Kenny Britt: ACL Injury Will Derail Star Receiver's Promising Career

The Tennessee Titans have had a surprising start to the 2011 NFL season. They are tied atop the AFC South division with the Houston Texans, and the biggest reason for that has been the play of star receiver Kenny Britt. But things are not looking so bright for the third-year wideout or the Titans after Sunday.

In the second quarter of their game against Denver, Britt caught a pass and his right knee buckled. He was taken out on a stretcher. The team has been fearing the worst and hoping for the best.

Late Monday afternoon, the team's fears were confirmed. The news was first reported by The Tennessean, and head coach Mike Munchak confirmed it at his weekly press conference.

This is a huge blow for both Britt and the Titans.

For the Titans, Britt has been the only consistent weapon that this team has had on offense this season. He was having a terrific start to the season with three touchdown catches in the first two games and back-to-back 100-yard receiving games.

Now, unless Chris Johnson can remember how to run the ball in the right direction, the team will have to rely on Nate Washington and Lavelle Hawkins for big plays. Washington has been fine, but he had Britt as a safety net before. He has to step up and be the No. 1 receiver this team needs.

For Britt, he has had his share of problems off the field. He has been arrested twice this year alone, and is already on Roger Goodell's "naughty" list.

But playing football has always been a sanctuary for Britt. It is the place he goes where he feels most comfortable, like he can be himself and not have to worry about anything going on in the outside world.

If you take football away from Britt, there is no telling what kind of problems he is going to have. He is going to endure a brutal rehabilitation process, which is going to wreak havoc on his mind. He is not going to have his sanctuary anymore.

We like to believe that football—or any sport for that matter—is just a game. But for the athletes, it is their livelihood. It is a big part of who they are as people. If you have take an already unstable athlete away from the game he loves, there is no telling what will happen.

It would be great to see Britt just have the surgery, go through rehab and come back next season better than ever. But he has proven in the past that when he is not playing football he is going to be doing something that he shouldn't.

This ACL injury is going to have serious long-term ramifications on Britt's career. Not just for what it will do to his ability to make a cut on the field, but because of what he is going to do without football for 12 months.