NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Terrance West holds no grudges, he promises.
The Titans running back – traded from Cleveland to Tennessee on September 6 – isn't preparing for Sunday's game with an "I'll-show-them" attitude.
"I am going to treat this game the same as all of them,'' West said. "And I'll let the plays on the field speak for itself."
Yet West admits, this one will be a little extra special. A third-round pick by the Browns in the 2014 NFL Draft, Cleveland shipped West out of town a season after he led the Browns with 673 rushing yards and four touchdowns. In return, the Titans gave the Browns a conditional seventh round pick.
On his way out of town, West's maturity was called into question in media reports. West said he's not sure where those rumors originated, and he doesn't care, he said. When the Titans travel to Cleveland on Sunday to face the Browns, West said his focus will be simple – help his new team win.
West ran for 41 yards on 13 carries, including a 12-yard run, in his debut with the Titans on Sunday in Tampa Bay.
"Of course it's going to be special, because I still talk to guys on the team,'' West said. "Cleveland is a great organization and I have nothing but respect for them. It's going to be fun, playing against your friends. It's like when you are playing Pop Warner, you are playing against your brother on a Pop Warner team. But I am just treating this game the same as every game."
"Everything right now is about the Tennessee Titans, any way I can help contribute to a win with them, I'm in."
Titans coach Ken Whisenhunt said West is still finding his way on his new team. Bishop Sankey led the Titans with 74 yards on Sunday. Antonio Andrews sat out the opener with a hamstring injury, which opened the door for West to get immediate playing time.
"I thought there were a couple footwork things, a couple of situations where he wasn't as comfortable with our offense, you could tell,'' Whisenhunt said of West. "Especially the goal line, I thought that's really where it came up. There were a couple of those plays where we didn't get in that was because he hit it in the wrong hole, or he was a little too quick and didn't get a chance for the guard to get around or hit it in the correct hole.
"But that being said, there were a few plays where he looked really good. He looked explosive, powerful, showed good vision…There are obviously a lot of things to be optimistic about with him. I'm excited about what he brings to the table and I certainly feel very good getting him and having him as a part of our group."
West isn't sure what kind of reception he'll get from fans in Cleveland.
But he said he gave it all during his time with the team.
If he should find his way into the end zone on Sunday, there's one thing he won't do --- dive into the Dawg Pound.
"That is disrespectful, I wouldn't do that,'' said West, shaking his head. "I'm just going to go out there and perform, and whatever is in the game plan, I am just going to run with it. My main focus is to go up there and get a win."
