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The Houston Oilers/Tennessee Oilers/Tennessee Titans “had a player-organized performance incentives pool to reward big plays” with money, reports Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

Gregg Williams coached for 11 years with the franchise including a term as defensive coordinator from 1997-2000.

But the players who spoke to Wyatt said that Williams, now at the center of the NFL revelation that the Saints ran a bounty program while he was coordinator there, was not involved.

Current and former Oilers and Titans, including some who played for Williams, said the practice is common in NFL locker rooms. They said their coaches were aware of the incentive pools and didn’t discourage them, but they didn’t organize bonus programs or hand out money for deliberately injuring an opponent.

“That stuff has been going on since Buddy Ryan, and long before that,” said former Oilers linebacker Al Smith, who played for Ryan (Oilers defensive coordinator in 1993) and later for Williams. “Buddy used to put it simple: If you take the other team’s best player out, your chance of winning increases dramatically.

“Gregg felt the same way, but that’s the theme across the league. It was never ‘Go blow this guy’s knee out and you’ll get paid.’ It was just football. It was a defensive mentality thing.”

Wyatt talked to 12 players. Former Oilers/Titans safety Blaine Bishop strongly denied that Williams had any sort of program like the one the league found in New Orleans. (Disclosure: Bishop and I work for the same radio Nashville radio station.)

Former linebacker Keith Bulluck did a good job putting into perspective the whole idea of chasing a quarterback with a financial incentive to injure him.

“No coach that I ever played for ever asked me or any of my teammates to deliberately take someone out either on purpose or for any amount of money. It is football, and at the end of the day it is a strategic game, and as a defender I am trying to get to the ball as fast as possible with a bad attitude and hit the ball carrier as hard as I can within the structure of the game,” he said.

“But you don’t try and inflict injury on somebody. And as far as us going out there to take Peyton Manning out — it is hard enough to get to him, so to take him out in a way in which he wouldn’t be able to come back into the game would be pretty noticeable and pretty absurd. We had a hard enough time just hitting him.’’

It’s a fast game. Guys are paid big dollars to hit hard. What level of extra motivation would be added by pools that might award them a couple hundred or a couple thousand dollars for especially big hits?

I question the professionalism of a guy who needs that sort of boost to do his job well.

But maybe later I will be reaching out to the other seven members of the blog network to see if we want to set up something where we all toss in some bucks and the big entry of the week gets something a little extra.

Following their breakthrough into the playoffs, the Houston Texans face some big questions.

Foremost among them are the contracts of outside linebacker Mario Williams and running back Arian Foster. Williams can become an unrestricted free agent and potentially command the richest contract for a defensive player in league history. Foster will be a restricted free agent who could be pursued by another club.

While general manager Rick Smith and coach Gary Kubiak worry about roster construction, and while many analysts like this one predict continued big things for the franchise, team president Jamey Rootes is looking at growing the team’s loyal following.

He’s already using a theme Kubiak is sure to hit with his players when they reassemble:

“You start back at zero. Nobody gives you anything. You’ve got to go out and earn it again.”

As with any team, a playoff breakthrough marked a significant increase in interest in the Texans.

But because theirs was the first time in the postseason, a lot of people were being exposed for the first time. Rootes wants to ensure the big moments of last season -- an AFC South clinching win in Cincinnati, a home playoff win against the Bengals, and a tough divisional-round loss in Baltimore -- are sticky.

“I thought it would be kind of a slow build, kind of a slow climb,” he said. “But from the time we got on the plane to go to Cincinnati to the time we came home as division champs, the world was completely different ...

“While we’ve had this great base of fans, that being recognized as a winner brought a whole new group of people into our family. Now it’s our job to hold them.”

Rootes cited three great indicators:

• TV ratings for the two playoff games in Houston shot up to a 36 from an average of 24. That’s an estimate of the percentage of the market watching. The playoff game in Baltimore had a 68 share in Houston, meaning 68 percent of the households with TVs on were watching at that given time.
• Texans gear was under Christmas trees all over Houston. The team sold more than $1 million worth of merchandise in just December, and Rootes said the Texans are up 200 percent, year over year.
• National attention was up, as Rootes noticed the Texans being featured in ESPN’s weekly “NFL Matchup” show.

Said defensive end Antonio Smith: “It’s way more intense. The fans have done, I don’t want to say a 180, but the city blew up. The difference is noticeable. I think it’s very important we hold onto those new people, that’s big for any organization, starting to secure a legacy…

“There are still people in their hearts who are Houston Oilers fans, they’re torn in between the Titans and us. We won a lot over. We have to continue to do so, and have the city 100 percent behind us.”

Rootes will latch on to that, campaigning to win over anybody and everybody who’s hasn’t connected or committed to wearing Texans colors.

“Now these new people are exposed to us, which is good,” Rootes said. “We weren’t on their radar before. I think it comes back to the fundamentals. The people that loved us, we were on their radar, they saw what we do: ‘These guys are working hard, they're trying to build a champion, they create memorable experiences for us every time I’m involved with them.’

“We talk about 'create raving fans'; that’s our goal. Do whatever it takes to delight people, and that’s how you conduct yourself, and how you serve people and the experiences you provide. Do great things for Houston.”

It’s marketing spin language, for sure. But it’s an important time for the franchise to make it work, no matter how it’s framed or executed.

While the football side plans how to field the best team possible for an encore performance, the administrative side needs to do the same. To grow the team’s footprint, to ensure that deep roots take hold, Rootes and his staff need to seize on the good feelings that linger and make people feel invested.

The Texans didn’t play a prime-time game last season, so as good as they were they had no national game until Cincinnati visited for the playoff opener.

Houston is sure to be a regular presence in prime time in 2012, when an expanded Thursday night package will expand the opportunity. Rootes said he campaigns with the league and with network executives for the publicity, the best advertising he can get.

“There is such energy in the stadium that the world doesn’t know about, it’s like a local phenomenon,” he said. “We want to expose it to the world, and national television is the way to do that.”

I suspect the Texans will go from invisible on the national slate to regularly featured. The hope is that they can play even better than they did while going 10-6 in 2011.

And, that as they do, an additional layer of fans in southeastern Texas and beyond will be invested in it all.

What key event significantly changed the fortunes of the Titans -- for better or worse? Give us your take and we’ll give you our definitive moment on May 20.

Do you lean happy or sad, positive or negative?

The Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans have extreme moments on both sides of the ledger. So as we look to select only one as decisive, do we turn to the good or the bad?

The Luv Ya Blue Oilers were a wonder, and in 1978 and 1979 they may well have been the second-best team in the NFL. Unfortunately for them, they resided in the same division as the best team, the Pittsburgh Steelers. When they fell short of a third consecutive trip to the AFC Championship Game in 1980, owner Bud Adams regrettably fired coach Bum Phillips.

But if you’re looking for a tough turning point -- one that might now even outscore the other Houston option -- there's the famous playoff collapse in Buffalo in January 1993, when the Oilers blew a 35-3 lead. Rare is a significant collapse in an NFL game, or a playoff game in any sport, where the Bills’ comeback on the Oilers isn’t referenced.

Perhaps for Houston, even that was topped by the Oilers’ departure, but of course in Nashville that qualified as a happy occasion.

And while the appearance in Super Bowl XXXIV was the franchise’s football high point, it became possible thanks largely to the Music City Miracle, an improbable, last-second trick kickoff return that beat Buffalo in the 1999 playoffs.

You’re invited to do better than I’ve done here.

If you vote Other, give us your suggestion in the comments area below.

Reading the coverage ...

Peter King says the Texans are in love with Patrick Peterson and has details of Jeff Fisher’s upcoming climb.

An autographed “Luv Ya Blue” Oilers helmet sold for $2 million at a charity auction.

The second round of mediation is mostly for show, says Mike Freeman.

Houston Texans

The directions the Texans can go at No. 11, from John McClain.

Taking a quarterback high is risky business, says McClain.

Greg Cosell assesses Aldon Smith, via Alan Burge.

Indianapolis Colts

The NFL is prepared to move the date of Indianapolis’ Super Bowl if needed.

Bill Polian’s being honored by Marian University.

Some possibilities at center in the draft, from Brett Mock.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Even with more blackouts it would be too early to worry about the Jaguars leaving, says Vito Stellino.

Are prospects rising or falling or are reporters just catching up to values? John Oehser discusses.

Tennessee Titans

The Titans' draft approach can’t help but change because of the lockout, says John Glennon.

Pondering Ryan Mallett with Jim Wyatt.

David Boclair wonders about how Mike Munchak will deal with Kenny Britt.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Before Mike Munchak was drafted eighth overall by the Houston Oilers, the Penn State interior offensive lineman didn’t get to come to one scouting combine.

The Tennessee Titans new head coach actually went to three.

“There were three different groups I went to in 82, so unfortunately we had to do this three different times plus a pro day,” Munchak remembered. “It was a lot more difficult on the players. They’ve made it much easier it all being in one weekend, it’s much more efficient for everybody. Come out here in Indianapolis, spend a week here, get all the information you can get and everyone is on the same playing level. It’s changed dramatically in that regard for the better.”

But while Munchak got measured and worked out multiple times, he hardly faced the probing lines of questioning today’s prospects endure.

“I think it’s gotten a lot more intense,” he said. “…It’s a lot more in depth. I don’t remember us even having meetings. They were very minimal if you had one. That’s changed quite a bit. It’s such a big investment in a player you’re trying to find every way to not make a mistake.”

One bullet point of news from Munchak: He indicated the Titans won’t use their franchise or transition tag on anyone. The deadline for that is Thursday. Defensive end Jason Babin looked to have the best chance, but it would have cost roughly $13 million.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

Hall of Fame voting is tricky business, says John McClain. And some of his voting rationale.

Indianapolis Colts

Colts.com’s third-quarter review.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Aaron Kampman and Eben Britton are on pace for summer comebacks, says Tania Ganguli.

Can the Jaguars finally make a jump? Steve Wyche has some questions.

The debut of the John Oehser’s O-Zone.

Looking at the Jaguars at quarterback, with Brian Levenson.

Tennessee Titans

Jerry Gray plans to increase defensive discipline, says John Glennon.

Chris Palmer tells Glennon he doesn’t think the Titans are too far off.

New Titans hires give the Titans an old Oilers feel, says David Climer.

Why Palmer was in the UFL last year, from Glennon.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

Bum Phillips and Dan Pastorini visited the Texans and voiced support for Gary Kubiak, says Dale Robertson. Is this what it’s come to?

Daryl Sharpton is on IR, says John McClain.

Richard Justice shreds the idea of sticking with the status quo.

Wade Phillips could be the new defensive coordinator for Gary Kubiak if he survives, says Jason LaCanfora.

Indianapolis Colts

The revived running game makes Peyton Manning more dangerous, says Mike Chappell.

Jeff Fisher thinks Antoine Bethea is Pro Bowl-worthy, says Phil Richards. Side note: We know that Michael Griffin is the first alternate safety.

Bill Polian belittles any attempt where people outside the game try to understand how the NFL works, says Aaron Schatz. That post was set off by comments Nate Dunlevy broke down here.

Jacksonville Jaguars

David Garrard is having finger surgery and Trent Edwards is starting in Houston on Sunday, writes Tania Ganguli.

A casino is defying the NFL’s demand that it remove a Garrard photo from an ad, says David Bauerlein.

Fisher is a Jaguars friend, not a foe, this week, says Vito Stellino.

Surgery is a possibility for Maurice Jones-Drew after the season’s over, says Ganguli.

Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson believes his value remains high, writes Jim Wyatt.

Griffin supports Fisher, say Wyatt and John Glennon.

Why is Fisher so well-regarded, wonders Mike Freeman.

With 225 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the Titans’ win over Philadelphia on Sunday, Kenny Britt became the third wideout to hit those numbers since 2000.

The list of three is all AFC South: Britt, Drew Bennett against Kansas City in 2004 and Jimmy Smith in 2000 at Baltimore.

Britt also set himself apart in Oilers/Titans franchise annals with his seventh touchdown in his first seven games. Only Ernest Givens in 1992 matched that, in a season when Haywood Jeffires had six in his first seven games.

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Britt’s 32.1-yard average against the Eagles was the highest average by a player with at least seven receptions in one game in 23 years.

Anthony Allen of the Redskins gained 255 yards on seven catches on the first weekend of play with replacement players during the players’ strike of 1987 -- good for 36.4 yards per catch.

Reading the coverage ...

Some '70s era Oilers are feeling the aftereffects of their concussions, says Dale Robertson.

Houston Texans

The rested Texans are in an AFC South dogfight, says John McClain.

The loved ones of players who suffered traumatic brain injuries go through life knowing the damage might have been prevented, says David Barron.

Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning doesn’t want to talk about a new contract until after the season is over, says Mike Chappell.

Next up for the Colts is a tough rematch with Houston in a week on "Monday Night Football," says Chappell.

The Colts will miss Dallas Clark’s versatility, says Phil Richards.

Anthony Gonzalez recently tweaked his ankle injury, says Adam Schefter.

Late but worth it: Some inside info from a Bill Polian talk in Fort Wayne, from Reggie Hayes. (Hat tip to Nate Dunlevy, who hat-tipped Coltzilla.)

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars might not be able to put things back together, says Vito Stellino.

Jack Del Rio rated the defensive performance embarrassing, says Tania Ganguli.

Coaches and teammates had praise for Todd Bouman, says Ganguli.

It looks like Eben Britton is lost for the season with a shoulder injury, says Tania Ganguli.

Bouman deserved a better support system, says Gene Frenette.

Mike Thomas fumbled a punt in the first quarter for the second time in three weeks, says Stellino.

Ganguli and Frenette review the game in this video.

The Jaguars thought they had a run defense, but Kansas City changed their thinking, says Vic Ketchman.

Tennessee Titans

Kenny Britt’s touchdown blitz delivered a win for the Titans, says Jim Wyatt.

The Titans are making noise in the AFC, says David Climer.

Tennessee’s defense finally figured out third down in the fourth quarter, says John Glennon.

Chris Johnson didn’t have an issue with the hit from Ernie Sims, says Climer.

The Smallest Titan, Alterraun Verner, made the biggest defensive play, says Glennon.

Kerry Collins showed his value, says Joe Biddle.

Since they weren’t running well, Mike Heimerdinger decided the Titans should sling it.

Jason Jones made the play of the game, says Bob McClellan.

How soon will Vince Young return, asks Terry McCormick.

Is Tony Brown’s knee becoming a concern, asks McCormick.

Sunday against Denver, Jeff Fisher will coach his 250th regular season game, all with the Oilers-Titans.

He joins a short, impressive list of coaches to experience such longevity.

NFL head coaches with 250 or more regular season games with one team, courtesy of the Titans:

“Of course it’s an honor to be mentioned,” Fisher said.

Fisher critics will look at his record and complain about his longevity.

But the fact is, the league he coaches is, unlike the eras of the others on the list, is designed for teams to play about .500 football over such a long stretch. I think Bud Adams' transformation from the meddling owner who fired Bum Phillips too soon into a guy with Pittsburgh-like patience has been admirable.

I’m on record as saying the organizational stability has given the franchise its best chance to win, though Fisher’s playoff record since 1999 definitely makes him a post-season underachiever.

They flash in the preseason, then disappear.

Patrick Hruby searched for players who fit that criteria for this piece as he put together an NFL Preseason Hall of Fame.

Two entries are from the Titans’ franchise: A.J. Trapasso and the Houston Astrodome.

Chuck in Indy writes: Your blog was about the AFC South which was created in 2002. You can`t go back before that with the Colts because they were in the AFC East prior to 2002. Why did you overlook the Titans/Oilers old records?

Paul Kuharsky: If you look at it again, you’ll find Houston teams are first and second runners-up. So how did I overlook them?

The assignment was the best team in each franchise’s history. If their history extends beyond realignment -- and they all do except Houston -- then all that was considered. You wanted best teams since realignment? Boy would that have been boring.

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Bond Brady from NYC writes: You are a disgrace to the profession of journalism. The Baltimore Colts should never be included with the version in Indy when discussing greatest teams. As long as you perpetuate the lie that Johnny Unitas played for Indy your journalistic integrity is in jeopardy. The 1958 Baltimore Colts should be included under the Baltimore Ravens. You need to either take a history lesson or go back to journalism school to learn about integrity. Until you do, your writings are a disgrace to world of sports.

Paul Kuharsky: Interesting world view.

I suggest you get yourself a Colts media guide. It includes all the Baltimore Colts' history. I didn’t decide the franchise would carry its history to Indianapolis. The team and the league did, and they are allowed to make such a decision. The Irsays own the franchise. They can do with it what they want. It’s pretty simple, really.

By the way, that’s the way it’s worked for every team that’s relocated with only one exception, when the Browns turned into the Ravens and left their history in Cleveland. Warren Moon played for the Oilers who are now the Titans. It would be foolish to say he played for the Texans.

I never said Unitas played for Indy. I said he played for the Colts. That’s indisputable. The franchise is the Colts -- not Baltimore or the Ravens or even Indianapolis, but the Colts.

So I’ve not committed any sort of journalistic crime, and you really should take a breath.

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Andy in Jacksonville, Fla., writes: Now, I'm not trying to belabor this point but I can't believe you think Colts have such a significant talent level over the Jaguars. I'm assuming you're just considering starters because I'd take the Jaguars TEs over the Colts. Is Dallas Clark better than Marcedes Lewis? Depends on what you're judging, as a pass catcher, yes, as a blocker no way. The fact you think the Colts LBs are better still blows me away. Gary Brackett? Really, Paul? You consider Clint Session better than Daryl Smith? The same Daryl Smith that Profootballfocus.com rated as the Number One Outside 4-3 Linebacker. As for the Colts CBs, why? Is Kelvin Hayden really better than Rashean Mathis? Is Jerraud Powers better than Derek Cox? They've got a better pass rush up front but as far as talent goes, it's a tie. Come on, Paul. I'm not saying the Jags are as talented as the Colts, but I think some positions need to be re-evaluated.

Paul Kuharsky: Dallas Clark is better at doing what the Colts ask him to do than Marcedes Lewis is at what the Jaguars ask him to do. Pretty simple.

And sight unseen, outside of OTA work, I think Brody Eldridge gives Indy a boost at the position too. Ernest Wilford’s had an excellent offseason in Jacksonville. Still, advantage Colts.

Gary Brackett is excellent, as is Clint Session. They are two guys. Daryl Smith is one. Advantage Colts. (Pro Football Focus is very interesting. But not always gospel.)

The Colts’ corners were a major part of a defense that limited big plays. As a group, the corners are better in their system than the Jaguars’ are in theirs.

I don’t mean to beat up on the Jaguars, who are moving in a pretty good direction. But the talent gap is significant and I am not compelled to offer any changes to my scorecard.

For an upcoming project, I need to select the best Oilers/Titans team of all time.

While I know a lot of Titans fans consider Tennessee a different team than Houston and vice versa, for this we’re looking at all of the franchise’s teams, from Texas and Tennessee.

So I am looking for your input as I sort through the bests.

I see the prime candidates as:

• The 1960 Oilers were 11-4 and won the inaugural AFL title with George Blanda at quarterback.
• The 1961 Oilers repeated with an 11-3-1 season, a championship game win at San Diego and had 13 players who appeared in the AFL All-Star Game.
• The 1979 Oilers were 13-6, with two of the losses to Pittsburgh, including the AFC Championship Game for the second season in a row. Earl Campbell was the NFL’s most valuable player.
• The 1999 Titans were 16-4 and advanced to the franchise’s only Super Bowl, which it lost to the St. Louis Rams. Rookie defensive end Jevon Kearse and Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews made All-Pro.
• The 2000 Titans were the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs and had the best regular season in the NFL but were upset in their first playoff game by eventual champion Baltimore.

Your thoughts, please.

The AFC South's presence on Sheldon Spencer’s all-time third- and second-round teams isn’t major.

Nobody made the all third-round team, and only Oilers defensive end Elvin Bethea made the list of others considered.

Two Baltimore Colts earned spots on the all second-round team: tight end John Mackey and linebacker Ted Hendricks.

Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew was mentioned as a consideration at running back

Here’s the rundown of how this massive project was pieced together.

In ESPN.com’s continuing series on all-time round-by-round draft teams, we’ve got some AFC South players to hit on.

Colts defensive end Robert Mathis is on the fifth-round team, for which Oilers cornerback Cris Dishman and new Jaguars defensive end Aaron Kampman also received consideration.

On the fourth-round team, Jerry Logan, a safety drafted by the Baltimore Colts in 1963 is a starter beside Chuck Cecil, the Titans' defensive coordinator.

Three players connected to the division made the also-considered list for the fourth round: Colts defensive tackle Tony McCoy (1992), Jaguars defensive tackle Seth Payne (1997) and cornerback Rod Perry (Rams, 1975), who’s a defensive assistant on the Colts’ staff.

Here is a review of how the selection process worked.