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Titans QB Ryan Tannehill Explains Malik Willis Mentoring Comments

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JACKSONVILLE, FL - OCTOBER 10: Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill (17) during the game between the Tennessee Titans and the Jacksonville Jaguars on October 10, 2021 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire)

Ryan Tannehill wants you to know he’s going to be great to his new teammate.

Tannehill caused some controversy following the draft with his comments made earlier this month regarding third-round pick Malik Willis. Ryan Tannehill was asked if he’d make an effort to aid Willis in adjusting to the pro game and responded by pointing out they’re competing against each other and adding “I don’t think it’s my job to mentor him.”

Now that the dust has settled and the news cycle has moved on Tannehill is explaining his comments.

“I meant no disrespect to Malik or anything close to that,” Tannehill said Tuesday, via Titans senior writer and editor Jim Wyatt. “We’ve been in constant communication since he was drafted, through the madness that ensued after my last press conference and over the last few weeks as he’s been in the building and kind of getting to know each other.

“He’s a good person. He’s a talented player. He’s coming off a great college career. We’re happy to have him in the room. Really just kind of disappointed in how things got spun and twisted a little bit.”

 

“I pride myself on being a great teammate. I have my whole career,” Tannehill said. “Going back to the time I was a kid playing youth sports, it’s been something that’s been important to me from the beginning and will always be important to me. It’s something I’ll try to instill in my kids as they start playing youth sports is being a great teammate.

“Another thing that I think was blown out of proportion was when I said the word ‘compete.’ I compete every time I set foot on that football field. I compete against myself and the player I was the day before, the lessons I learned, the little things that I picked up off the tape. I’m competing against the defense if we’re going against the defense. If we’re doing QB drills, then I’m competing with whoever else is out there. That’s just how I’m wired.”

It’s Tannehill’s right to battle to keep his job, and it’s not his responsibility to help Willis eventually replace him, but it is your job as a teammate to help out anyone who needs it.

Hopefully this is the last we hear about this whole Tannehill mentoring nonsense.

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