Fantasy owners everywhere are hoping that CJ can get some kind of deal that makes him happy so he can get to training camp and prepare for the upcoming season. If the hold out continues much longer, the people with the second pick in redrafts might actually have a decision to make instead of just being on autopilot and selecting whoever is remaining from AP and CJ.(both would be a pretty solid consolation prize) I'm sure the Titans realize they literally have nothing without Johnson and they will find a way to resolve this issue. Even if he does get something done, it is imperative that he participates in training camp because he could start the season shaky and the risk of injury is slightly higher for players who do not ease their way into the regular season. Obviously, you can't pass up a player of his caliber but if he misses a significant portion of training camp the decision between him and Peterson is much closer.
"I was blessed enough to have a healthy child. I can't imagine if she was having to be in the hospital and having to go through what a lot of parents have to go through," Curran said of his daughter Eleana, who will turn 2 later this fall. "It would just add so much stress. It's a great opportunity to be where I'm at, having just signed a contract and be so blessed, to be a blessing to somebody else."
Curran admits that his daughter's well being was a motivating factor in his decision to leave Georgia a year early, but his family's financial future is now set after he finalized a four-year deal and hefty signing bonus with the Titans on Thursday.
Not that Eleana cared much about the business end of her daddy's new job.
"She's just making life great," Curran said with a smile. "I got back from signing a contract and all that and went and saw her and she ran up and gave me a big hug and told me that she loved me. I just forgot the contract and everything. I forgot about all of it. ... There's nothing like (parenthood). It's awesome."
Curran spent part of his afternoon Saturday bringing smiles to the parents and children who paid $25 apiece to meet some of their favorite current and former Bulldogs and help raise money for the aforementioned charities.
He was joined by numerous current Bulldogs, as well as ex-Georgia greats like Champ Bailey, Robert Edwards, D.J. Shockley and Countdown to Kickoff founders Matt and Jon Stinchcomb and David Greene.
Curran was listed as a host of Saturday's event, although he was unsure exactly what Kerry Collins duties were included in his job description. If his ability to greet each fan with a warm smile and a hug or a handshake made Curran a host, though, he was an obvious choice for the job.
Life is unquestionably rosy right now for the NFL rookie, who plays a position beloved by his new head coach, Jeff Fisher.
"Out of all the coaches in the league, I thought (Tennessee) was a great place for him," said former Georgia linebacker Randall Godfrey, who was a second-team All-Pro with Fisher and the Titans in 2000. "You're talking about a defensive-minded coach, a guy who loves linebackers. I think he's gonna have a great career in Tennessee."
Much like he did at Georgia, Curran might have to contribute early in his Titans career. Injuries and suspensions have thinned Tennessee's ranks at linebacker, creating a void that some players - possibly Curran - will have to fill.
"I'll take any opportunity I can get," he said. "My job is to train as if I'm Chris Johnson a starter, and I'm just waiting for that break to come. That's the same thing I did at UGA when I got here as a freshman. I tried to play my role and do extra work and doing whatever it takes."
Curran is also pleasantly surprised by how generous the veterans at his position - a group that new Tennessee Titans jerseys includes former Georgia star Will Witherspoon - have been to him and the other rookie linebackers. That warm reception runs counter to what he was told to expect in the professional ranks.
"Talking to guys who are in the league, some of the former players, you hear, 'Oh, it's just a job. Guys just come in and don't really hang out like we did in college,' " Curran said. "One of the things that surprised me was how cool the vets were and how they embraced me and wanted to help.
"You'd think guys would be kinda threatened by you coming in, being a high pick. It's a job, because Cortland Finnegan you've got guys that are trying to feed their families, but everybody there was just happy for me and wants to help me, and that's one thing that surprised me that I'm happy about."
Perhaps the vets simply identified Curran's professional promise - much like former Bulldog and Titan Godfrey, who predicted Curran will be a "tackling machine" and fan favorite in Nashville, just as he was in Athens.
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