Tennessee: White, Johnson promote ‘Smash ‘n Dash’ t-shirts
Thursday, December 4, 2008
By Terry McCormick
sports@timesfreepress.com
NASHVILLE — After the Tennessee Titans ran over the Kansas City Chiefs for a franchise-record 332 yards rushing back on Oct. 19, running backs LenDale White and Chris Johnson appeared in the post-game interview room and dubbed themselves as “Smash 'n Dash.”
Since that time, some local and even national media have begun to pick up on the slogan the two running backs used to refer to themselves.
Now, White and Johnson are taking it a step further by having t-shirts made, featuring a caricature likeness of each one with “Smash 'n Dash” on a Columbia blue background.
The t-shirts are being distributed for sale in Nashville area Kroger stores and were supposed to be arriving in stores on Wednesday, according to Anderson Studios in Nashville, which handled the printing of the shirts.
The money made from the sales will be used for charity, according to White or “Smash” as the case may be.
“Me and C.J. were talking about it for awhile, and we called somebody and got them involved and it took off,” White said. “Now, they've got the shirts printed up. Hopefully, we can keep it going and sell a lot of them, so we can give back to the community and give some money to foster kids. Hopefully, we can make enough so we can take some of them out shopping for Christmas.”
Both men appreciated how true their likenesses were in cartoon versions.
“It's pretty close, but they could have given me some more muscles,” Johnson said.
Added White, “I think I'm pretty hot, but we'll let the ladies decide that.”
YOUNG OUT
Vince Young sat out of Wednesday's practice because of an infection in his right thumb.
According to Titans coach Jeff Fisher, Young's thumb became infected after the Thanksgiving Day win over the Detroit Lions. Young saw his first action since the season opener in a mop-up role in the 47-10 blowout.
The quarterback was given some antibiotics for the swelling and infection during the days off, but the treatment did not work.
“He had an infection in the corner of the cuticle after the ballgame, so we put him on some antibiotics, and he took the weekend off,” Fisher said. “The antibiotics didn't do the trick, and it spread a little bit. We're just treating the infection and we're expecting him to play. We'll back him down from throwing for the next few days.”
OTHER INJURIES
The days off for the Titans proved to be beneficial as far as healing goes. Other than Young, the only Titans on the injury report were starting cornerbacks Cortland Finnegan (hamstring) and Nick Harper (ankle). Neither practiced on Wednesday, but the injuries are not believed to be serious enough to sideline them against Cleveland.
NOT LOOKING AHEAD
With a victory over the Browns on Sunday, the Titans can lock up their first AFC South championship since 2002. And if the San Francisco 49ers can upset the New York Jets, it would guaranteed the Titans a first-round bye in the playoffs.
That all sounds good to veteran tight end Alge Crumpler, though he vowed not to get ahead of himself in his thinking.
“My old bones would love another week off,” Crumpler said. “If you consider after the Thursday game having a few days off, I would enjoy another week off, but keeping with the theme of the Jeff Fisher Titans we're not going to look to far ahead. We're going to focus on the Cleveland Browns and handle business.”
REMEMBERING
Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck is expected to make his 110th consecutive start Sunday against the Browns. So he can be forgiven a bit if some of the games run together.
Bulluck was asked if he remembered new Cleveland starting quarterback Ken Dorsey when Dorsey made his last NFL start — in 2005 against Tennessee for the San Francisco 49ers.
“No, I just remember Ken Dorsey from when I played him my senior year in Miami, and there's no tape on that,” Bulluck said with a smile.
For the record, Dorsey's Hurricanes defeated Bulluck's Syracuse team that day. The Titans, however, did defeat the 49ers 33-22 in 2005.
FITTING IN
Veteran Tyrone Poole, signed just before the game against the New York Jets two games ago, worked some with the first team since Finnegan and Harper were both out. He split time with nickelback Vincent Fuller in practice.
“He's learning,” Fisher said of Poole. “He's got a much better feel obviously than when he got here, and if we need to call on him, we wouldn't hesitate.”