So what drove either the Tennessee Titans or Jeff Fisher (or both) to end their lengthy partnership, if the report by Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks is true? Especially considering Titans owner Bud Adams had said earlier this month that Fisher would be back as head coach?
It’s hard to say Fisher’s firing of Chuck Cecil caused the divide, since the Vince Young situation and two down years on the field had already produced something of an awkward relationship. But it came out after Cecil was let go that Adams would still be required to pay the defensive coordinator’s 2011 salary plus whatever it would cost to hire a replacement.
Fisher was criticized for his handling of Cecil’s exit, but it was clear a change needed to be made. It wasn’t the removal of Cecil from the position that brought scorn, but the timing of the move. Again, it’s not likely that decision was the one that brought about this one, but it’s certainly a piece of the story one way or another.