Does Titans free agent Arden Key think he'll be back? Yes and no

4 days ago 2

Titans outside linebacker/edge rusher Arden Key had repeated one word in response to whether he thinks the team will try to re-sign him before or after he becomes an unrestricted free agent in March.

"Yeah, yeah," said Key, who just completed his three-year, $21 million deal.

Words are what have landed Key in bad graces with teammates and coaches this season, though.

And Key's words Jan. 5 during the team's locker cleanout day at Ascension St. Thomas Sports Park were confusing.

Exhibit A:

What do you feel like the future holds for you?

"Oh, I'll be on somebody else's team," he said. "We don't know what team, but definitely on somebody else's team."

You don't think you'll be here?

"I don't know," Key said. "It's up to them. We'll talk and see what the business holds."

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Do you want to be back here?

"Yeah, yeah," Key said. "I bought a house here, growing a relationship with a lot of people here. The community, did some things out in the community that I've shown and that I haven't shown.

"I've been here three years. Why not stay?"

Arden Key called out Cam Ward on team plane

Key, who had four sacks and 23 tackles, including six for a loss, in 12 games this season, used the loudspeaker on the plane during a trip back home on Dec. 7 to joke about Ward's mood following the team's victory against the Browns.

The news came to light when Titans road game sideline reporter Will Boling shared the story on his radio show.

Still, Key said on Jan. 5 he believes he has made a "great impression" on his teammates. He even jokingly referred to himself in the third person.

"They know who I am," Key said. "They know me. They know that I'm going to speak the full truth. They know there's no ill feelings behind it. They know it's meant for the best, and they know it's Arden."

Arden Key said his relationship with Titans' Dennard Wilson is good

There also was the controversy between Key and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson in December, when the former suggested that the latter failed to make sufficient halftime adjustments during a loss against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 15.

"We don't adjust, that's what it is," Key said after that game.

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Wilson fired back, saying that "everybody has an opinion about everything."

"Everybody just needs to stay in their lane and focus on what they need to focus on," Wilson continued.

On Jan. 5, Key said he and Wilson are "square."

"We've been square," Key said. "That was ... the little media spin. That was a great job from you guys. Gotta tip it out to y'all. We definitely squashed that fast."

Paul Skrbina is a sports enterprise reporter covering the Predators, Titans, Nashville SC, local colleges and local sports for The Tennessean. Reach him at pskrbina@tennessean.com and on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) @paulskrbina.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Titans free agent Arden Key gives conflicting answers about next year

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