Nashville, TN (Sportsbooks) - Linebackers Ryan Fowler and Rocky Boiman, two players with starting experience as members of the
Tennessee Titans, were among those released by the team as part of its "cut-down day" maneuvers on Saturday.
Fowler played in 30 games as a member of the Titans in 2007-08, making 17 starts, and played in all 16 regular season contests for a team that went an NFL-best 13-3 a year ago. But Fowler was passed over for starting duties by Stephen Tulloch last season, making the former Duke star Fowler expendable going forward.
Boiman, meanwhile, was starting his second tour of duty with the Titans after part-time starting stints with the Colts (2006-07) and Chiefs (2008). A fourth-round pick of the Titans in 2002, the ex-Oklahoma standout played in 54 games as a member of the Tennessee roster over four seasons (2002-05), making 10 starts along the way.
Also released on Saturday were defensive end Larry Birdine, tight end Casey Cramer, cornerback Tanard Davis, guard Ryan Durand, cornerback DeMarcus Faggins, fullback Rodney Ferguson, running back Quinton Ganther, safety Tuff Harris, wide receiver Mark Jones, defensive tackle Mitch King, tackle Cory Lekkerkerker, wide receiver Phillip Morris, tight end Matthew Mulligan, guard Jason Murphy, defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey, safety Nick Schommer, linebacker Josh Stamer, punter A.J. Trapasso, offensive lineman Fernando Velasco and wide receiver Paul Williams.
Notables among that group include Faggins, a regular at defensive back for the Houston Texans from 2002 through 2008; Ganther, who appeared in 13 games with the Titans last season; Jones, who was competing for duties as a return specialist after stints with the Giants (2004), Buccaneers (2005-07) and Panthers (2008); Stamer, who appeared in all 16 games with Tennessee last season, making one start, and Williams, the club's third-round pick in the 2007 draft who appeared in just five games with the organization, making one catch.
The Titans open the season this Thursday, when they will travel to meet the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers to begin the NFL's kickoff weekend.
