Rookie receivers traditionally have one of the toughest transitions to life in the NFL, topped only it seems by quarterbacks. With that in mind, it seems pretty clear that Kenny Britt, the Titans' first round pick, will not start the season as a key part of the team's offense.That will be Justin Gage and Nate Washington's job, and even they will have to fight for attention with tight ends Alge Crumpler and Bo Scaife snagging a lot of the move the chains stuff. Britt's job appears to be to sit back, study the playbook and be ready to step in either later this year or next year, once he's acclimated to the NFL game.
"Kenny can come in, relax and learn the offense," receivers coach Fred Graves said. "And at some point and time, learn what his role is."That doesn't sound like a whole lot of pressure for a first-round pick. But that's why the Titans signed Washington as a free agent--he can come in and be expected to take some pressure off of Gage, who was the team's only reliable wideout last year. Britt will likely be battling for the No. 3 job. With Washington and Gage established as the starters, Tennessee won't just give Britt the job, which is a sign of improvement. Last year with Justin McCareins starting at one wideout spot, Tennessee may have had no choice but to start a prominent rookie if they would have had one on the roster. Britt will get pushed at a much more realistic pace.
