Titans sign CB Harper
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE (TICKER) —Perhaps bracing for the loss of Adam “Pacman” Jones, the Tennessee Titans have added a reliable cornerback.
Nick Harper, a starter for the Super Bowl champion Indianapolis Colts, on Wednesday signed a three-year contract with the Titans.
Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal is believed to be worth about $10 million.
Harper, 32, has experience at both left and right cornerback and may replace either Jones or Reynaldo Hill, Tennessee’s starting cornerbacks last season. He had spent his entire six-year career with the Colts.
In 2003, Harper became a starter at right cornerback. He later switched to the left side, where he has been a starter for the last three years.
This past season, Harper tied for the team lead with three interceptions and recorded 73 tackles and 11 passes defensed. He had an interception and forced a fumble in the Colts’ 15-6 divisional playoff win over Baltimore en route to Super Bowl XLI.
“Nick is a proven and productive starter in this league and his addition to the roster will give us flexibility in the secondary,” Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt said. “His role will be defined through the offseason and training camp.”
Among Tennessee’s incumbent cornerbacks, Jones is the better player. But his off-field transgressions will likely result in a suspension by the NFL.
Titans coach Jeff Fisher even indicated last week that the team may release Jones, who continues to embarrass the organization with his behavior.
Jones has been subpoenaed to appear in Superior Court in Fayetteville, Georgia in May on felony and misdemeanor charges of obstructing police during an incident in February 2006.
Jones has also been interviewed by police for a triple shooting incident at a strip club in Las Vegas during last month’s NBA All-Star Weekend that still is under investigation. Jones was at the scene and accused by the co-owner of being a friend of the shooter. One of the shooting victims suffered a severed spinal cord.
The Titans suspended Jones for one game last season due to what Fisher called “a series of incidents.”
Jones was booked for misdemeanor assault in November 2006 stemming from an incident at a nightclub. The police report stated that Jones became verbally abusive to a woman and “spit a huge amount of mucus” on the woman’s face and hair.
It marked the second time Jones had been accused of spitting on a woman at a club last year. He was arrested in misdemeanor charges of public drunkenness and disorderly conduct last August.
