Titans GM wants long-term deal with NFL rushing leader Henry

NASHVILLE, TENN. » The Tennessee Titans don’t want Derrick Henry going anywhere anytime soon, and the NFL rushing leader sounds as if he’s eager to stick around, too.

General manager Jon Robinson said Wednesday on a conference call with reporters that Henry is an important part of the Titans, and he spoke with the running back before free agency opened. Robinson’s also spoke to Henry’s agents after the Titans tagged him as their franchise player March 16.

“It was good that they communicated back that he does want to be here and he wants to keep working on this thing,” Robinson said of Henry. “It wasn’t something that, ‘OK well, I’ll take it and I’m done or I’m just going to do whatever.’ He wants to be here and he conveyed the message to me through his agent that he wants to keep working on this thing, and we do too.”

The Titans are busy wrapping up free agency. Robinson confirmed that Tennessee had agreed to terms with defensive lineman Jack Crawford on Tuesday followed by a deal keeping outside linebacker Kamalei Correa on Tuesday night.

But Robinson made clear keeping Henry around longer than this season is on the to-do list. “We want to continue to have those discussions and those back and forths in hopes of reaching some type of long-term agreement, and we’ll kick those conversations off again here probably before training camp gets ramped up and going,” Robinson said.

Henry will earn $10.2 million after the Titans used the non-exclusive franchise tag on the first man to run for at least 180 yards in three consecutive games at any point in a season.

Special teams maven Ebner follows Judge to Giants

Playing special teams is usually a steppingstone for young NFL players, a way to get on the field until they break into the offensive or defensive rotations.

For Nate Ebner, it’s been a way of life as a professional. Eight years with the Patriots and now a new start with the Giants that is somewhat on a hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

After asking everyone on a conference call on Tuesday how they were doing. the 31-yearold Ebner was asked about his health.

“Just trying to stay healthy, trying to stay clean,” he said. “You know the drill.”

The Giants signed Ebner to a one-year, $2 million contract on March 19 in a move that reunited him with new Giants coach Joe Judge, who was either a special teams assistant or the coordinator during their eight seasons in New England.

Patriots release Kessler

BOSTON » The Patriots have released quarterback Cody Kessler, their latest roster move at the position following the departure of Tom Brady in free agency.

Kessler spent time on New England’s practice squad last season. He was inactive for 11 regular-season games as the third-string quarterback behind Brady and Jarrett Stidham.