AFC South Week in Review: The Summer Shakes

Do you feel it?

The dull, dry ache in your bones...

The soft nausea that comes from being too hungry...

The restless frustration with no release?

Do you feel like Steve McQueen bouncing a ball off the wall of your cell?

The medical term for your ailment is "football withdrawal" (Barficus NeFLicus is the Latin name) and the symptoms will last another seven weeks or so.

It's not that nothing happened this week, but it's slim pickings for sure. Let's review all the goings on in the South.

The biggest story of the week was the sad news about Justin Blackmon. I've already pontificated enough on that topic, so let's move on.

 Jacksonville releases Aaron Kampman

Kampman signed a huge deal with the Jags, and stared his career off well. After just half a season in teal, he blew out his knee, rarely played and wasn't productive ever again.

Kampman was a great locker-room guy and a real leader, but he reveals the danger of spending money on veteran free agents. Believe it or not, he was one of the better signings in 2010. Most of the deals given to veterans turned out worse.

Everyone remembers the Julius Pepper deal, but they forget the Aaron Kampmans of the world. The less money your team spends on veteran free agents, the better.

The Colts are close to a deal with Andrew Luck

This is only a story because it's always a big deal when the No. 1 pick signs. Luck has been finishing his final weeks of classes, so he hasn't been with the Colts for OTAs.

After he wraps up his finals, he'll fly out to Indy and get started on trying to save the franchise. There's every reason to expect his contract to be resolved quickly. It doesn't have to be done for him to participate in minicamp, so there's no real pressure.

In other words, this is a notable event, but not really a story that bears focus or worry.

The Titans' Quarterback Competition is Friendly

I never know what to think about these kinds of stories, because I know that a successful quarterback is going to be hyper-competitive, but in the Titans' case, I can buy the good vibes.

Hasselbeck knows that if he does his job well, and Locker beats him out, it will be seen as a credit to the former Seahawks QB. If he gets the reputation for being a good mentor, he could hang around NFL rosters for another three or four years, just mentoring young quarterbacks.

From Locker's perspective, there's no real threat. Hasselbeck is not the long-term answer in Tennessee and everyone knows it.

This isn't Tebow-Sanchez or even the quietly dangerous Henne-Gabbert powder keg we are dealing with here. This is a well-orchestrated plan that seems to working well for the Titans.