As a free agent I don’t know what’s going on yet. The free agency period begins Friday, March 5, and we have to see what direction the team is going.

To get my mind off being a free agent I’m working out a lot, keeping myself busy training at the University of Miami and at Bommarito Sports. Working out keeps my mind off my contract situation. Pete Bommarito is a very good trainer and I like working out at his place. A lot players come here and know how to work. NFL players come here to train, guys getting ready for the Combine are here. I’m from Miami so it’s in my backyard, and guys I grew up with, played against in high school and college and went on to play in the league come back here to train, guys like Frank Gore, Antwan Barnes, etc. Working out here brings back memories of when I was younger. There’s an excitement, a feeling like when I was in high school working out. I’m a hungry player, I sleep and eat football, so when I’m there I’m just thinking about the things I can do to make myself a better football player. I’m also stretching, getting massages, working on flexibility to keep my body fine-tuned. Going into my fifth year you’ve put a lot of work into your body, so you want to make sure it’s ready for the physical, all-out bashing it takes during the season.

Players are made in the off-season, so you have to take it seriously. I’ve been training since the day after the Super Bowl.

I’ve never been in this situation before, not knowing where my future lies next season. I’m keeping my mind off it, spending time with my family, working out and letting the cards fall where they may.

I just want to play football next year, and I know I will. But I would really like to be settled for years to come. Wherever that place may be, and hopefully it’s Nashville , I just want to be able to worry about football and taking my game to the next level, not have to think about the business side again for a long time.

Just play the game I love to play.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

Finishing as strong as we did, winning eight of our last 10 games, we would definitely have been in the playoffs if we had started off better.

Looking back, I kind of feel that in those first few games we came out and figured we had a good season the year before, so teams would have to respect us just for showing up. What we learned is that every year is a new year, what you’ve done previously doesn’t matter. You have to go out there and get off to a fast start every season. Teams that start fast ride it for a while and get that extra boost. We did it backwards, and got a boost the second half of the season.

The lesson is to take nothing for granted. You can’t ever be complacent in this league. Know what you need to do, work hard every day and get the job done.

I do think we had a lot of positives and have a lot to look forward to next season. Chris Johnson reached 2,000 yards rushing, he was the man who held us all together this season. Our young receiver Kenny Britt is a player to watch in the future. I think linebacker Gerald McRath had a lot of success filling in when Thornton got hurt, he really helped our defense and I look forward to seeing him have continued success in this league. Also, Sen’Derrick Marks at tackle and William Hayes at end are definitely ready to take that next step and make the Titans that much better next year.

Will I still be in Tennessee next season? I don’t know right now. A lot depends on the CBA and what free agency will be like next season. I really don’t know where I’m going to end up, and that’s the biggest thing I’m dealing with. For now, I know my agent will do a good job figuring out what’s next for me. Right now I’m staying in Miami for the off-season, taking this chance to relax and rest my body.

Personally, this was the best season I’ve had in my career. I finally had everything in place to make me a better player, had my off-season training down pat, the right trainer, the right stretching guy, a good masseuse, a real solid core of people. My film study improved so much from last year to this year.

After my fourth year in the NFL and going into my fifth, this is the year I want to show people who I really am and what I’m all about, how much I love this game and how I approach the game of football.

I like Tennessee, it’s a great place to play, it’s where I started my career and I’m familiar with the philosophy of this organization. But you never know what the future will bring.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

After starting 0-6, a lot of people counted us out. To come back after the bye week and respond the way we did showed that this team never quits. To win seven of eight like we did is very hard to do. We kept fighting but we built too big a deficit. We fell short and we got beat by a very good San Diego team. We have to start stronger next season.

We have one more game left as a team. It might be the last time we’re together as a team. It’s the last year of my contract, hopefully things will work out and I’ll come back next year. It’s been a great four years for me here in Nashville. Going into the last game of the season we want to end on a high note, finish 8-8 and have something to build on going into next season.

I have not talked about my contract at all this season, that’s something I’ll think about in the off-season.

So in this last game there are two things to hang our hats on. Finishing .500 and watching Chris Johnson finish an amazing year. He’s been a bright spot all season, a guy that was underrated in the draft coming out of East Carolina. He works so hard every week and takes care of his body. We’re all rooting for him to get 2,000 yards. It would be a very rare thing in the NFL. It’s also rare to see a guy of his stature run as hard and as fast as he does, and his performance speaks volumes about how focused and tenacious he is and how bright his future is. He’s just been amazing.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

What Vince Young did on Sunday was one of the most remarkable things I’ve ever witnessed in my life. I’ve watched teams drive far, but never 99 yards for a score. He converted four fourth downs. And with six seconds left I was sitting on the ground, looking on in disbelief. It was unreal.

Vince is a proven winner, he’s been a winner everywhere he’s been. He stayed poised, he was never rattled. He’s matured and shown he understands what it takes to get the job done.

It feels good to be 5-0 since the bye week. It’s amazing to see how this team has turned it around, how we pushed through adversity and hard times, when people counted us out we still worked hard. This is a different team from where we started.

We’ve got a big test this week against the Indianapolis Colts. They’re 11-0 and have one of the best players in the NFL at quarterback in Peyton Manning. Last week he demonstrated why he is so special and spectacular. Down at halftime, bringing them back to win like that was unbelievable and speaks to how good a player Peyton Manning is.

It’ll be us against one of the hottest teams in the NFL in their backyard, a hostile environment as we try to keep our playoff hopes alive. It’s a game football fans won’t want to miss.

There’s no room for error against the Colts, you have to be on your game when you’re playing them. Preparation and film study will be at an all-time high this week. I could end up covering Dallas Clark at times, he’s a great player, a consistent receiver/tight end. A hard-working lunchpail type of player, always comes to play. With Dallas, Reggie Wayne, Addai and Brown in the backfield and Garcon, that’s a solid team with Manning at the controls. You can’t stop this team, you have to try to eliminate big plays, create turnovers and do whatever it takes to keep them out of the end zone.

We’re not thinking about the playoffs. It’s still just one game at a time for us. Every week is like the final week of the season. The Colts are our only game left right now. Our whole focus is on the Colts.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

After our third straight win we know the season is not over yet. But we’re also not looking too far ahead. Every week is a one-game season at this point. We have to go ahead and get ready for Houston, they’re coming off a bye and have had a lot of time to prep for us. We play them twice a year every year and we lost to them by a few points earlier this season. It will definitely be a good game on Monday Night Football, prime time.

Our defense is finally getting healthy and our offense is clicking, so hopefully the outcome will be better for us this time.

When we have the ball I think everyone is finally starting to see what we’ve known all along about Vince Young, that he is an all-around complete player. He can run it, he can throw it, and in four years he’s grown so much. He shows leadership. There’s a different spark when Vince is out there. The offense is clicking. Chris Johnson is having an MVP-type season, the receivers are making plays, and special teams have gotten better since the beginning of the season.

The guys know that it’s not how you start the season but how you finish. Now we have the mind-set to finish strong, take it one game at a time and everything else will take care of itself.

On defense it’s been great to have Cortland Finnegan back. Since he came back three games ago from a hamstring injury he has had two picks, that definitely helps. Vince Fuller our nickleback had a pick-six this past week, and our corner Rod Hood had a pick in each of the last three games. When we can get turnovers, we give the offense a chance to put points on the board and control time of possession. When you can do that you have a good chance of winning.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

The last two games we’ve gotten an extra spark from somewhere, all the phases of our game have been clicking. The offense has gotten better, the defense is creating turnovers. Things are really coming together but we want to take the one game at a time approach. There are eight games left and we have to keep executing, play the way we did when we got those last two wins.

We play a tough Buffalo team this week and we have to be ready.

The whole Tennessee organization, the players, everybody, has extra pep in their step. That’s what winning does. It gives you confidence and it can be contagious. Guys are saying they want to keep that feeling going. We had that losing feeling and we don’t want to go back there. We want to keep the momentum going into the game with Buffalo this week.

When I’m watching film I’m going to keep my eye on the backfield, where Fred Jackson has been the workhorse this season. Marshawn Lynch is coming back, too, and they also have Terrell and Lee Evans on the outside. Those guys can put up some pretty big numbers, so our defense is going to have to get after it early, eliminate big plays and give our offense a chance to put up some points.

The way our offense has been playing has been a big plus for the defense. When you see the offense moving the ball the way they have been, we want to get out there and get a 3 and out. It all goes hand in hand, with special teams, too, getting good field position. All three phases have to click. The last two games all three phases have definitely jelled together.

On my day off I’m visiting a veteran’s hospital in Nashville. Since I’ve been here the last four years I’ve gotten out to do that around Veteran’s Day, support the troops, shake their hands and thank them for what they’ve done for our country. It means a lot to put a smile on their faces.

You never know how blessed you are until you walk into one of these hospitals and see the people in their beds, going through what they’re going through. It helps you reflect on your life and how fortunate you are. People look at us in the NFL and see the glory and the fame, but reality is walking into that hospital.

It humbles you and shows you not to take anything for granted. That’s why I do the things I do.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

We finally got our first win and the guys were excited about it. We feel we’re a better team than our record shows and we’re ready to turn things around. We clicked on all phases of the game, the defense made turnovers, the offense made things happen. It was definitely something we can build on going into the San Francisco game.

At San Francisco I’ll have the chance to play against some fellow NC State alumni, against Manny Lawson and Marcus Hudson (www.marcushudson.com), two guys I’ve played a lot of may career with. To have the opportunity to play against them after all these years past, for the first time as a pro, it’s an exciting moment. We’re like a family, and being able to see them again and play against them will be a family moment.

The 49ers have a real good football team, and it all starts with Frank Gore, a guy I’ve been playing against since Little League football, through Coral Gables High, when he was at University of Miami and now as a pro. We’ve seen each other grow, we work out together in the off-season and I know what he brings to the table.

Vernon Davis is also a special player, Alex Smith is coming into his own as a quarterback and they have a solid defense.

Winning and losing can be contagious. Our confidence is up and that’s just what we need, that spark. This win is definitely going to get us back to what we felt when we were 13-3 last year, now we can remember how good it feels. That’s when you don’t want to lose. All of the guys on this team understand that as well as I do. Now it’s time to move forward. This is a very talented team.

Coach Fisher said going into our bye week, he talked about getting away from football and reflecting on the first half of the season, then coming back and forgetting about it. A lot of guys took that to heart. I saw a new team last Sunday, with more life, an extra spark. Now we want to keep building and not regress.

Also, the Stephen Tulloch Foundation will be teaming with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Nashville to have Thanksgiving dinner for 100 people on Nov. 26 for an organization called Backfield in Motion (http://www.backfieldinmotion.org/). They offer athletic programs for at-risk youth while stressing education. That part really caught my attention. As a kid I wasn’t as privileged as many other kids, so for them to make education a priority is something very close to my heart, it’s what I’m all about. There will be 100 people there, kids with their families, some of my teammates will be there. That’s how I’m going to spend my Thanksgiving.

If you want to donate I urge you to do it here at the Stephen Tulloch Foundation at http://tulloch55.com/foundation.html. It’s for a good cause.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

At 0-3 we all know what time it is. It’s crunch time right now.

We’re not fooling ourselves. We know we have to get it going right now. This is the same team we had last year minus one guy on defense. The coaches give us a great game plan, we have to get out there and execute. We have to find a way to eliminate the small mistakes.

What can I say, we just have to get better all the way around. No finger pointing. We just have to take what we learn in practice and translate it to the field.

I look at the games we lost dating back to the Pittsburgh game, and it’s really just a play here, a play there. Pittsburgh played a good game, then we played a tough Houston team and missed a couple of plays here or there. Then in the Jets game, they go up 14-0 in the first quarter, we bounce back and take the lead, but we miss a couple plays and lose that game.

Like Kerry Collins said in a team meeting, in the NFL there’s a small margin for error. The veterans understand that and I think the young guys are starting to get it. You can never relax, you can never get confident. Everybody is good in this league. If you’re in the NFL, you’re talented and special in some way, shape or form.

A lot of fans were pointing fingers at Ryan Mouton after the Jets game as the reason we lost. That’s something he’ll have to learn from. He stepped up and owned up to it and now he has to move on. I think he will be a phenomenal player, he has a lot of potential and now he’s starting to understand what the NFL really is.

The coaches addressed the issue by bringing in Mark Jones, who played for the Carolina Panthers last year to give us quality return abilities.

Now we’re headed to Jacksonville to face a team that we’re very familiar with. They’re very physical and it’s tough to stop Maurice Jones-Drew with the ball in his hands and David Garrard as the quarterback. We have to understand our assignments and what we have to do on every play.

We’ve had some good teams on our schedule, but we’re good too. All we have to do is get that first win under our belts and move forward. This week we really have to put all three phases together, offense, defense and special teams, and show people that the Titans are for real.

I also want to mention that my Foundation is having an event every Tuesday in October for kids from Brick Church Middle School in Nashville. I teamed with a dentist named Dr. Smiley so kids who are less privileged who don’t have the opportunity to get dental care will get free checkups and cleanings.

The Foundation is raising money for underprivileged kids, so donations are greatly appreciated. Donate here on my website if you can.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

This is not a time for our fans to panic. We didn’t anticipate the start of the season to go like this. You never anticipate going 0-2.

A few mistakes cost us the first two games, but I think our game plan has always been steady. The coaches put us in a good situation, but as players we have to execute the game plan and the last two games we didn’t do a good job of that. In meetings all the guys were owning up to that.

Being the middle linebacker, I had a chance to go in early on my off-day Tuesday and sit down with the coaches and go over some things about the Jets offense and get a jump on it. I think the guys will be very well prepared for this game and we’re looking forward to it.

We just have to work harder and pay a little more attention to detail and eliminate mistakes. There’s such a small margin for error in the NFL. I believe in this team and this will show how we can overcome adversity with our character.

For the third game in a row we’ll be playing a top team. The Jets are 2-0, they had a good win against Houston in week 1 and they beat a great New England Patriots team in their second game. They have a good offense, the young guy Mark Sanchez is doing a good job as a rookie. Thomas Jones is a Pro Bowler, Leon Washington is a Pro Bowler, and my good friend Jerricho Cotchery is a phenomenal receiver. They also have a very good tight end in Dustin Keller and a solid line with Nick Mangold. They have a lot of weapons on offense and they’re no slouch on defense.

This will be a great chance for us to turn things around and get back on the winning track.

Tuesday I also had a chance to visit Baptist Hospital in Nashville. I met some amazing people who are caught in tough situations or fighting illnesses. It’s amazing to me how people can be fighting for their lives but still love to watch football. It was an honor for me to be able to pop in and show my appreciation.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

After losing like we did against Pittsburgh, the disappointment lasts a couple of days. You lose, you come in the next day and evaluate tape, see what you can do differently and then move on. It’s the NFL, you win some, you lose some.

You just want to win more than you lose.

Now it’s time to get ready for Houston. That wasn’t the real Houston offense against the Jets last week. That’s not the team they are. They have a very explosive running back in Steve Slaton, a Pro Bowl premier player in Andre Johnson, a solid quarterback in Matt Schaub and a good offensive line. The Jets had a good game plan against them. Their main objective was to stop the run and they were able to do that.

The last two times we played Houston, Slaton rushed for more than 100 yards. That is something we cannot allow. We have to prepare to stop him and Andre Johnson as well. To stop a back like Slaton everybody has to be in the right gaps. Our defense has prided itself on being where we need to be and being accountable. This is an experience defense now and we know we need to do a good job of containing him and slowing him down.

It’s going to be a good game, it’s always physical when we play Houston.

For me, I feel like football is second nature to me now. It’s not a job, it’s just fun. I’m going to go out there and run around and make plays. That’s what I’ve always done. I feel like that’s what I’ve been doing forever.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

What could be better than this.

Opening the season at Pittsburgh, the defending Super Bowl champions, first game for the NFL, the rivalry between the Titans and the Steelers, the whole world watching. This is what football is all about. If you’re a fan of football, you won’t want to miss it.

I feel good about us right now. My injury is behind me, I’m 100 percent. Pittsburgh always is a good game, we beat them during the regular season last year and the atmosphere is going to be electrifying. We definitely have all the right pieces in place, the team is much wiser, smarter, more experienced. I think we have a better understanding of what it takes to get to the next level and we’re just excited about the opportunity we have right in front of us. What better way could there be than to start the season off against Pittsburgh?

We have everybody back on defense from last year except Albert. The D-linemen we have are outstanding, they’re young, full of talent and full of energy and have shown they have what it takes to make it happen in the trenches. Any one of our D-linemen can make a play at any time, they’re experienced, high-energy guys. One guy did not make this defense great. Everybody is responsible on this defense and we’re motivated to show it on Thursday.

You always have butterflies before a game like this, if it’s your first year in the league or your fifth. You have butterflies when you drive to the stadium and until you make that first hit. The first quarter goes by so fast because everyone is so amped up. Those are good butterflies, though, it’s anticipation, not anxiety. There will be even more because everyone’s watching this game, it’s on the prime-time stage just like a Super Bowl.

This is what we’ve been working toward all off-season, this is where all the hard work pays off.

I’m very familiar with the Steelers offense. I’ve watched so much film I feel like I’ll pretty much be in the huddle with them. Our defense is geared for whatever they throw at us.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

I hurt my knee a couple days before the first preseason game. Nothing major, it’s just sore, but the coaches and team trainers thought it would be best just to rest it in the preseason as a precaution. If this were the regular season I definitely would have played, no question. I’m looking forward to playing this week, if not I’ll be ready the following week.

The team did very well winning our first two preseason games. The offense is coming along tremendously and the defense is picking up where it was last year. We’re playing good football, the rookies are stepping up, things are good all-around.

The first day I had to sit out it hurt me, it bothered me greatly because I love this game so much. Deep inside I was holding back because I love the game of football. I believe that everything happens for a reason, and this has reminded me why the game means so much to me. The whole experience will make me work even harder so I never have to sit out again.

I’ve been playing since I was 6 years old and never had to miss any significant time, so this was a real eye opener for me.

I’ve missed only one practice in 4 years here in Tennessee, so going on two weeks off has been hard for me to sit back and watch. Maybe this is what my body needs to prepare for the long regular season. I love this game of football, and it doesn’t matter to me if it’s practice, preseason or the regular season, it’s always going to be hard for me not to play. I can’t wait to get on the field with my teammates and give it another run this season.

God is good!

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

The first official fundraiser for my foundation was very successful. We had a good turnout for my bowling event at Splitsville Lanes in Miami, lots of people came into town, we had a tremendous amount of sponsors and many of my teammates came in and we raised a lot of money for kids.

That Saturday we had a football camp with over 250 kids and it was just a great weekend all the way around.

I’m thinking next year we could do it again in Miami and also have one in Nashville.

Some of the guys were pretty good bowlers. Lawrence Timmons brought two balls with him, he thought he was a pro. Patrick Lee of the Packers brought his own ball. Max Jean-Gilles was there from the Eagles and lots of my teammates, Cortland Finnegan, Ahmard Hall and Nick Harper. Also a lot of people who have been with me all my life. It was a great event.

I’ll be training here in Miami for another week and a half, so it’s back to work. I’m excited about getting ready for another season, we have almost everyone coming back from last year. I’ve been training hard in the 95-degree heat down here, Monday through Friday, and I know other guys on the team have been working hard and it’s all going to pay off.

In a matter of weeks we’ll be playing Buffalo. It’s time for us to take that next step. Our main focus is the Super Bowl. I’m doing everything I can to help get us there and I know everyone else on the team is doing everything they can as well.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

Tomorrow is our last day of OTAs, then we’re off until July 30, our report date for training camp.

The Hall of Fame game against Buffalo in Canton on Aug. 9 is something I’m looking forward to. It means more to me because Derrick Thomas is being inducted. He was a linebacker too and also a native of Miami.

He was a big-time player and it was very sad when he died at such an early age. His spirit definitely lives on. He made a lot of things happen, made a difference in his short time and played the way the game is supposed to be played. He had a passion for the game. There’s no question about it, he was a dominant player who deserves to be in the Hall of Fame.

It’s a great opportunity to play in the Hall of Fame game when a player like that gets inducted so you can pay your respects to him.

I also want to mention the event I’m holding to benefit the Stephen Tulloch Foundation on July 10. Our first annual bowling event will be held at Splitsville Lanes on Sunset Place in Miami. Some of my teammates will be there like Vince Young and Cortland Finnegan, also John McCargo and Pat Thomas of the Bills, Tank Tyler of the Chiefs, Jon Beason from the Panthers, guys I played with in college and others. My foundation gives opportunities to underprivileged children.

Come out, bowl with us and have some fun. It’s for charity.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

My mom was a single parent, she raised me pretty much by herself from the time I was 6.

She worked 3-4 jobs, overnight at times, to provide a good living for me. Lots of times I stayed by myself while my mom was out working. She also reached out to help others, and that rubbed off on me to see how hard she worked and sacrificed so much for her kids and other people too.

Being in the situation I’m in now, it’s a no-brainer to give something back. For kids who have single parents at home and need a little extra help, I know how hard it is for them and their parents to tough it out. I want to be able to raise money for these kids to help them dream big and achieve their goals, whether they want to play football, become a lawyer, doctor, whatever it is they want to achieve.

I just want to help them in any way I can.

That’s why I started the Stephen Tulloch Foundation, to raise money for kids to have after school tutoring, for school supplies, clothes and the essentials they need to achieve whatever it is they want to accomplish.

I’ve accomplished a lot in my life and I always dreamed big. I know dreams can come true if you devote yourself to it 100 percent, but some families need a little help to allow the kids to do that. With my foundation I know I can really help kids do big things.

I’m excited about the opportunity to reach out and help kids reach their goals.

Please check out my Foundation page on my website, here at www.tulloch55.com/foundation.html.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

Find him on Twitter as stephentulloch.

This is the last year of my contract, but it’s also a big year for me because I have a chance to take that next step and move up a level in the game. This is the most important year of my life, so I’m working hard with the people in my circle to get over that edge and become a complete player.

I’m really focused on my career at this point. I’m back at the team complex in Tennessee working out hard, sometimes twice a day, and really taking care of my body. When I was in Miami I was working with my trainer Manny. Nothing too spectacular, doing a lot of speed work, agility work, explosive work with pads and sleds. Also a lot of boxing with speed bags, power bags, working 1-on-1 with the trainer, throwing combinations to get the heart going.

Everybody asks me about losing Albert Haynesworth to the Redskins. It is what it is. He was a big part of the defense for the three years I’ve been here. He’s definitely one of those marquee players who don’t come around often, a hard worker with tremendous ability who demanded double teams, worked through double teams and created havoc, which made things easier not just for the linebackers but for the secondary.

We’ve got young guys out here now who are working hard to become the next Albert Haynesworth. We’ve got some guys who are capable of stepping in and doing a good job, particularly Jason Jones, who I think is going to be a phenomenal player, and Jacob Ford. They’re both tremendous athletes with quick feet and they’ve been working out all off-season in Tennessee to take it to the next level.

What can the fans expect from me? Well, a player that’s even more driven, more hungry, a wild beast. This is a defining moment in my career. They’ll see a player who has dedicated his life to the game, the community and just wants to get on the field and let it all out, be a leader. I’d love to be here for the rest of my career. I love it here in Tennessee, the fans, the players, the atmosphere and the coaching staff.

It’s a beautiful place.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.

After we lost to Baltimore in the playoffs I didn’t want to talk to anyone for a couple of weeks. I’m just now answering all the messages I had from that week and I still haven’t talked to everybody yet.

But you have to get over it, and I think I am now after having had the chance to watch the Super Bowl, evaluate what went on this season, how far we came as a team and where we’re going as a team.

It helped having had a chance to get away. I relaxed for a while and watched the Pro Bowl in Hawaii with some teammates. It definitely motivates me for next season to get to that upper tier, take that next step in the game. This season I want to become the dominant player that I know I can be.

Now that I’m back home I’m working out with my trainer in Miami and going harder than I ever have before in my life. We go every day, Monday through Friday, with two workouts on Tuesday and Thursday. A lot of power and explosive work.

I would rate this last season about a 7 from 1-10. There’s room for improvement. It was my first year as a starting linebacker on the team, a chance to get my feet under me, learn how to prepare from week to week. I think I’m on course to be that dominant player that I want to be.

This is also the last year of my contract. I’d love to be in Tennessee, to stay here for a long time but it’s a business and whatever happens, happens. I love Tennessee and the opportunity they gave me here in Tennessee, and hopefully the way I play this season will show them that I should be their player for years to come.

I mean, this is it, this is what you work so hard for all your life, what you grind for. Not just the money, but that opportunity to get to the next level and to put yourself in a situation where the team wants to keep you around for the long term.

Stephen Tulloch is a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans.
His blog for playerpress.com runs at www.tulloch55.com.