**
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| Will Witherspoon is expected to compete for a starting role at linebacker in 2010. |
"Going into next season, there are some questions to answer at the linebacker spot and Will helps us answer some of those questions," said Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt. "He has been a quality starting linebacker in this league for a number of years and shown the ability to play all three spots. His final landing spot will be sorted out as the roster is formed, but I would expect him to be in the mix for us at outside linebacker."
Entering his ninth season, Witherspoon has 127 games of NFL experience and has collected 20 sacks and nine interceptions. During his career, he has posted six 100-plus tackle seasons. A versatile player, Witherspoon has played both outside (57 starts) and middle linebacker (56 starts) during his NFL career. One of his finest season came in 2007 with the St. Louis Rams when he totaled 132 tackles, seven sacks, two forced fumbles and 10 passes defensed.
Witherspoon joins the Titans after spending the majority of last season with the Philadelphia Eagles, where he played in 10 games, tallied 68 stops, one sack, one interception and one forced fumble. He started the 2009 season with the St. Louis Rams (six starts) and was traded to the Eagles on October 20th.
Witherspoon was originally drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round (73rd overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft. He played four seasons with the Panthers before signing as an unrestricted free agent with the St. Louis Rams, where he played three-plus seasons.
