Time running out for Kimrin, Bironas to win kicker job

Bironas, who played in the Arena Football League, jumped ahead in the competition for the Titans’ open kicker job with a 53-yard field goal last week to force overtime in their exhibition kicker. But he missed field goals of 37 and 44 yards in Friday night’s 24-21 exhibition victory over Atlanta.

Coach Jeff Fisher had turned to Bironas after Ola Kimrin pushed an extra point wide right.

Fisher said Saturday that the Titans haven’t made any inquiries into other kickers. They are keeping tabs on which kickers are with which teams and will be ready when any get released.

Kicker has not been a problem position for this franchise in more than a decade. Al Del Greco held the job between 1991 and 2000, then Joe Nedney handled it before being released in February although Anderson, the NFL’s all-time leading scorer, came on in emergency relief of Nedney in 2003 and 2004.

There’s still time for either Bironas or Kimrin to win the job. They both have shown consistency and leg strength, and Fisher said Bironas was near perfect in practice this past week.

“The two kicks lost in the ball game were severely missed. They weren’t slightly wide left or wide right … We’ll keep working with them this week and see who’s out there,” Fisher said.

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PACMAN UPDATE: Tennessee’s top draft pick Adam “Pacman” Jones had hoped that agreeing to a contract with the Titans on Wednesday night would allow enough time for the paperwork involved in the deal to be written and approved so that he could join the team for practice Sunday.

Not so fast.

General manager Floyd Reese said the contract is as big as any deal the Titans have ever done, and it’s a contract that has to be approved by the NFL, the players’ association and finally by Jones when he signs.

The deal still was in the review process Saturday afternoon, and Jones will only be allowed in the building to sign the contract.

“I’d like to say he’ll be here in the morning, but I can’t say that,” coach Jeff Fisher said.

The Titans have one open practice Sunday, and that starts at 4 p.m. CDT. Fisher said Jones will start with the second-team defense when he finally practices, but he will take over as their top choice at punt returner.

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I’M TELLING: Coach Jeff Fisher wasn’t happy at all with what he saw as unnecessary low cut blocks and hits by the Atlanta Falcons in their exhibition game on Friday night.

“I’m disappointed, and I’m going to call the league. A couple things where players’ safety was really brought into question. I’m going to make sure the league’s aware of it,” he said.

Fisher offered up a specific instance in which the Titans were called for an illegal low block on an interception by linebacker Rocky Boiman. Fisher said an Atlanta offensive lineman clipped someone from behind, and he called it a blatant attempt to hurt a Tennessee lineman.

“Yet somehow the official on the spot got it wrong and penalized us because of the cut block,” Fisher said.

“I can see how he can get it wrong. Normally when there is a low block on a return, it is the return team that is throwing the block. In this case, it was a guy that was supposed to be making a tackle, blocking one of our guys from behind. It is unfortunate. There is no place for it in the game.”

Asked if he spoke with Atlanta coach Jim Mora about the blocks, Fisher said no and that Mora is not coaching the Falcons offensive line.

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INJURY REPORT: Running back Travis Henry didn’t play because of a case of mild turf toe from the Titans’ exhibition opener. Coach Jeff Fisher said they sent Henry to visit Dr. Robert Anderson, the Carolina Panther’s team doctor, who gave what the coach called a great report.

“We just want to work the soreness out. We’ll see how he is late in the week,” Fisher said. The Titans visit San Francisco on Friday night for their third exhibition.

Rookie tight end Gregg Guenther suffered a mild concussion in the victory over Atlanta. Receiver Brandon Jones hurt a shoulder, and Fisher said he was a little sore Saturday. Safety Donnie Nickey, who was carted off to the locker room Friday night, hurt a foot. Fisher said he may be slowed a couple days.

But Fisher said fullback Troy Fleming, who has missed the past week with soreness, should be back in practice this week. Defensive tackle Rien Long also has a chance to practice as he recovers from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Tight end Ben Troupe, recovering from a broken left foot, still has a chance to play in the final exhibition on Sept. 1. Fisher said they may elect to hold him out to keep him ready for the opener on Sept. 11 at Pittsburgh.