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When the Titans' 2010 season unraveled, it was a huge disappointment. But it was laced with sadness too because in the middle of it all, offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger learned he had cancer and began a battle he couldn't win.

Heimerdinger, who had two stints in the coordinator post for Jeff Fisher in Tennessee, died Friday night at the age of 58.

It’s a big blow to those who knew him. He was a gruff and demanding coach, but his public persona was painted too broadly based on those qualities. He was not all about screaming and hollering, though he tended to be loud as he tried to help players see the error of their ways and come to understand the right way to do things.

Beyond that exterior coaching personality, he was funny and smart, loyal with high standards. He was a no-nonsense Chicago guy who I thought could one day wind up coaching the Bears and being reunited with Jay Cutler, a player who had some of his best days working with Heimerdinger in Denver.

Two successful NFL head coaches, Mike Shanahan and Fisher, counted Heimerdinger among their closest friends and valued his football opinion.

In Heimerdinger's first term as Fisher’s coordinator with the Titans, he helped round out the late Steve McNair’s game and was a big factor in McNair’s co-MVP award in 2003.

I got to know him as a Titans beat writer, and he was the kind of coach a reporter had to respect. If he saw something he thought was wrong, he would search for you and spell out why.

Once, after I’d written that the organization was simply too protective of McNair when it maintained a poor game was not his fault, he pulled me into his office.

He clicked through film of every drop-back McNair took in the game in question, his red laser pointer drawing my eye to the important spots. McNair made the right read and went to the right place with all but two throws that day. He showed me that in great detail, spelling out the reads. A lot of plays that didn’t come off correctly, he illustrated, were because of good defense, a bad block or route or a bad play call by the coordinator. I left with a new understanding I could put to use as I covered that offense going forward.

It amounted to the best, most memorable postgame review of a player I’ve ever had with a coach.

Heimerdinger was in Mexico, where his search for aggressive treatments led him, when he died.

His wife, Kathie, released a statement that’s part of Jim Wyatt’s piece on his passing.

We have been overwhelmed and incredibly touched by all of the support that we have felt from family, friends, fellow coaches, players, fans and the league this past year. It is with a heavy heart, but a trust in God, that we say goodbye to our beloved Dinger who lost his courageous battle with cancer yesterday. Mike approached cancer with the same vigor and tenacity that he approached any football game — to win. Even in the final minutes he never gave up — that was our Dinger.

He was a deeply devoted husband and father, loving son and brother, loyal friend and committed coach who loved the game and life. The coming days will be challenging for our family and we graciously and respectfully ask that you allow us to grieve privately.

Here’s ESPN.com’s story and Liz Merrill’s piece on Heimerdinger during his fight.

Here are statements on Heimerdinger released this morning by the Titans:

General manager Mike Reinfeldt

We are saddened today to hear the tragic news of Mike passing. Mike was a good man that brought a great level of dedication and professionalism to his job. He was brave in his fight over the last year and showed such a commitment to the game. Nothing was going to stop him last season from being a part of the team and having his stamp on the games. Our thoughts go out to Kathie and his kids through this difficult time. Mike and his family will always be with us.

Head coach Mike Munchak

My prayers are with his family. Mike was a great football coach; and over the years, we had a great relationship. I learned a lot of football from Mike and I have a number of great memories and experiences that will always be with me. It is just hard to believe his is gone. It is a sad day for his family and for those who knew him.

Running back Chris Johnson

He was a great coach and a tough coach. I know I wouldn’t have become the player I am without his confidence and the trust that he showed in me. My thoughts go out to his family.

Tackle Michael Roos

You don’t expect these types of things to happen and they shouldn’t happen. I felt confident that he was going to beat this after seeing his resolve last season in dealing with it. He was such a competitor and a fighter – the things that made him such a good coach were also the traits that I thought would lead him to beat the cancer. My prayers are with his family.

Former Titans center and current NFLPA President Kevin Mawae

It is with great regret and sorrow that we learn of the passing of Coach Mike Heimerdinger. "Dinger", as many people knew him, was a great coach and a good man. For those who knew him and played for him, they knew Dinger was a man who loved his family, enjoyed his players, and loved the game of football. Dinger's fight with cancer was indicative of the type of person he was; determined and courageous. It was my privilege to play for Dinger while with the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans. I am better for having known and played for him. The NFL community has lost a great member of its fraternity this week. On behalf of the National Football League Players Association, the players offer their condolences to Kathie, Alicia, Brian and the rest of the Heimerdinger family.

Former Titans running back Eddie George

Any time you lose a friend, you feel it. My heart goes out to his family, it is a terrible loss. Mike was a highly competitive coach and person, who expected and demanded nothing but the best from you. He was a good guy to be around and he will surely be missed in this world.

Former tight end Frank Wycheck

I am really sad to hear the news today. Mike was a man of many qualities – he was humble, he was funny and he was demanding. I loved being with him on the golf course, he was a lot of fun to hang out with. From the coaching side, he brought a different element to our offense when he arrived. He took us to a different level in the passing game. He expected all of us to be accountable and he was a perfectionist when it came to executing his offense.

Over the last year, what he went through gave him great perspective of his life -- he was thankful and proud of what he accomplished.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- No offense to Sarah Hasselbeck, but in many ways when her husband decided to join the Tennessee Titans, he signed on for a second marriage.

Matt Hasselbeck and Mike Munchak are an NFL couple.

A new starting quarterback and a new NFL head coach can make for a new vibe, a new message, a new offense and a new direction.

The two are still relative newlyweds because of the lockout, but the early days have brought plenty of bliss, to the pair as well as those rooting for it.

It’s just three games. But the small sampling of their work together suggests the Titans can contend for the AFC South title.

Munchak is effectively conveying simple messages to his team and Hasselbeck is buying into them and passing them on.

“I just feel that my job as quarterback is, I don’t really care what we do, I just need to know what the coaching staff wants to do and then I can be the flag bearer on that stuff,” Hasselbeck said. “Whatever the message is for the week, let me know, coach, and I’ll be spreading the message. Whatever you want emphasized, I’ll make sure that gets emphasized.”

Munchak and offensive coordinator Chris Palmer have done well with the clarity and scope of those messages, Hasselbeck said. They aren’t vague or general or generic. They are game specific, opponent specific or specific to something the team needs to do better. As a Hall of Fame player, Munchak wanted those straightforward messages, not convoluted riddles that needed figuring out.

The Munchak-Hasselbeck relationship so far appears to be the sort most coaches and quarterbacks would like to have. That he’s not calling plays helps, Munchak said, as he’s sort of a buffer in the heat of the moment.

He’s seen his share of volatile coach-quarterback dealings. Warren Moon and Jack Pardee weren’t necessarily at odds, but Munchak did say their relationship wasn’t the one he wants with Hasselbeck.

“I want to have with him what I had with my linemen as an offensive line coach,” Munchak said. “A guy I can trust the way I could trust so many guys -- Kevin Mawae, Bruce Matthews, Jason Mathews -- I had so many guys I had relationships with who could spread the message on how to do things. ...

“Matt’s been around 13 years. He doesn’t need all the fluff. He needs the facts and he wants to know, ‘What exactly can I do to help? Let’s get to the point of this thing.’”

Heading into the Week 3 game against Denver, the theme was winning first down.

“I think Munch is a pretty straightforward guy and he does a good job of being to the point,” Hasselbeck said. “There is not a whole lot of gray area. As a player, that makes it easy; you go out and you know what your coach is looking for. He keeps it pretty simple. ‘Hey, I want you to win first down.’ Gotcha.”

In his first experience as a head coach, Munchak teamed up with general manager Mike Reinfeldt to plan a quarterback strategy after the team decided it was done with Vince Young. The Titans drafted Jake Locker eighth overall, but set themselves up with Hasselbeck, too, a veteran they believed could excel with top-flight pass protection, something the Titans' offensive line has offered.

If Hasselbeck tops 300 passing yards Sunday in Cleveland, it will be the first time in his career he’s done so three games in a row.

He, Palmer and quarterbacks coach Dowell Loggains talk of how there is no defense for the perfect throw.

Another way I’ve heard people talking about it is that Hasselbeck “throws people open.” I like that phrase. It’s something Titans quarterbacks haven’t done in recent years. It’s something he’ll have to do with players like Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins now that Kenny Britt is gone.

Hasselbeck’s consciously factored his experience with change while he was in Seattle into his approach in Tennessee, where the talk is already of a late-career renaissance.

“In the last three years, I think, I’ve had a new head coach, a new offensive coordinator and I handled all three years a little differently,” he said. “One year I handled it where I was real assertive and wanted to get my way. Another year I said, ‘Hey, I’m just going to sit back.’ I’m probably handling this one differently, learning from some of my past mistakes.

“I’m not trying to impart anything from my past. I’m not trying to ask for anything I’ve done. I’m just trying to learn what they’ve done here and what they want to do here. I’ve kind of tried to come in here like I have no experience and no football knowledge at all. Because I’ve done that, my focus has been 100 percent on trying to run the stuff.”

The stuff has worked well enough so far. The new coach and the new quarterback are in lockstep. Smart messages are being well received. For now, it amounts to fresh air in Nashville.

Few people come out of months of NFL labor discord looking better than the Colts' Jeff Saturday.

The center heading toward his 13th season drew praise from New England owner Robert Kraft as one of two players on the NFLPA’s executive committee, along with Baltimore’s Domonique Foxworth, who worked tirelessly for the long-term interest of the game.

When Saturday's turn to talk came at the news conference announcing the players had agreed to the new CBA and the deal was officially done, he complimented Kraft’s dedication and thanked Myra Kraft, who recently passed away, for encouraging her husband to be such an important part of the process.

Saturday then embraced Kraft, who was clearly touched. It's a moment that is sure to come to be the picture representing the new peace between the owners and players.

Via text, I asked NFLPA president Kevin Mawae about how crucial Saturday was to the process.

“Both he and Domonique Foxworth were instrumental in that they were the two who were in every meeting since June 28 in Chicago,” Mawae said. “There were times when I couldn’t be there or any other member of the executive committee couldn’t and they were the two who were. I can’t say enough about how they played a major part in all of it.”

Saturday spoke of how happy he will be to trade a negotiating board room for a football meeting room.

Later in a phone interview on ESPN, he was asked about Peyton Manning’s rehabilitation from neck surgery.

“That’s by far my biggest concern now,” Saturday said. “As he goes, the Colts go. We need him to get back as healthy as he can as quick as he can.”

Even with the lockout, it's possible the Colts' top two draft picks win starting jobs on the offensive line during training camp. It's possible Saturday could be surrounded by four new starters as he looks to direct a group charged with offering Manning better protection and creating more space for the run game.

Monday, I shared my thinking on coaches who are lamenting the loss of traditional OTA time. It makes sense they are missing it, but they’ll survive without it.

In this blog entry from John Glennon, Titans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer hits on what I believe to be another overrated theme: chemistry:

“I really think this is where the team bonds. The guys go bowling or play golf and that bonding starts in the spring. The good teams have that bonding. That’s what you look for as a coach. You say, 'This group is pretty good together,’ and 'This group is pretty good together. There’s good crossover there.’

“The leaders of the team offensively and defensively are in the locker room, saying, 'These are the standards we want set here.’ When we start practicing those will be things that will come. But as a coach, you’d like to start seeing them right now.”

The Titans have new coaches and a new rookie quarterback. As much as anyone in the league, they need time together. They don’t yet have a to-be-determined veteran quarterback who will man the position ahead of Jake Locker.

This team has major leadership questions that need to be sorted out. Who, I wonder, does Palmer see as his standard-setters under contract in the locker room?

Among players under contract beyond left tackle Michael Roos, I scan the remaining depth chart and can’t find a quality candidate.

Time together in-house can certainly help those who are around.

Tennessee needs free agency far more than it needs OTAs.

But this team needs an infusion of veteran leadership akin to what it got in 2006 when Chris Hope, David Thornton and Kevin Mawae were brought in, outsiders with pedigrees.

The guys already under contract now need time on the field in real practices and real games to establish their leadership credentials. What can happen at a bowling get together is minor, and might be happening now anyway. I understand why Palmer wants it. But not having it isn't going to be a reason his offense isn't good if it isn't good.

Winning doesn’t come out of chemistry as much as chemistry comes out of winning.

Reading the coverage …

Houston Texans

Mario Williams’ move to linebacker could work, says Bucky Brooks.

Texans coaches and officials were joined by some NFL alumni at the team’s golf tournament.

A look at free-agent possibilities at safety with Mike Kerns.

Indianapolis Colts

Some Colts are working out at IU Sports Performance. Includes an update from Jamie Silva. (Hat tip to Nate Dunlevy.)

A former Colts cheerleader is suing the team over how she was fired, says Carrie Ritchie.

An interview with George Atallah of the NFLPA, from Nate Dunlevy.

The first piece of The Manning Project from Shane Clemons.

Jacksonville Jaguars

A look at the road Rod Issac traveled to the NFL, from Adam Sparks.

Blaine Gabbert has already spent some time in the playbook.

Analysts pick which drafted quarterback will have the biggest career impact, and Vic Carucci goes with Gabbert.

Offensive line coach Andy Heck sees Will Rackley as a ready-made guy, says John Oehser.

Will Jarett Dillard and Tiquan Underwood be on the roster bubble? Alfie Crow wonders.

Tennessee Titans

Once anti-Twitter, Jeff Fisher now has an account to chronicle his climb of Kilimanjaro, says Jim Wyatt.

Kevin Mawae spoke to civic and business leaders in Nashville and Jerome Boettcher.

Three guys the Titans could sign to take over for Chris Hope, from Andrew Strickert.

There are all sort of new dynamics that come with a new staff.

Mike Munchak will sort them out as he goes. One I’ve wondered about: How do you have your closest friend working for you and use him as a resource the way you need to while not making the rest of the assistant coaches feel like your long-time pal has more pull and/or power?

Munchak and his offensive line coach, Bruce Matthews, presented each other at their inductions into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They played together. Then Munchak was Matthews’ position coach.

I asked Munchak recently if he feels he will have to be conscious of not granting Matthews any sort of special status among his assistants.

“It’s professional; it’s just like when I coached him," Munchak said. "Ultimately, he was the player and I was the coach. But it was nice to have him as a sounding board even when I was his coach. It was like that with Michael Roos or Kevin Mawae over the years, guys I could throw things at whose opinions I respect. You need to have that.

“You need to have that on the coaching staff. Obviously people know my relationship with Bruce. But I’m hoping I have that relationship with most of the staff, not just Bruce. Where they feel comfortable that we can talk and I can ask their opinions.”

Munchak talks a bit like general manager Mike Reinfeldt. He won’t always have the time to build a consensus the way Reinfeldt tries to, but he wants to hear a lot of voices.

“I like to get a lot of information, I’m a brainstormer, I like to get a lot of people’s thoughts and then kind of pick what I think is the best way to go,” Munchak said. “… I think that’s something that Bruce will be very helpful with because of all he’s been through in this league. There are a lot of things I’ve already been asking a lot of guys about that have helped me already as a coach.”

Inevitably in a group of 18 or however many assistants, some personal relationships develop more than others. Munchak and Matthews are already at an extreme there. During tough times they’ll have to be sure not to allow for any of the rest to feel like outsiders.

Munchak and Matthews banter well like good friends do. They will challenge each other as they take a new step in their careers.

I don’t see how that can be unhealthy unless they allow it to become clubby, and I don’t see them letting that happen.

Roger Goodell has an op-ed piece in today’s Wall Street Journal that spells out ownership’s side of the labor debate considering where things stand right now.

“Under the union lawyers' plan, reflected in the complaint that they filed in federal court, the NFL would be forced to operate in a dramatically different way.” Goodell writes. Later he ticks off a long list of ways things would change:

• No draft. "Why should there even be a draft?" said player agent Brian Ayrault. "Players should be able to choose who they work for. Markets should determine the value of all contracts. Competitive balance is a fallacy."
• No minimum team payroll. Some teams could have $200 million payrolls while others spend $50 million or less.
• No minimum player salary. Many players could earn substantially less than today's minimums.
• No standard guarantee to compensate players who suffer season- or career-ending injuries. Players would instead negotiate whatever compensation they could.
• No league-wide agreements on benefits. The generous benefit programs now available to players throughout the league would become a matter of individual club choice and individual player negotiation.
• No limits on free agency. Players and agents would team up to direct top players to a handful of elite teams. Other teams, perpetually out of the running for the playoffs, would serve essentially as farm teams for the elites.
• No league-wide rule limiting the length of training camp or required off-season workout obligations. Each club would have its own policies.
• No league-wide testing program for drugs of abuse or performance enhancing substances. Each club could have its own program -- or not.

Goodell is talking long term, not necessarily addressing what happens now that the lockout has been lifted as we await word on whether there will be a stay that freezes things again while we wait for the resolution of the appeal.

On The Wake Up Zone in on Nashville’s 104.5 FM Tuesday morning, I was part of an interview of Kevin Mawae, president of the NFLPA, which has operated as a trade union since decertifying.

He talked about what happens next.

“Technically [the league] can kind of go out and do what they want to do on an individual basis,” Mawae said. “If they do something collectively, there is a chance they can harm themselves in the anti-trust side of the law.”

What would Mawae like to see them do?

“The simplest thing they can do, that can happen is they say, ‘OK we go just back to the 2010 rules. That’s the way everybody can operate, everybody understands it.’ But the downside for the players in that is it locks in a fifth-year player from being a free agent, it prevents player movement...

“The most difficult thing for them to do is to restructure everything to put a whole new system in place within the next couple weeks.”

What about no rules at all and the Wild West scenario? Do the players want to see that?

“We’re all for anything that allows the players to realize their maximum potential on the free agent market. The league has grown exponentially based on the rules that have been in place over the years, but a lot of the rules that have taken place have been very restrictive on the players.

“Case in point, what’s coming up Thursday with the draft. These young players coming up have no choice on what team that can go to. If indeed there was a true free agent market, they could go out there and market themselves to any team they want to go to and choose who they want to play for instead of being told what team they’re going to go play for for the next three to five years depending on what happens with the contract length…

So do Mawae and the PA want to see no draft?

“I’m saying potentially if there is no draft then every kid coming out of college has the potential to negotiate a contract with any team he wants to negotiate with.”

Would that be good for the league?

“It could be, it could not be. We don’t know, we’ve never had a system where there is no draft.”

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans

For Arian Foster, attitude is the key, says Nick Scurfield.

John McClain talks Texans and Super Bowl. (Videos.)

Bill Romanowski’s thoughts on how Brian Cushing handled things, found by Alan Burge.

Matt Schaub talked to Battle Red Blog.

Indianapolis Colts

Marshall Faulk could be a Hall of Famer tomorrow, says Mike Chappell. (More from me on Faulk later today.)

The NFL will leave a legacy in Indianapolis, says Bob Kravitz.

Nate Dunlevy loves Pro Football References’ piece on quarterbacks in the playoffs.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Vic Ketchman turns out the lights and we wish him well.

Tennessee Titans

Mike Munchak could make the rare jump from position coach to head coach, says John Glennon.

Mike Mularkey’s approach looks like it would fit Tennessee well, says Jim Wyatt.

Munchak might just be the calm in the center of the Titans’ storm, says David Climer.

Kevin Mawae has high praise for Munchak, says Wyatt.

Tracy Rocker could be a guy the Titans chase to replace Jim Washburn, says Wyatt.

Hall of Famer Warren Moon doesn’t know if Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young has any NFL quarterbacks in his sphere of influence, and Moon thinks that has contributed to the problems the Young has had.

From John Glennon’s blog:

“I’ve tried to reach out to him since he’s been with the Titans, and we’ve had some dialogue a little bit, but he’s a guy that’s really hard to get to because he’s insulated by so many other people around him, whether it’s family members, advisors, people like that. That’s not something I’m going to try to break through to.

“If he’s open to having a dialogue or a relationship, I’m more than open about doing it as well. But I’m not going to go over and beyond if that’s not something he’s receptive to. I’ll leave that up to him, but he knows I’m there all the time. I’ve made that known.”

If you work in a business where very few people have done what you do and one of them reached out to you, would you make somebody seeking you out have to complete an obstacle course to get to you?

Moon also mention’s Young’s relationship with Steve McNair. Prior to McNair's death, his influence with Young had waned.

Young’s supporters constantly make it out like people are out to get him and that it’s a media-led charge.

Here is Moon, a Hall of Famer who feels pretty good about Young and would obviously have a lot to offer him, indicating Young is “insulated” and difficult to reach. And here is former teammate Kevin Mawae saying Young doesn’t qualify as a good pro.

Tell me again: How is it all the media's fault?

Kevin Mawae declined to make a choice when I asked him who he’d pick between Jeff Fisher and Vince Young, but he said he does believe one has to go from the Titans.

The team’s former center offered some solid insight on Young, who will appear on a roundtable as part of “Year of the Quarterback: Kick Off Special” on ESPN at 10 p.m. ET tonight.

“It might be time for a change of scenery,” Mawae said when we talked of Young’s leadership in his fifth season. “I played with Warren Moon, I played with Vinny Testaverde, I played with Kerry Collins, I played with Chad Pennington and the one thing all those guys had in common is that they were all field generals and leaders on the field. And there is one name missing that’s very obvious. And there is a difference in those four players versus the one that plays for the Titans.

“... It is disappointing because the kid’s got all the talent in the world and has had an opportunity to step up and hasn’t done so. He’s a great athlete and he wins games. That’s one thing you can never take away from Vince is that he wins ballgames. ... But as far as being the consummate pro like some of the other guys in the league, it’s disappointing that he hasn’t taken that step.”

Mawae, president of the NFL Players Association, didn’t have much of an update on the labor situation, pledging only that his people will be ready if a lockout arrives, but work hard to avoid one.

Other topics we touched on:

The Titans’ offensive line play: “No. 68 [Mawae's number] is not in the middle, that’s what the biggest problems is [laughing]. The Titans have always faced eight- and nine-man fronts. Now maybe the way they’ve incorporated them is different, none the less it’s the same box count the front has always seen. For whatever reason, the quarterbacks have gotten more banged-up this year. Without knowing intimately what’s going on as far as the players concerned, they just don’t look like they’re jelling. Without sounding like it’s all about me, it’s hard to see, to watch and to say anything that doesn’t sound like it’s directed back to me. I just hope they right the ship.”

Chris Johnson: “He looks like he’s trying to be more deliberate, instead of more natural like he was last year. I think last year he let the game dictate how he ran the ball. This year it seems like he’s pressing a little bit. I did talk to [offensive line coach Mike Munchak] earlier in the season and he said other teams are trying to make Chris run between the tackles and not let him get to the edge and bounce to the numbers and things like that. It’s hard yards up inside the middle. If you carrying 20 times a game and 18 or 15 are up the gut where 10 guys are piling up on you, it takes a toll on you. He’s going to have his breakouts, but to see a seven carries for 5-yard game or a 40-yard game, it’s very uncharacteristic for Chris Johnson and the Titans' offensive line. He just doesn’t look as smooth and instinctive as he has the last couple years.”

The New York Life Protection Index: “It comes up with a rating scale from 1 to 100 to rate how well an offensive line is doing and it’s a measure of how a team is having success. Teams like the Colts, the Saints and the Giants are at the top of the index, and it’s no surprise the three of them are making a push for the playoffs right now. Go down to the bottom and you’ve got teams like the Niners and the Raiders and they are struggling right now.”

When beloved, veteran Titans leave, Music City usually gets extremely grumpy.

Emotions usually overrule business understanding, despite the fact that the Titans have a very good record of letting guys go at the right time. Steve McNair had one productive year after he was let go. Eddie George did nothing in a season in Dallas. Kevin Mawae retired.

(We’re not counting Derrick Mason, Samari Rolle or salary cap casualties here, we’re talking about times when the team had more of a choice.)

Even with their good record, the Titans take a serious PR hit in the wake of such moves. And this summer Mawae and Keith Bulluck both spoke of how the team failed to communicate its thinking.

I discussed the process in a post you can find here.

Wednesday morning I posted highlights of my conversation with Bulluck Sunday night in Indy. Wednesday afternoon he spoke to Nashville media on a conference call and made one thing clear about the way things wrapped up with the Titans.

The Titans indicating they’d talked contract with him was completely a PR move to save some face -- transcript courtesy of John Glennon.

“You know what, honestly that’s bull---,” he said. “Those people know … If I was working there for 10 years, I have a house there still. Those people know my numbers. So if they were really trying to get in touch with me, trying to sign me and do all that stuff, I’m sure my phone would have rang, my agent’s phone.

"I even know for a fact that we sent out footage of me training this offseason, you know what I mean? I asked my agent several times if the Titans gave him a shout and that didn’t happen. Like I said, it’s over. That’s in the past and whatever. It’s my story, their story. It’s all a story. At this point, I don’t really care. I’m a New York Giant and I have been since July 24."

UPDATE, 3:39 p.m.: Responded Jeff Fisher: "He's got his opinion, we've got ours. He made the decision to leave."

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

The Texans have to find a way to finish the deal against the Colts, says Dale Robertson.

Faith and Bible study are important elements in Rick Smith’s life, says Richard Justice.

The Texans and Colts want to mimic the show of player solidarity from Thursday night’s opener, says John McClain.

For Owen Daniels, the issue is conditioning, says McClain.

The Texans need to keep Neil Rackers off the field.

Houston’s gotten a lot closer in games against the Colts, says Richard Justice.

It’s put up or shut up time for the Texans, says Barry Wilner.

Charles Robinson doesn’t think the Texans will be ready.

Fans are not standing as one with the players, says Alan Burge.

Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning and Reggie Wayne almost have telepathy, says Mike Chappell.

Can the Colts win it all? The “yes” side of the debate.

Can the Colts win it all? The “no” side of the debate.

The Colts will not be hung-over, says Bob Kravitz.

Wayne won’t let his issues with his contract affect his play, says Chappell.

Eighteen things to watch for in Colts-Texans, from Nate Dunlevy.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Times-Union’s game breakdown from Tania Ganguli.

Jarett Dillard is on IR, John Matthews is on the roster, says Tania Ganguli.

Tim Tebow expects to have some supporters in Jacksonville, says Ganguli.

There are ticket-sale issues in Southern California, says Gene Frenette.

Insightful Player looks at Aaron Kampman. (Hat tip to Matt Loede.)

Tennessee Titans

The Titans are expecting a lot from Derrick Morgan, says John Glennon.

Tennessee’s defense is looking to earn respect, says Jim Wyatt.

Donnie Nickey’s versatility is the key to his long career, says Wyatt.

Wyatt looks at Raiders-Titans matchups.

Wyatt asks two voters if Kevin Mawae is a Hall of Famer.

If you missed this, Jim Trotter broke down the Titans’ game-winning drive against Arizona last season.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- A day after Kevin Mawae watched the Vikings and Saints show solidarity in a pregame gesture, he saw a smaller show of the same thing at a news conference announcing his retirement.

Titans left tackle Michael Roos, Titans left guard Leroy Harris and injured linebacker David Thornton joined Mawae’s family and the media in a conference room at the Vanderbilt Marriott. Mawae stopped at least three times to choke back tears as he said his goodbyes, talked about his decision and thanked some key people.

He got a phone call from an interested team about a month ago, but just didn’t feel the pull.

“In my heart, I didn’t have the desire to be grinding it out for another 16 weeks,” he said.

He helped block for Chris Johnson's 2,006-yard season last year, his career highlight as he never made it to a Super Bowl. Had a team been interested when he hit free agency, he might be preparing for opening day of his 17th season. Instead he’s dedicated to being around for his family, working as an unpaid intern in Vanderbilt’s strength and conditioning program and guiding the NFLPA through CBA negotiations as its president.

I didn't know him before, but Mawae was a first-class pro during the final four seasons of his career, played with the Titans. He was one of the team’s primary spokesmen and a key leader.

The Titans made the right move in going younger, and at least some other potential employers likely steered away from him because of his union post. (He holds it until March 2012.)

So be it. He had a great career. He didn’t sound like a guy who’s going to wake up one morning and decide he misses playing. He guaranteed he’s done.

Reading the coverage …

Pete Prisco’s division preview.

A fan’s guide to the NFL labor situation, from Mike Silver.

Houston Texans

John Clayton rates Sunday’s game as a must-win.

Antoine Caldwell will start but Mike Brisiel is going to get time, says Dale Robertson.

It’s time for Mario Williams to justify his status and to harass Peyton Manning, says Jerome Solomon.

The Texans are doing well in tough economic times, says John McClain.

A loss this week but a playoff season, predicts Lance Zierlein.

The Texans are determined to cut into the Colts’ dominance, says Phil Richards.

Matt Schaub’s looking for different numbers, says Phillip B. Wilson.

Indianapolis Colts

The offensive line is reason for concern for the Texans, writes Bob Kravitz.

Joseph Addai has had his best games against Houston, says Mike Chappell.

Jerraud Powers spoke with Wilson.

Joe Reitz is thrilled to be with his hometown team, says Chappell.

Gary Brackett was ready for a career in finance, says Chappell.

Will the Colts have to rally from a big deficit as they did in recent games against the Texans? John Oehser ponders.

Tony Ugoh was not a bust, says Nate Dunlevy.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Sean Considine is the Jaguars' last line of defense, says Vito Stellino.

Younger guys like Rashad Jennings, Mike Thomas, Jarett Dillard and Zach Miller are winning Dirk Koetter’s confidence, says Tania Ganguli.

No more weather talk, pleads Vic Ketchman.

Tennessee Titans

Marc Mariani beat the odds to become the Titans' return man, writes David Climer.

Will Witherspoon is mourning the loss of his mom, says Jim Wyatt.

Kevin Mawae will announce his retirement on Friday, says Wyatt.

Jeff Fisher is hush-hush about his second starting cornerback, says Wyatt.

Look for the Titans to look away from Nnamdi Asomugha, says David Boclair.

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 18

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Since 2002, Jeff Fisher’s Tennessee Titans have had a losing record in the first month five times. Last season, it wasn’t just a bad start, it was a miserable 0-6.

Fisher and his staff have often been masterful at guiding a team’s climb out of a hole, but starting off on more level ground is a necessity if the young 2010 Titans are to re-emerge as a playoff team.

“Camp’s different than it was last year, we have four preseason games rather than five, we had injuries to deal with,” Fisher said. “We’re going to work on a couple opponents [earlier], prepare for them a little differently.

“We need to get off to a good start this year.”

A lot of recognizable names are gone, and that’s fine if a youth movement is as stocked as they believe it is. But it’s the sort of roster that could need time to settle in, which could mean early struggles again.

THREE HOT ISSUES

Will there be sufficient leadership?

Even if Kyle Vanden Bosch, Keith Bulluck, Alge Crumpler and Kevin Mawae were all starting to tail off and even if the Titans feel they have an upgrade over each, that is still as big a loss of collective leadership in one offseason as I can recall. The people in place to lead now -- guys like safety Chris Hope and fullback Ahmard Hall -- have to maintain, or increase, their level of production to attain and maintain the credibility that batch had.

Linebacker Will Witherspoon was the biggest veteran addition, and he looks to be a top candidate to take on a leadership mantle. But as a newcomer he’s got to figure out how to fit himself smoothly into the mix.

“With me it’s more about deciphering how to approach individuals,” Witherspoon said. “…Those are the kind of things you have to figure out. You look at the stages of leadership and different types of leadership. I’m not the guy who’s a loudmouth, getting down a guy’s throat.

“But I will, if I feel like I need to, take a guy aside and say look, ‘Here’s what I see, here’s what going on and here’s how people feel about it. Here’s what I can tell you is going to change it or you’re just going to end up with a real problem.’”

Vince Young needs to play a solid 16 games.

He’s got the league’s most explosive back behind him, an excellent offensive line protecting him and the franchise’s best crop of wide receivers in some time. Things are set up for Young to succeed as the team’s starting quarterback.

The Titans need to know they can count on him to bounce back from play-to-play, series-to-series, day-to-day and week-to-week. They need improved accountability, accuracy and consistency. They need for him not to provide reasons for fans to debate whether Rusty Smith is actually the team’s quarterback of the future.

There are more questions on defense, and the Titans need to do some scoring to allow for the sort of mistakes some of the young defenders are bound to make, especially early on.

Can the pass rush and secondary improve?

The pass rush was insufficient and the secondary failed to hold up when it needed to last. Fisher said the back end needs to be better on play-action but that the regular rush against drop back passes should be improved with a deep crop of defensive linemen.

“If we can get back to where we were with the guys rushing up front in the rotation, they’ll be fine,” Fisher said. “The play-action pass, that’s got to get done by the secondary. You don’t get as quick pressure on the quarterback in the play-action pass. We gave up too many plays in the play-action passing game last year. That’s going to require better play from the linebackers and the secondary.

“On drop backs we should really be able to do some more things.”

They don’t have clear-cut guys as the primary rushers or for the No. 2 corner spot. But they have the next best thing in what appear to be a deep pool of young options.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Harris and Stevens: Offensive lineman Leroy Harris and tight end Craig Stevens might prove more effective than Mawae and Crumpler, the two guys they are replacing. Harris is actually at left guard, with Eugene Amano sliding inside to center. Stevens doesn’t have Crumpler’s girth but can fend off a would-be tackler and/or slip out into a route so long as concussion issues don’t surface again.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Morgan out: First-round pick Derrick Morgan has been sidelined for camp with a calf injury. The defensive end has missed so much installation and work it will be tough for him to contribute. The Titans have to hope some combination of William Hayes (once he’s healthy), Jacob Ford, Jason Babin, Dave Ball and Raheem Brock can effectively rush off the edge from the start.

OBSERVATION DECK

• [+] Enlarge
  Don McPeak/US PresswireLavelle Hawkins has been impressive during the preseason, but can the fourth-year receiver rise on the team's depth chart?
  Offensive line coach Mike Munchak consistently develops talent, but the Titans have virtually no experience behind their starting offensive line. Mike Otto could be sufficient as the backup swing tackle, but they could look for a veteran interior swing guy after cuts.
• Lavelle Hawkins has gotten great reviews and is more of a traditional slot receiver than Justin Gage. It’ll be great for the team if Hawkins provides an option inside, but I’ll wait until he’s deployed in a meaningful game before buying the hype.
• Babin is a new reclamation project for defensive line coach Jim Washburn. He’s suited for the team’s go-get-the-quarterback mentality and in practice, and in the first preseason game, appeared to be getting off the ball with excellent speed.
• Jared Cook is only now starting to flash and create the buzz he generated at this time a year ago. The second-year tight end is a physical specimen and an attractive target, but word is he’s not as reliable as he should be. One thing that can hurt his cause: Stevens, while nowhere near Cook as an explosive threat, has been catching the ball well.
• Dowell Loggains was promoted to quarterbacks coach when Fisher shuffled his staff a bit with the late departure of running back coach Kennedy Pola. Loggains has used some creative new methods to keep things fresh for his guys. It seems small but can make a big difference.
• Ryan Mouton is not on par with the more consistent Jason McCourty or the more instinctive rookie Alterraun Verner among the cornerbacks vying for the No. 2 spot. I expect McCourty to start opposite Cortland Finnegan with Verner backing up the effective, but oft-injured, Vincent Fuller at nickelback. Verner’s ability to find a pick almost every day is one of the big stories of camp.
• Sen’Derrick Marks is significantly stronger than he was as a rookie and could be an influential player for a defensive line that’s expected to be much more productive.
• The Titans saw young defensive coordinators Gregg Williams and Jim Schwartz reach new comfort levels in their second seasons. Chuck Cecil expects to follow a similar course. Cecil knows that if he doesn’t, he’ll face another season of uncomfortable questions.