Titans left tackle new $43 million man

5/16/2008 2:43 PM

By TERESA M. WALKER
AP Sports Writer

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -Michael Roos handles his business quietly. Even after signing a new six-year, $43 million deal, the left tackle didn't start bragging to his fellow Tennessee linemen.

They had to read about his big deal in the newspaper.

Not that they mind.

``You have to be happy for him,'' veteran center Kevin Mawae said. ``He deserves it, and there's no doubt he'll outplay that contract.''

It's only appropriate for a man believed to be the first Estonian to play in the NFL, someone who had played football for only five seasons before Tennessee drafted him in the second round in 2005 with the 41st pick overall, a giant at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds who has managed to start every game since then.

Mawae said Roos now will be known as the $43 million man, not just the guy from Eastern Washington.

``Guys are going to know who he is, and I've been in that situation before when a team pays a player a lot of money, everyone wants to know what he's all about. So he gets a little bit more noticed and a little bit more recognition. He did get some Pro Bowl and All Pro votes last year. Very deserving. I expect to see him in Hawaii down the road,'' Mawae said.

The Titans now have quarterback Vince Young, currently signed through 2011, and their left tackle in place for the future. Coach Jeff Fisher said he went through that once before with Brad Hopkins and Steve McNair, and saw how important that was to the franchise.

``Brad Hopkins I'm talking about did a great job week in and week out protecting Steve's backside against some very, very talented pass rushers, and that's the same thing that Mike can do, so it was very important to us. I think he's a very underrated tackle, specifically a left tackle. He's got a lot ahead of him. It's good. It's a real good situation,'' Fisher said.

Roos, who had told the Titans a few months ago that he wanted a new contract before heading into the 2008 season, signed the deal the day before the NFL Draft last month. His deal includes $1.5 million in incentives for Pro Bowl selections and $15 million guaranteed, half the $30 million Jake Long received as the top pick.

``I'm very excited,'' Roos said. ``It's something I wanted to get done before the season started. I thought it would go on a little bit longer before training camp, but I'm very excited.''

Born in Estonia as Mihkel Roos in 1982, he lived there for 10 years before his mother took him and her two other children to Vancouver, Wash., to live with an aunt. He didn't play football until his senior year in high school where he played tight end, which earned him a scholarship to the Division I-AA school.

He redshirted as tight end in football and on the basketball team before concentrating on football in his sophomore season. He played defensive line for a year before switching to offense as a left tackle where he started 35 consecutive games.

The Titans had an assist in finding Roos. Tom Ackerman, who finished his NFL career with Tennessee, coached Roos during his senior season.

They started Roos at right tackle in 2005, then moved him to the left side in 2006 as he helped the Titans rank ninth in the NFL in passing and 10th for fewest sacks allowed in Steve McNair's final season with Tennessee in 2006. They ranked fifth in the league in rushing each of the past two seasons with different starting running backs.

The Titans already this year had signed Jake Scott to replace the retired Benji Olson at right guard. Eugene Amano and Leroy Harris are competing at left guard, where Jacob Bell left as a free agent. Right tackle David Stewart, their fourth-round pick in 2005, signed his one-year tender earlier this week.

``Pretty much everyone is signed through except David Stewart. We get one more piece of the puzzle, we'll be together for a very long time,'' Roos said.