Lost in the Brian Daboll revenge narrative is that he won’t be the only familiar face the New York Giants see in Week 3.
Several former Giants players, most notably leading receiver Wan’Dale Robinson, followed Daboll to the Titans this offseason.
Clearly, Daboll and the Titans felt strongly about ex-Giants tight end Daniel Bellinger, signing him to a three-year, $24 million deal.
Even a one-year, $8 million contract would have felt like an overpay for Bellinger, who has developed into a fine blocking tight end but is a limited receiver.
The Titans’ decision to invest heavily in Bellinger, guaranteeing him over $14 million, clearly left a bad taste in ESPN NFL analyst Bill Barnwell’s mouth.
Barnwell recently ripped Tennessee for committing over $41 million to Bellinger, backup quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, and former Giants center Austin Schlottmann.
“How confident can the Titans really be that these players are going to be significantly better than replacement-level players who would have cost something closer to the league minimum?” Barnwell wrote.
The Giants absolutely made the right move letting Daniel Bellinger leave
We must note that the issue with Bellinger isn’t simply that he’s a blocking tight end.
Every NFL player has a role, and Bellinger does his job well. He’s a welcome addition to a Titans team desperately needing to keep Cam Ward on his feet.
But there are times where an organization, especially one amid a rebuild, must think smarter and more carefully with their money.
If the Titans wanted a blocking tight end, it’s difficult to think they couldn’t get one for $5 million or less.
The difference of $3 million might not sound like much, especially factoring in the NFL’s rapidly increasing salary cap.
Spending money just because you have the money, though, is never the key to success.
Don’t let the Dodgers fool you.
Barring injury, Gunnar Helm will remain the Titans’ starting tight end. Helm finished his rookie season with 44 catches, 457 yards, and two touchdowns.
Why, then, would Tennessee decide that the backup tight end — even one as talented a blocker as Bellinger — warranted $14 million in guaranteed money?
Much like Bellinger did with Daboll, Isaiah Likely followed John Harbaugh to New York.
The difference, though, is that Likely impressed as a vertical threat while splitting snaps with Ravens star Mark Andrews.
More importantly, Likely will now be the established starting tight end.
And to be clear, this is nothing against Bellinger as a player.
There is a reason, though, why much of the football world appears down on the Titans as an organization.
For as high a ceiling as Ward might have, the Titans aren’t properly spending to build a legitimate contender around him.
Then again, the Titans also opted to part ways with Mike Vrabel, realized extremely quickly that Brian Callahan wasn’t working out, and then hired Robert Saleh, of all people.
At least Titans fans have that shiny new stadium coming their way.
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