Less than a month before the end of the season, the contracts for several Titans assistant coaches have not been extended. In past seasons it was common practice for such contracts were extended much earlier, but no progress has been made this year even though head coach Jeff Fisher has attempted to resolve the matter and keep his current staff intact.
Contacted last night, Fisher refused to discuss the situation. ''This is an organizational issue. It is confidential,'' Fisher said. ''I'm not going to discuss it. My only concern right now is finishing up strong and winning the next game.''
The contracts, which are believed to include those of offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, are set to expire at season's end. In the past, the contracts for Fisher's assistant coaches have been for one or two seasons and they've usually been extended before the coaches got into the last year of their contracts...
...In addition to Heim-erdinger and Schwartz, the Titans have 11 assistant coaches: assistant head coach George Henshaw, receivers coach Steve Walters, defensive backs coach Everett Withers, defensive line coach Jim Washburn, special teams coach Alan Lowry, linebackers coach Dave McGinnis, running backs coach Sherman Smith, offensive line coach Mike Munchak, quarterbacks coach Craig Johnson, safeties coach Chuck Cecil and quality control coach Ned James.