Despite Social Media Exit and Contract Negotiations, Jeffery Simmons Set to Participate in Titans’ Fan Event
NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans are hosting a fan event that allows season ticker holders to pick their seats for the season and during this event star Jeffery Simmons will appear. Simmons is expected to sign autographs for fans, but his presence at the event could calm the concerns of fans worried about losing the talented defensive lineman.
Jeffery Simmons caught the fanbase off-guard earlier this week when he scrubbed his social media of connections to the Titans before ultimately deleting his Instagram and Twitter accounts. While some will roll their eyes at this being news, the reality is this is a modern tactic used by professional athletes during contract negotiations.
You also have to factor in the lingering feelings Titans’ fans have from the AJ Brown departure. Seeing such a talent leave Tennessee to have success elsewhere has fans even more on edge about seeing it happen again with Simmons. Simmons is basically the defensive equivalent to what Brown provided the Titans’ offense.
Simmons is set to enter his fifth year in the NFL and as it stands, will play on his fifth-year option worth just over $10 million. Playing on that option is not a smart business move for Simmons. Simmons is one of the best defensive players in the NFL and will command a salary in the range of $20-25 million when he eventually gets paid. After dealing with an ankle injury at the end of the season in 2022, his health has to be on his mind as well.
So, whether it be his monetary value or his health, Simmons would be wise to use these reasons to force the Titans to pony up before the season begins. Simmons could wait to see what defensive line contracts get done around the NFL in the coming months to use as more ammo in negotiations, but the Titans would be wise to avoid that as the price for Simmons would only go up as a result.
Does Simmons attendance at this fan event mean he is a lock to come back to the Titans on an extension? No, but as a fan you would have to feel at least a tiny bit better about the chances considering he is still willing to participate in these type of organizational activities.
Even if it makes folks feel a little bit better, the anxiety won’t subside fully until Simmons’ new deal is announced and his time with the Titans is certain to continue past this season.
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