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NASHVILLE - When it comes to new Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon, he seems markedly different from the last few who held this position before him.

In my time covering the Titans, which dates back to the end of the Floyd Reese era, through Mike Reinfeldt, Ruston Webster, and John Robinson, what seems clear to me, at least from the short time we’ve spent around Carthon, is that he is in control of what he is doing and seemingly has a plan to move this team forward.

However, even more impressive is the candid, off-the-record comments and the openness with which he answered questions from some media members after today’s press conference ended and the recorders were turned off and put away.

Standing face to face, it was easy to see the passion in his eyes for what he is doing. Yet, he can show his personality and share things away from football in a way that makes him friendly and approachable.

During today's press conference, Carthon shared a story where he was at an event and agreed to take a picture with a female fan when the lady shared her thoughts on the possibility of a Derrick Henry trade.

“You better not trade Derrick,” the lady said, as Carthon described the conversation in his pre-draft press conference Monday. “And she scared the hell out of me because it came from a motherly, authoritative place. I was like, ‘Yes ma'am.'”

When asked about what he hears the most from fans around town, it's easily about Henry.

As for his response?

“I just smile, and kind of nod and just hope that someone comes in a just kind of saves me,” he said.

For the last two months, most talk around the Titans has been more about the latest rumors than the latest actual information about what’s going on with the team. 

On Monday,  Carthon took a chance to set the record straight on some of the rumors that have plagued him and his staff of late. 

“If it’s not a direct quote from me, Mike (Vrabel), Amy (Adams Strunk) or anybody, then nine times out of 10 it’s not real,” Carthon said. 

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