ESPN NFL

For the current issue, ESPN The Magazine went back and visited with the top-ranked high school recruit for each of the last 25 years to see what it meant to be SuperPrep magazine’s No. 1 guy.

Four of them have AFC South connections. The most notable is Jacksonville left tackle Eugene Monroe, who was the top guy in 2005. He went from Plainfield (New Jersey) High School to Virginia to the Jaguars as the No. 8 overall pick in the 2010 draft.

You need to be an ESPN The Magazine subscriber and/or an Insider to see the whole deal . But here’s what Monroe said:

"Being ranked No. 1 didn't mean a thing to me, but it did to my mother and the rest of my family and friends. You should have heard the way they said it, with such pride. My brother, Scott, walked around town telling everyone his brother was No. 1 in the nation. Seeing my family and friends enjoy it -- that was the best part."

The others with AFC South ties: David Givens (1998) was with the Titans, Vince Young (2002) will soon be released by the Titans and Myron Rolle (2006) spent the season on the Titans’ practice squad.

Jeremy Lambert from Charlottesville, VA writes: Am I the only person who thinks the Colts are in desperate need of a solid cornerback? I know of no respectable NFL receiver who would be intimidated in the slightest by any Colts cornerback of the last 10 years. If there are not good ones in the draft, what about a rare trade possibility? The Colts have three running backs, two of which are first-round picks. I am thinking of Philadelphia, who need a running game badly and also have Asante Samuel. I understand NFL trades are very rare, I am just a concerned fan, that's all.

Paul Kuharsky: I can’t look over the last 10 years, but these Colts aren’t looking for intimidation out of their corners. Like most teams they are looking for coverage.

Put Marlin Jackson back in the mix healthy and they are pretty solid at cornerback. Kelvin Hayden, Jackson, Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey are a pretty good foursome. They aren’t asked to cover one-on-one for a long time very often. Still, I’d say it’s the best group in the division.

People often seem to forget that even bad quarterbacks complete passes on somebody in an NFL game.

And the Colts gave up fewer pass plays of 30 yards or more than any team in the league. Intimidating enough for you or not, the corners are a big piece of that, don’t you think?

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Stephen Shumock from Jackson, MS writes: Have you considered a few other things? There's one other piece of the blue print other teams should follow to beat the Colts. They need the Colts' #1 receiver to be injured, their #2 (Anthony Gonzalez) to be on IR, their all-pro DE to be hurt, their all-pro safety to be on IR, and their #1 and #2 CB's on IR and their #4 CB to be injured. Let's face it no other QB or team makes it to the Super Bowl with those injuries. I have no clue how Peyton Manning and Jim Caldwell did it. I will say one other thing, for all Peyton's lack of success in the post-season, he did win the one Super Bowl in the season in which the defense showed up for him. If the Patriots' defense give up one more score in two of the Super Bowls, does that make Brady a "failure" like Manning? If the 49ers had given up one more score which nullified the significance of the catch, is Montana not as great?

Paul Kuharsky: The Colts overcame an awful lot of that to go 16-3, so why all of a sudden should we use all that as an excuse?

They were in position to win the Super Bowl or at least force OT and failed to do so. To analyze why or how it impacts Manning’s legacy or the Colts’ legacy is hardly unreasonable.

I don’t rate Manning a failure for this game at all, but he and Reggie Wayne failed on the pick and there is no way you can say otherwise.

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Rick M either from Mobile or via mobile writes: Great article… Reggie Wayne quit on his team and everyone except you will not call him out...Dungy mentioned it on TV… Wayne catches the TD at the end and Peyton has almost 400 hundred yards passing and 2 td with chance to win… Wayne quit… Run the film over and over in slow motion and watch Reggie Wayne’s effort... Pitiful... He quit on his team… Peyton will never ever trust him again...Watch for him to be traded… best to you.

Paul Kuharsky: Wayne insisted his knee wasn’t an issue. His effort on those two plays was. Was he moping because he didn’t like the approach? Was there some incident earlier? I don’t know. I don’t know if and when we will know. But I don’t expect him to be traded. I expect it’ll be resolved behind the scenes. It’s worth noting that Manning worked hard all season to stoke Wayne’s ego, noting how much he impacted coverage for Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie when they were productive and Wayne wasn’t.

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Jonathan in Ft Wayne, IN writes: Paul, Thanks for a great season of coverage, but I want to hit on what I know is an over-talked about subject now with Peyton and his legacy. I am a Colts fan and a Peyton fan, but I actually take all of this critical talk about him being a choker positively. While I agree it’s hard to truly determine a GOAT, only truly great players are criticized as harshly as Manning has been for a mistake because of how uncommon it is for these players make them. I think back to Roger Federer when he lost the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back to Nadal and everyone thought something was wrong and he was done, to only then go on and win the US Open (and more subsequently). Or even Woods (pre-scandal), who struggled to not win a major for awhile when tinkering with his swing and everybody thought something was wrong, to then win multiple ones, including one on essentially only one knee. So, while I agree the general idea of conversation is a struggle involving a GOAT, people only criticize players as harshly as they are Manning when they are truly one of the elite.

Paul Kuharsky: Thank you for reading, Jonathan, and for the kind words. Hadn’t really heard many people with that take, and so it gets play in the mailbag. Some truth in it. But maybe a little simplistic too?

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Chase Hargis in Brentwood, TN writes: Hey Paul, I’m a huge fan of your blog and check it nearly every day. Anyway, to my question, I’m also a HUGE Titans fan and was wondering if you thought there was any way that the Titans would try to get a big name defensive player such as Peppers this offseason? Now that our offense is so dynamic, I’m more worried about our D for once and with Vanden Bosch possibly being let go we will need a good DE. Also I was curious how likely it is you think we resign players such as Brown, Bulluck, Tulloch, Mawae, Amano, Scaife, and Crumpler? Thanks, Paul, keep up the good work!

Paul Kuharsky: Nearly every day? What do we have to do to get you up to a few times a day?

Constant theme with me: Big name does not equate with great production but does mean big price.

How high were you on Chris Hope and David Thornton when the Titans signed them? They weren’t big names. They were guys with upside who could play. I always defend the Yancey Thigpen and David Givens signings -- they were the best guys available at a sore spot. But they were big names and how did that work out?

If there were questions about how hard Albert Haynesworth would play after a big contract, well Julius Peppers sure seems to be a guy willing to turn it off for stretches. I don’t think he solves the Titans problems and I wouldn’t expect them to chase the most expensive guy on the market. When’s the last time they did that?

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Jeff Fisher is always steady and measure and rarely gets visibly upset outside of some sideline gesticulating.

In the fall of 2006 he had some parting shots after the Titans traded Billy Volek to San Diego.

Wednesday afternoon he took aim at WTVF-TV in Nashville for how it handled a report on a lawsuit filed against the team by former receiver David Givens.

Read the details here.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky

Football Outsiders rates the league through two weeks with its formula: Indy 10, Tennessee 21, Jacksonville 24, Houston 25.

Houston Texans

• The Texans have their first chance to start 2-0 in the AFC South, writes John McClain.
• McClain wants to see the Texans follow-up the win with another good performance.
• The Sporting News talks with Andre Johnson.
• Matt Schaub is the AFC Offensive Player of the Week, says McClain.
• A replay of McClain’s chat.
• What did Gary Kubiak say about Cedric Benson? Alan Burge takes a look.

Indianapolis Colts

• Crazy finishes are almost becoming commonplace for the Colts, says Mike Chappell.
• Bill Polian expects teams to play the Colts like the Dolphins did, says John Oehser.
• Everyone knew Peyton Manning had a good chance of pulling it out in Miami, writes Phil Richards.
• There was more to the win than Manning, Jim Caldwell reminds us, says Oehser.
• Time for extra scrutiny of the defense from Caldwell, says Richards.
• Bob Kravitz’s report card from the win in Miami.
• Young Colts Pierre Garcon and Donald Brown stepped up in prime time, says Tom James.

Jacksonville Jaguars

• The Jaguars bring back Nate Hughes as a practice-squader, says Michael C. Wright.
• Jay Gray proposed some ways to boost ticket sales.
• Vic Ketchman wants to live the “Salt Life.”
• Mike Nelson likes Jack Del Rio and expects him to be around, but looks at alternatives anyway.
• Dan Wetzel considers the Jags and Jacksonville.

Tennessee Titans

• In case you missed the David Givens story.
• The Titans are down to two candidates to fill in for Craig Hentrich -- Reggie Hodges and A.J. Trapasso, reports Terry McCormick.
• Hodges might be the best quick fix, blogs Wyatt.
• Five things Jim Wyatt knows about the Titans.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

David Givens says the Titans encouraged him to play despite a knee condition that could not withstand NFL competition, according to a $25 million lawsuit he has filed against the team.

Here's the link to News Channel 5's story and here’s the link to The Tennessean's piece.

Givens

The newspaper report includes this from Brad Blank, who represented Givens when he played:

"The issue is not about money.

"It's emotional and physical, and the idea that his career was cut short. ... The issue is what could have been done better and was there some kind of malpractice or negligence.

"His knee looks awful. Emotionally, in terms of his upbeat nature. … He is also not the happy-go-lucky, affable guy I used to know."

I am saddened to learn that Givens is still having a hard time. I got to know him only a little bit at the start of his short time with the team.

In attempts to check in on him after the injury and subsequent surgeries, we always heard that he was not in a good frame of mind, having a difficult time with things, withdrawn, downcast. Initially, those reports also said he was determined to resurface in the league, though all indications were that his knee simply wouldn’t allow it.

It’s a terribly unfortunate element of the league, the way a serious injury takes a guy from life as a star playing in front of 60,000 every week to a patient rehabilitating around a handful of people.

The end of football is hard on players -- the divorce rates, the financial troubles and the lifestyle adjustment have been well documented. Put a serious injury and a sudden ending into the formula and the change is drastic, the potential for emotional difficulties heightened.

The Titans haven’t commented on the case. But the accusations from Givens pertaining to an examination by Dr. Tomas Byrd, “an independent orthopedic surgeon who checked [Givens] before he signed a five-year contract in March 2006,” are disturbing.

The suit claims that after Byrd examined Givens, he forwarded the results to the Titans and their training staff. It further alleges that after the pathological defect in the structure of his left knee was discovered, Givens was not made aware of the problem as he should have been.

It says that he learned of the condition only after reviewing his medical file for the first time in February 2009. He got the file as part of a still-unsettled arbitration with the Titans through the NFL Players Association collective bargaining agreement.

So the first question that needs to be answered from the team’s side of things is why would they have given a receiver with a knee defect a five-year, $24 million contract that included $8 million in bonuses in the first two years?

Nick Beres, the Nashville TV reporter who broke the story, said on The Wake Up Zone in Nashville Wednesday morning that the timing of the physical is unclear and that it could have come after Givens was already under contract.

(Standard disclosure: I'm a part of that radio show three times a week.)

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Some good stuff here from Jason La Canfora.

He got a list of each team's actually salary and bonus expenditures over the last five years, then divided those numbers by wins in that time period to measure bang for buck. It's a somewhat random sampling period, but we work with what we've got here.

Here's how things stacked up in the AFC South:

2. Colts, 63 wins, $532.77M, $8.44M per win
7. Jaguars, 45 wins, $480.06M, $10.66M per win
13. Titans, 40 wins, $465.28M, $11.63M per win
27. Texans, 31 wins, $522.28M, $16.84M per win

I'm surprised by the Jaguars' high ranking and a bit surprised by the Titans' low one.

Jacksonville's failures with high-priced free agents and No. 1 draft picks cost Shack Harris his post in the front office and prompted a new fiscal strategy by his replacement, more powerful general manager Gene Smith. Clearly, a good share of that has been offset by production from players working at a far more reasonable rate. The Jags are sandwiched between the Giants and Eagles here, and it's more important to Jacksonville to maximize value -- New York and Philly can better endure costly errors. Props to the Jags for this ranking, which has to please owner Wayne Weaver.

Tennessee has been hurt by big contracts for minimal production from Vince Young, Pacman Jones and free-agent receiver David Givens, who quickly suffered a knee injury that ended his career with the Titans. Still, virtually everyone had high draft misses and bad injuries. I would have guessed Tennessee would be in the top 10. But this isn't bad considering it includes a five-win season and a four-win season as they endured a down cycle and rebuilt. (Still typical, isn't it, that they are looking up at the Ravens?)

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

David in Jacksonville writes: The Jags should trade down if they can. This team has needs on both sides of the ball and lacks playmakers on the roster. It is going to take a few good drafts to fix this roster. What are the chances the Jags can trade down? Will it take a QB (Stafford or Sanchez) to fall and someone behind the Jags wanted to trade up into the top ten?

Paul Kuharsky: More picks would be better, sure, but if they don't hit better than it won't matter.

From the outside, I would suspect they are willing to sink or swim with David Garrard at least a year more -- with better protection and better targets -- before judging if they made a mistake there or not with the big contract. In conversations I've had with people inside their headquarters, they still believe in him. I've not heard from the inside how they feel about Sanchez or how they feel about the idea of taking a quarterback at No. 8.

With the holes they have, a trade down scenario or using the pick to address defensive tackle or receiver or offensive tackle seems most sensible to me. If they take a quarterback, then they cast doubt on Garrard and create a whole other storyline. That doesn't mean they won't, though.

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Glenn in Cumberland, RI writes: 2 ideas. What are your reactions? Now that the Titans have lost out on Carr and Bush, do they go in a veteran direction like Dre Bly or Chris McCalister? Both might not like the demotion, but should still be pretty effective as a nickel corner. Also, what would you think about the Titans trying to trade LenDale to the Saints or Iggles who need a bigger back and then bring on Deuce as a guy to spell CJ. Deuce breaks down when asked to carry the ball 25 times, but what if he only had 10 touches a game? Could really have an impact. Thoughts? Glenn CBS '93 - Roar Lions Roar

Paul Kuharsky: I'm not sure the Titans want to go so old with the depth at corner. If they judge one of those guys to still be able to play effectively, are those guys going to come in and be content to rank as the fourth corner from the start? The Titans are not in the market for a nickel - Vincent Fuller has been quite good in that role and was re-signed.

LenDale White is in the final year of his initial contract, and doesn't have great trade value because of that and because his numbers were largely a product of the Titans' system. Tennessee need to think about who can replace him in 2010. I don't think they are looking to replace him this season.

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Chris Kirk from parts unknown writes: I was wondering if you thought there was any chance the Colts would look at James Laurinaitis with their first round pick. I'm not sure d-tackle is as pressing of a need as many since I liked what I saw out of Antonio Johnson last year and on paper Daniel Muir adds even more bulk to the middle. It seems like the easiest way to bring toughness and physicality to the front seven is with a tough linebacker and Laurinaitis makes our defense tougher by just walking in the door. This is a guy who would've been a top ten pick if he'd come out last year and I'm surprised more teams aren't talking about him. Given the Colts recent history with drafting OSU guys(Gonzo, Pitcock, and Roy Hall) can you see the Colts going that direction again with Laurinaitis?

Paul Kuharsky: Not impossible, but if he's strictly an inside guy to them, that's not where they need the most help. I don't think it's a sure think they are looking defensive tackle in the first -- the top three are likely to be gone. They could have better options at receiver. But if the highest-rated player on their board isn't a DT or a receiver or a backer, they're not going to be afraid to take him wherever he plays. It's how they want to operate in the first couple rounds.

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	NFL.com Video
	The best moments from Jay Cutler in 2008.

Rob in Chattanooga writes: Paul, I was just wondering if you had given any more thought to the idea of the Titans possibly trading for Jay Cutler. I know they just locked up Collins for two more years. But with the ever-dwindling confidence in VY and Collins' age, isn't it worth taking a shot at Cutler? It seems like they could afford to offer a couple of draft picks, cash and maybe a player or two to get him. Your thoughts? Thanks!

Paul Kuharsky: I just don't see the Titans being a good trade partner for Denver. They don't have a quarterback the Broncos want.

Cap considerations and the Broncos actually wanting what the Titans could offer player-wise would make it difficult to put together the sort of deal you propose. And the Titans would create an awkward environment with two starters.

They are going to need another quarterback soon, but I don't think it lines up to be this one.

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Brian Fullford in Jacksonville writes: Considering he went to Vanderbilt and with the aging Collins and bust in Young, why is Tennessee not more of a choice for the Cutler? I imagine Fisher would love his fire and wouldn't have a Cutler in the backfield be a bigger draw for FA wide receivers? On another note, I'm a bit shocked at some of my Jaguar brethren. The uproar at the Jones release has them clamoring for Gene's head. It is a sad affair when such mediocrity is missed. I don't believe for one second this pushes WR up the charts at the #8 pick but does it put more of an impetus on trading out? I like Oher but if he is hot\cold like some are saying then the Jags may have Raji, Monroe and Smith kids they would be willing to pay #8 money. What does your gut (or sources) tell you, Paul?

Paul Kuharsky: I certainly think the Titans would like to have Cutler as their quarterback for the long haul. You ask why Tennessee isn't more of a choice for him. He's not doing the choosing here. He's under contract to Denver, and Denver can choose to trade him wherever it likes or not to move him and deal with the consequences of the impasse.

Free agent wide receivers are not wary of Tennessee as so many people seem to suspect, at least not because they don't like the offense. When the Titans offer a big contract, people jump. Nate Washington got a pretty good deal considering his resume and he had plenty of interest from other teams. There was no headliner in this free agent class. David Givens, who had horrible luck suffering a horrible injury, had other good options and didn't hesitate to sign in Te
nnessee.

As for Matt Jones, I thought he turned into a nice possession guy last year. It's a lot easier to find one of those than a deep threat, which the Jaguars always seem to need.

I think B.J. Raji and Eugene Monroe will be gone by No. 8. If Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin fall there, I think they'd be hard to resist no matter the track record. Perhaps best-case is a quarterback there and the Jets or someone in love with him wanting to trade up. But Jacksonville's got to end up with an impact guy at the top of this draft.

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William Guice from Spring Hill, TN writes: I was hoping for the NFL to at least discuss a new overtime method, but oh well. I have an idea for a new overtime model & would love your thoughts... How about field goal attempts/free kicks...like penalty kicks in soccer. The only people on the field are a kicker & his holder. Each team gets 3 attempts from the 40, then the 45 (if needed), then the 50 (if needed), then the -45 (if needed). Alternating turns. Flip a coin to pick end or who goes first. The one who has the best round of kicks at a yard line wins! Go no further back than the -45. It makes teams have kickers that can kick the long ball. Can you imagine the pressure of just a kicker & a holder on the field with a rocking or a silent stadium...waiting to see if that guy can make the kick. Anyway...just a crazy idea. Peace ~

Paul Kuharsky: My strong feeling is that a football game needs to be decided by football, not a gimmick. The college construct is gimmicky enough -- teams don't even naturally take possession of the ball at the opponents' 20. They certainly don't naturally ever have only a kicker and holder on the field with a game on the line.

I've got no problem with NFL overtime as it is. I'd have no major issue with a rule that the team that loses the toss gets to field a punt or a kickoff before the game becomes sudden. Anything more than that I am against.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

Eric in Indianapolis writes: So, I've been hearing quite the buzz around Indianapolis about the Colts holding a private work-out with QB Sanchez. Being an armchair quarterback myself, I am a bit puzzled by that decision. It seems teams only hold those workouts if they are serious about the player, and having a 3-time MVP at the helm for at least 5-7 more years seems like this isn't the year for this. What do you think is going on? Trade bait? Manning retiring sooner (4-5 years) than later? How about the issues of needing a 3rd receiver, starting DT, starting LB, another tandem RB?? I am in dismay. Of course, the Colts for the past decade have always been 2 steps ahead of everyone and very prepared for the future.

Paul Kuharsky: Don't read too much into a workout of a get-together. Sometimes teams have such things to finish crossing a guy off their lists. Teams can have 30 guys in for visits plus locals -- that's far more meetings than draft picks.

But yeah, maybe they think he's too good to pass up if he's there for them. Few people expect he will be.

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Paul Smith from parts unknown writes: Your writing is terrible.

Paul Kuharsky: Thank you for the constructive criticism. I will try to take your pointers to heart.

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Ken in Las Vegas writes: Titans aren't cheap?!?!? Bud Adams is a penny pinching miser! Since 'the great purge' after our last REAL Superbowl attempt.... look at how much cap space has not been utilized - THAT'S cheap! Moulds, Givens, Nate Washington are certainly cheaper than paying for a legitimate receiving option! Justin Gage, Brandon Jones and Justin Mccareins are not a viable receiving corps in this league - period! Gage is a decent #2. Washington is at best a #2....

Paul Kuharsky: Ken refers to this blog entry.

Who did you want them to get? The free agency class of receivers was weak, not forcing it was smart.

They've got a bad approach at the position, they devalue it. But it's philosophical, not financial.

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Weller Ross in Lawrence, KS writes: Now that we're a good way into free agency and I haven't heard Marvin Harrison's name mentioned hardly at all, do you think there is a chance he ends up coming back to play in Indy? I know that with the Colts cap issues he would have to play for significantly less money, but if he's not getting offers anywhere else then I would have to think something is better than nothing especially if it meant staying with the Colts. Your thoughts?

Paul Kuharsky: I think it's a remote possibility at best.

I don't think Harrison surfaces anywhere until after the draft or even during camp.

If the Colts aren't satisfied with their receivers in camp or have a bad injury and he's still out there and reaches out and says he'll play for cheap, maybe. But my sense is when a guy like Bill Polian cuts the ties, he's looking forward, not back. The Colts didn't only think Harrison was too expensive, I believe they think he's also close to done.

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Unknown from parts unknown writes: You have to be the most snooty, idiotic person hired by ESPN (this side of Skip Bayless anyway). Where do you get off writting with suck attitude? I mean you write a blog for god sakes, and we all know bloggers are killing sports writting as we know it. Im guessing you never even played football in your life. Oh wait, you were that kid on varsity only because he was a senior and hated everyone else for being so much better than you. Anyway, lighten up and get off your laughable high horse.

Paul Kuharsky: Thanks for chiming in. Points taken. I'd take them even more, however, if you put your name on your e-mail.

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Andrew Hoelscher in Richardson writes: What has Vince Young done to be compared to Pacman Jones? Does Young have a long criminal record? Has he been suspended by the league? Has he been traded away and cut? The guy got hurt and lost confidence. He's human. Everyone makes so much of Matt Cassel, but how many of you would have let him on the field before last year? Young had one bad year and one injured year, and now he's useless? Even worse than that, he's a criminal? You're pathetic.

Paul Kuharsky: I don't recall comparing them.

Of course Vince Young is different from Pacman Jones in plenty of ways.

He's the same in a few too: he turned into a distraction. He doesn't 'get it.' He's not as good as he thinks he is. He's an under-performing, very high draft pick who's gotten a lot of money and has not produced or matured as they hoped he would. He's surrounded by people who tell him he's great and everything is OK and the world is out to get him.

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Jason in Philadelphia: Paul, what are your thoughts on Colts' backup QB Jim Sorgi? I would sure like to see him get a chance to play. Backing up Manning for 6 years is bound to teach you a few things here and there. He hasn't been brilliant in the time he has played, but it has been very limited, and mostly with the 2nd and 3rd team. Matt Cassel didn't show much promise until he had the opportunity to play a prolonged period of time. I honestly believe that if given the opportunity, he would play very well. Indy liked him so much that they offered him an extension last year, and Bill Polian is a pretty good evaluator of talent.

Paul Kuharsky: I think he's about mediocre. If you're a Colts fan, I can't imagine why you'd ever want to see him get a chance to play, it would mean Peyton Manning isn't playing.

Them liking Sorgi as a backup is far different than them liking him if they had to play him for six weeks. I'm sure he practices well and does good work running the scout team, which gets the defense ready each week. If he did play, they'd have to run a lot better and play a lot better defense for him.

But I don't suspect he's Manning's heir, and I don't know that it's time to start thinking about one yet.

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Duane from Texas writes: It seems to me that you would prefer VY to be a failure to prove yourself right. Why is this? Do you just have a dislike for him or what? Now that the Titans have a serious weapon at RB and WR and a good TE. It just makes sense to let him have his shot as the starting QB with no excuses of not having offensive play makers around him, which he did not the first 2 years of his career. Oh in case you don't remember we made the playoffs in '07 with Vince starting. I was at the game in Houston when he won it with his legs on the 36 yard game winning run. It just seems strange that the other two big name QB's in the '06 draft (Cutler,Leinart) have yet to even reach the playoffs with MUCH better WR's than the Titans have. So will you PLEASE respond with why
you and other media mouths have such a liking of the other two and VY is chop liver as far as you all are concerned??

Paul Kuharsky: I'm not rooting against him. But I'm not on his bandwagon by any means.

My opinions are formed based on what I see and hear. And from what I've seen and heard, the light has not come on for him, he doesn't get it. His comments, when he talks, are often nonsensical or untrue. He said "'I've never been hurt before," when he hurt his knee against the Jags. Well, he missed time the year before with a quad injury. Did he forget about that, or does he simply think we'll accept all his spoken words as fact because, as he reminds us every time he talks, he's just a humble guy?

Cutler is far better than Young at this point. Leinart amounts to the same wash, but it sure feels as if the Cards feel better about him than the Titans do about Young. I don't categorize this group of QBs as good with good receivers and these as good with bad receiver, etc. A guy is either good and progressing or he isn't. Jeff Fisher's Titans are never going to have two top flight WRs. Their QB is going to have to be successful in the current brand of framework.

Sure, VY's numbers and Kerry's numbers weren't vastly different. Collins did two things Young didn't -- he won the complete confidence of his teammates and coaches (I don't know how the media has had any bearing on that) and he rarely turned the ball over, a crucial thing in the way the Titans want to work.

I am surprised how many VY apologists remain. He's got a big chance to change some minds with his work and approach this offseason. I hope he surprises us all, but I don't expect he will. Sorry if you don't care for that opinion.

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ElTrain in Evansville, IN writes: I heard the tail end of something about L.T. ending up in Indy on the radio today....Any chance of this really happening?

Paul Kuharsky: I can't see him getting cut for starters. I can't see the Colts finding the money to outbid a team like New Orleans for him.

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Colby from parts unknown writes: Paul, Love the blog. Keeps me up to date on the only conference that really matters in the NFL, ha.. but anyways, I'm a huge Titans fan wondering what you think about the Nate Washington pickup. The man is quick and will definitely add to the new persona the Titans seem to have tried to picked up as one of the fastest offenses in the NFL, but he has always been a third receiver at best in the NFL. Do you think he will be able to both step up to the challenge of taking on the #1 receiver slot we've been yearning for since Mason left and could this be one of those subtle picks people look over (like most people that say we should go after 30 some receivers that are "big names") that could actually materialize into a blessing? Thanks for the blogging, hope to hear from you. Colby in Columbus

Paul Kuharsky: Thanks for the kind words, they mean a lot.

I like the Titans' addition of Washington, especially at that somewhat reasonable price.

But I don't expect him to emerge as a No. 1. How many of those are there? Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Randy Moss for sure. T.O. and Brandon Marshall maybe. Then who? It's not like every team has one, and a team like the Titans that doesn't even really want one won't have one.

If Washington plays like a No. 2 and Justin Gage keeps doing what he did last season, they'll have upgraded. They still have work to do, but they aren't shooting to have a huge No. 1. Derrick Mason developed into a clear No. 1 for them, but he was a possession guy, not a blazer/huge-play guy and he wouldn't have been a No. 1 in some other environments.

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Walter Greensboro, NC: You are correct in saying that the Titans aren't cheap. Much as I love 'em, what they are is scared. They almost never take risks, and that might get you a shiny 13-3 regular season. But we're also 0-2 in the playoffs over the last two years. They can keep their wins in November and December. This team should be winning in January. And they also do a very poor job of taking care of their own. If they did this we probably would've held on to Mason and Rolle a little longer(both players proved to be effective in Baltimore). And more importantly their handling of Steve McNair was totally inexcusable after what he did for this franchise. Moreover, it seems to me that Young would be much further along in his development if his long time family friend had been there for him to sit behind and learn from for a year. And I cannot see the merit in your assessment of Young as a bust. Nothing about a 19-9 record as a starter says bust to me. Too quickly people forget that the Titans were 0-5 Vince's rookie season before they finally gave him the reigns from Kerry Collins, who's now had one good season since 2000. Vince Young is the future of this team, and the sooner Fisher gets that through his head the better.

Paul Kuharsky: I agree they are a little gun shy at times. But they didn't give up on Rolle and Mason when they did because they didn't think those guys could play, that was a salary cap purge that was based purely on finances. They weren't graceful with McNair, but their timing was probably correct, as it usually is when they decide a guy is finished.

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JL Hoboken, NJ: Hey Paul, I'm sure you're busy with FA reporting but I'd appreciate it if you took the time to respond. My question is regarding Roydell Williams. I know he was a very average receiver, but hasn't he gotten a pretty raw deal (Went from a #1 on a playoff team to out of the league in a heartbeat)? Are there any updates about his health and any potential FA offers? I like to think the Titans are a classy organization but I feel like they handled this situation about as poorly as they handled McNair's. Thanks - JL

Paul Kuharsky: If the whole league judges you to be done, you're done. How is it a raw deal?

If the Titans thought he wasn't going to be able to contribute and he was cuttable, I'm not sure what your complaint is. What did they owe him? He owed them -- they paid him and he was unable to perform with any consistency.

There is rarely such a thing as a happy ending in the NFL.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

The Titans don't write monster checks to other teams' free agents on the first day of free agency. We all know that. But they're hardly alone in being conservative. Peter King wrote this week about how Green Bay's assistant coaches had the first weekend of free agency off -- the Packers weren't going to be players in the early market either.

There are miles between free agency conservatism and doing nothing.

And I've been shocked at the e-mails I've gotten and the talk on Nashville radio that give great amplitude to the idea that the Titans "do nothing" in free agency, that they are cheap and unwilling to pay quality players.

If they are cheap to steer away from the kind of guarantees and total package that Albert Haynesworth got in Washington, then, yes, they are cheap.

Personally, I think they are pretty well built. You have to be to go 13-3, no matter the schedule or the playoff failure.

This is a team that's been able to overcome gaffes like Pacman Jones and Vince Young, misses like Chris Henry and Paul Williams, weak additions like Justin McCareins and Ryan Fowler and misfortunes like David Givens.

There is a long way between cheap and fiscally prudent.

Cheap teams don't bring in quality veterans from outside like Kevin Mawae, Chris Hope, David Thornton and Nick Harper. Cheap teams don't step up to re-sign Kerry Collins, Rob Bironas and Vincent Fuller or put a franchise tag on Bo Scaife. Cheap teams don't bring in Nate Washington and Jovan Haye to try to patch holes and upgrade positions -- to deals worth a combined $8.55 million in each of the next four years.

Are you cheap or are you smart if you lock up Cortland Finnegan, Michael Roos and David Stewart well in advance of free agency while their prices are still reasonable?

The Titans make their fair share of mistakes in personnel, for sure. Imagine if they hadn't blown the No. 6 and No. 3 overall draft picks as they rebuilt?

But the idea that they are afraid to write a check or lock up very good players is just inaccurate.

People getting all bent out of shape over the Titans' absence from big-ticket free agency should take note that while the Redskins win a lot in February and March, like most good teams the Titans are more concerned with November and December.

Update: A clarification on Fowler after hearing from some of you. It was too strong to group him with McCareins under the heading of weak additions. I don't think he performed to the expectations of the contract, but he is not a bad player. It was a rare instance, however, where a youngster pushed through a veteran when Stephen Tulloch took over as the starting middle linebacker just four games into the 2008 season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

	Rich Kane/Icon SMI
	David Givens hopes to play again in the NFL.

Unless you're Reggie Wayne, the last year has not been a particularly good time to be a big-name receiver in the AFC South.

Marvin Harrison is trying to come back from knee issues in Indianapolis. Jerry Porter will miss camp in Jacksonville after hamstring surgery. Andre Johnson missed seven games for Houston last year with a knee injury, and the Texans lost five of them.

Roydell Williams certainly doesn't rank in their class, but he did tie for the Titans' team lead in receptions (55) in 2007, then broke an ankle running a route in preparation for the playoff game in San Diego. He'll be dealing with pain all year and Justin McCareins looked locked in to what was his starting spot.

Some lesser known receivers in the division also ended up on IR: Houston's Jerome Mathis (now in Washington), Indy's Roy Hall and Aaron Moorehead (unsigned), Jacksonville's Mike Walker and John Broussard, and Tennessee's Brandon Jones.

But the worst story of all belongs to David Givens, whose injury dates back to 2006.

The Titans' prized free agent from New England played in only five games that season. A devastating knee injury put him out of the picture for the rest of that year and all of 2007 and the team cut him in February to avoid a $500,000 roster bonus.

After tearing his ACL and meniscus and breaking a bone in his left knee that required bone plugs, he's had at least three surgeries and continues to rehabilitate at Dr. James Andrews' facility in Alabama.

Givens collected $12 million from the Titans. You can't blame the team for grabbing one of the best receivers available in 2006 free agency. You can't fault Givens for suffering a freak injury. It's one of those unfortunate stories where everything unravels for a guy. I only got to know him a little in the Titans' locker room, but it was clear he was a proud, serious and stand-up guy.

Brad Blank, Givens' agent, said the receiver is determined to play again.

"He's very resolute" Blank said. "I don't know what the timetable is, but he's going to try to make a comeback. I don't know what's realistic time-wise. I will be speaking with some doctors at the end of the summer. But he's been to the lowest point and he's on his way back from that."

It's hard not to root for Givens, as slim as his chances at re-emerging may seem.

Meanwhile, receivers around the AFC South certainly have to be hoping the injury trend is coming to an end.