Titans GM Ran Carthon Talks Difficulties and Joys of Roster Cutdown Day

The Tennessee Titans made massive cuts this week as they prepare for the regular season to start and with that comes the personal triumphs and disappointments of the players affected. Something that is not lost on Titans' general manager Ran Carthon.

The Tennessee Titans cut their roster down to 53 players this week and several players lost not only a job, but their dream. While some may find work with other teams, for some, it could be the end of the road and for others who make the team, it could be the realization of a lifetime's worth of work.

The individual impact on each player is something Titans' general manager Ran Carthon takes very seriously. As a former player in the NFL who did not have a long career, Carthon is ideally suited to understand what both sides of cutdown day can be like.

He spoke with media prior to Thursday's practice and outlined how he approaches both things — delivering the news of the cuts and confirming the roster spot for some hopefuls. Carthon spoke about the tough part first.

"You got to understand, a lot of these guys, this is their first time being told no," Carthon explained, "from any level of ball. It's tough to deliver that news. It should never be easy and I think if it ever gets easy then I need to check myself. But we try to do it in a way, to bring a human approach."

"Again, that's why we lead with gratitude. Thanking them for the work that they put in here. It never gets easy and I think these young men, they know kind of where it is, but it's the honesty and transparency that we share with them as to the why they didn't make it and where we see them. When it's time, this is a revolving door and some of these guys could very well end up being back here at some point."

The cuts do have to be difficult to make, but it wasn't all doom and gloom for the new general manager. The Titans also took the opportunity to congratulate some of the players who may have been seen as less likely to make the team earlier in the summer.

Carthon spoke about that side of the experience as well.

"It was a good gesture," Carthon said about informing players early they made the team. "These guys have worked their tail off and as a former player having been through it and feeling like you made the initial roster and then only to come into a meeting and find out that there's still 20 more cuts to be made, kind of drops your heart. I understood, wherever these guys would be, wherever, they're at the hotel or just trying to find something to do around town to pass the time. We thought it would be a cool gesture and we brought a few of those (young) guys in."

"We started every moment with every guy with gratitude. Showing our appreciation for the work that they did, the time and the sacrifices they put in here. Kind of just phrased like 'hey you know your situation is a little different today, we just want to inform you that you made the 53,' but with that came instructions on how to stay on the 53. We wanted to share those moments."

Cutdown day comes with good and bad as Carthon knows all too well, but seeing him be able to handle it with compassion and grace in his first run as general manager is a great sign. Titans fans can only hope that level of care is used when assembling the roster behind the scenes.

Titans Roster Related Stories

• TITANS TRADE FOR FOLK: The Tennessee Titans will reportedly be adding kicker Nick Folk after making a trade with the Patriots on Tuesday. CLICK HERE
• FIVE UDFA ROOKIES ON 53: The Tennessee Titans have given a roster spot to five undrafted rookies in Caleb Murphy, Anthony Kendall, Matthew Jackson, Otis Reese Jr. and Kearis Jackson according to multiple reports. CLICK HERE
• TITANS ROSTER SET: The Tennessee Titans have set their initial 53-man roster for the regular season as they prepare for Week 1. CLICK HERE
• TITANS CLAIM VILDOR: The Tennessee Titans made their first move after setting their initial roster on Tuesday when they claimed former Bears cornerback Kindle Vildor off waivers on Wednesday. CLICK HERE