most important position, arguably in sports. You have to solidify the quarterback position.
"We’re going to turn over every rock. Whether that’s free agency, draft or we have quarterbacks on the roster here, Will [Levis] will give him every opportunity to play and compete. But we’re going to attack this thing. We’re going to be relentless attacking it until we find an answer.”
Among the free agents, guys expected to come free and guys in the draft, there is no clear answer.
Figuring out with Brian Callahan who the right guy to steer the offense is, at least for the short term, and maybe for the long term is the biggest question. If they don’t use the No. 1 pick to answer that question, then it’s the co-biggest question along with what they do with that pick.
Borgonzi was part of the Chiefs when they found Patrick Mahomes in the first round, and came up with the plan to sit him for a year behind Alex Smith. He was also there for four years of Matt Cassel and five of Smith.
The structure conversation:
Borgonzi spoke of titles being insignificant in Kansas City and the Chiefs working together to find the right people for their organization. That sounds great and it works well for a winning franchise that does it well in one cycle and wins and builds on it. The Titans are not doing that and we ultimately want to know who to hold to account for decisions.
People may disagree with the setup, but it’s time to put the conversation about it to rest. Borgonzi is running the draft meetings and the free agent strategy and Brinker hired him to do so. But Brinker is his boss. He has the power to break ties but has no intention of being some sort of overload.
That’s it. If we’re ultimately looking to blame – or praise – well, Brinker is the one allowing or preventing things from happening. But Borgonzi will be setting everything in motion. It’s not as neat and tidy as we may want. But that’s it.
“We’re all ready for the challenge,” Brinker said. “We’re all in this together.”
For those in the media still expressing confusion, refer them to the above and if they go on and on, find something else to read or a good pod to listen to.
I feel like Brinker’s got some insulation.
Brian Callahan is next in line to be fired by Amy Adams Strunk – he’s closest to the results and his fingerprints are most on the three-win season. Then, Borgonzi is running the football side as the team’s primary football executive. Even with “final say,” Brinker can point to the new GM as next in line for blame if things fail, saying he allowed his man to make decisions.
He strongly disagreed with that premise.
"I would disagree with that wholeheartedly," he said. "I mean, I'm out front like no other right now. I was involved in leading this search, which led to Mike Borgonzi. I think it's been very clear from the beginning what Amy (Adams Strunk) said, I'm ultimately responsible for all football matters."
On Amy Adams Strunk’s continued refusal to talk:
I asked if -- as the team tries to sell PSLs -- she's not a front-runner. Tailgates when times are good, now delegates speaking responsibilities to Burke Nihill and Brinker. She'd accept the Lombardi Trophy and talk if the Titans won a title but is AWOL now in bad times. https://t.co/0pqPMDx0GP
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) January 22, 2025