Kennedy Pola Likes New Test

When Kennedy Pola turned down a contract extension from the Jacksonville Jaguars and signed with the Titans in January, he said he was looking forward to the challenges of a new organization.

It looks as if he'll have his share.

The job of the Titans' new running backs coach already has been complicated by the absence of franchise cornerstone Chris Johnson, who's missed voluntary organized team activities thus far in hopes of procuring a new contract.

Also on Pola's plate are a couple of high-profile free-agent rookies: LeGarrette Blount made headlines last season for a nationally televised punch that led to a long suspension at Oregon, while Stafon Johnson is recovering from a devastating throat injury he suffered at Southern Cal last season.

"Sure, there are always challenges," said Pola, who spent the past five seasons as the Jaguars' running backs coach.

"You have a 2,000-yard rusher and the best NFL team two years ago, and then to (try to improve on that), people are like, 'Whoa.' But I love that challenge. You want your players to have that, 'Let's compete (attitude). Let's find a way to get better and let's keep improving. I can sit back and be comfortable, but I want to be improving and keep getting better.' "

One could argue that Kennedy has been dealing with difficulties since the day he was born, Nov. 22, 1963, which just happened to coincide with a tragic event in U.S. history. President John F. Kennedy was assassinated that day, prompting Pola's grieving parents to give their son Kennedy's name as a result. Pola grew up in American Samoa, a small island in the South Pacific, and had to learn to speak English fluently while attending USC on a football scholarship from 1982-85.

"I like teaching because when guys say they can't learn, it's hard for me to understand," Pola said. "I had to learn the English language and the culture here. I was very (hesitant) in terms of not knowing the right pronunciation or the right word, so now it makes it fun for me to communicate. I say to guys, 'I know you can learn. If I can learn, you can learn.' "



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Titans Center Mawae To Test Free Agency

Tennessee center Kevin Mawae will test the free-agent market, his agent Mark Bartelstein said Wednesday.

His representative acknowledged that the eight-time Pro Bowler probably would not return to Tennessee after the team inked guard Eugene Amano to a deal.

Bartelstein said he talked with Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt on Tuesday, and did not believe Mawae would be offered a new contract before the free agency deadline March 5.

"All things being equal, he'd love to be back," Bartelstein said. "I think the Titans have a young guy there they are trying to bring along, and they just made a big investment in Amano. So I am not sure that the role Kevin would have as a Titan is worthy of what Kevin is as a player right now.''

Mawae was signed by the Titans after being cut from the New York Jets March 14, 2006.

During his first season with Tennessee, he helped the offense rise to fifth in the NFL with 2,214 rushing yards.
Mawae played 16 games with the Titans last season.

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Tennessee's Mawae Has no Plans to Retire

Kevin Mawae is in the final year of his contract with the Tennessee Titans. He is coming off elbow surgery. However, the veteran center says he has no plans to retire, according to the Nashville City Paper.

"I want to play this game as long as I possibly can. I love playing the game. It's never been about the money, it's about the enjoyment of the game," said Mawae, who also serves as president of the NFL Players Association.

Mawae, who made the NFL All-Pro team and was selected to the Pro Bowl last season, suffered an elbow injury in the final month of the regular season last year, and missed the postseason for the second consecutive year with the Titans. He underwent surgery on the elbow five months ago, with the hope of being ready to go by training camp, according to the City Paper.

Mawae is one of a number of key players on the Titans roster who can become free agents at the end of the season — a list that includes such notables as Kyle Vanden Bosch(notes), Keith Bulluck(notes), Tony Brown and Bo Scaife(notes), in addition to Mawae.

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