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Houston Texans

Former Texans receiver Jacoby Jones welcomes his move to new surroundings in Baltimore. "Change is good in life," said Jones, whose muffed punt in last season's playoffs led to a Ravens touchdown in a game Baltimore won by seven. "It’s always good to have a breath of fresh air.”

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts appear to be feeling the absence of top draft pick Andrew Luck, who is missing this week's organized team activities and can't report to the team's facilities until after his final exams at Stanford. "For him to be here, taking snaps, building chemistry, the timing with the offense, timing with the receivers, all those kind of things ... it’s days lost,’’ coach Chuck Pagano told the Indianapolis Star's Mike Chappell of the quarterback. “It’s like money you never get back."

The team signed four more draft picks Wednesday: fifth-rounder Vick Ballard, sixth-rounder LaVon Brazill, and seventh-round selections Tim Fugger and Chandler Harnish.

Becoming head coach of the Colts "has been a whirlwind" Pagano says in a Q&A with Chappell.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Though he hasn't been cleared for contact, linebacker Paul Posluszny is participating in this week's organized team activities as he recovers from January shoulder surgery. "As far as working out, being functional, the strength, the stability -- everything is back," Posluszny, who expects to be at full strength for training camp, told the team's official site. "I’m still not allowed to be in contact, but other than that, it feels great. It feels normal to me."

The Jaguars don't mind practicing in the rain, writes Vito Stellino of the Florida Times-Union.

Quarterback Blaine Gabbert isn't taking his starting job for granted, writes Stellino.

Tennessee Titans

As expected, receiver Kenny Britt had minor surgery on his right knee in an effort to boost his return from torn ligaments suffered in September. The procedure will "probably accelerate his rehab," Titans general manager Ruston Webster told the Tennessean. Also in Jim Wyatt's notebook: The Titans have not had any contract talks with franchise player Michael Griffin, but the safety is working out with teammates. And third-round pick Mike Martin signed a four-year deal.

And after thoroughly examining other options at center, it looks like the Titans will go with one of their own this fall, writes Wyatt. Eugene Amano, the regular starter the past two seasons, will have to hold off Kevin Matthews, Fernando Velasco and rookie William Vlachos for the job, Webster said.

The Titans are in the running for former Dolphins safety Yeremiah Bell, writes Terry McCormick.

Picking a starting quarterback can be a difficult proposition, but for the Titans, Webster says choosing between Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker could come down to a simple "gut feeling," writes Elliot Harrison of NFL.com.

A year ago, the Titans got excellent pass-rush production out of Karl Klug, a rookie defensive tackle drafted out of Iowa in the fifth round.

He credited much of his ability to operate effectively in the crowded middle of the field to his background as a wrestler.

The Titans took two more players with wrestling backgrounds in this year’s draft, points out David Boclair of the Nashville City Paper. Both second-round outside linebacker Zach Brown and third-round defensive tackle Mike Martin have wrestled and say it helps them as football players.

Said Martin:

“It’s close quarters, and it happens fast, very fast. In wrestling, that’s all it is. Being able to have leverage, being able to be athletic and shoot on guys and work your hands. Especially in the pass rush and even the run, you have to shoot your hands, you have to get guys off of you, and you have to make plays.”

And from GM Ruston Webster: “To me, wrestlers do have that natural leverage, and they understand leverage and they understand how to use their hands, and typically they are tough guys. That’s why I think that you see it more in guards and centers and defensive tackles.”

Klug had a team-high seven sacks as a rookie, accounting for a quarter of the team’s total. I'd love to see him and Martin wrestle each other, but the Titans would never endorse such a risky sideshow.

If the Titans can get anything close to Klug's first-year production out of their two new wrestlers, maybe next year’s draft class will all be former grapplers.

Since the Titans added seven players in the draft, I’ve said several times that I am a bit scared of their leanings toward potential over production, or the weight of athleticism in several of the selections.

But it’s important to note that of the seven players, that “complaint” centers on less than half the class.

Second round outside linebacker Zach Brown brings some questions about being more of an athlete than a football player. Fourth-round cornerback Coty Sensabaugh is an excellent athlete with great speed. Fifth-round tight end Taylor Thompson is a big-time athlete who didn’t play tight end in college.

(“You may say there are some more productive,” GM Ruston Webster said of Brown, “but few are more talented.”)

Perhaps those perceptions from draft analysts are off.

Perhaps three Titans assistants -- linebacker coach Frank Bush, secondary coach Brett Maxie and tight ends coach John Zernhelt -- will coach that trio up, and they will pan out in just the way the team imagines.

Perhaps we’ll rave about how their athleticism benefits the team.

It’s also worth noting that the rest of the class, led by receiver Kendall Wright, appears to be composed of guys who qualify, without question, as football players.

» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South


Despite talk of grabbing the best player available, it’s funny how often needs and picks seem to line up.

Of 31 picks, I count four that don’t technically qualify as addressing needs: Jaguars fifth-round linebacker Brandon Marshall, Titans fifth-round tight end Taylor Thompson, Jaguars sixth-round cornerback Mike Harris and Colts seventh-round quarterback Chandler Harnish.

We saw the Texans replenish at outside linebacker, on the offensive line and at kicker and add to their options at receiver. The Colts loaded up on help for No. 1 overall pick Andrew Luck -- seven of their other nine picks bring offensive players to Indianapolis . Jacksonville addressed its big needs right out of the chute, then made a couple of odd selections. Tennessee didn’t take two players at the same position.

BEST MOVE

The Jaguars came into the offseason in dire need of upgraded weaponry for Blaine Gabbert. They started last season with wide receiver Jason Hill as a starter, and he was cut before the season ended. Mike Thomas was miscast as a top-of-the-group guy when he should be a No. 3. Cecil Shorts showed he needs a lot of time to develop.

Mike Mularkey hired a solid receiver coach, Jerry Sullivan. He’s a tremendous upgrade from Johnny Cox, who was quickly fired after Jack Del Rio was dismissed during the 2011 season. Free agency brought Laurent Robinson, who should help, and Lee Evans, who’d be gravy if he can revive his career.

The Jaguars successfully sold pundits on the idea they’d be trading down, then only gave up a fourth-rounder to move up from No. 7 to No. 5 to draft Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon. He’s a dynamic receiver who can catch balls outside his frame and cause matchup problems.

Outside of Luck, no team in the division got a player who can cure an ill better than Blackmon can fix what ails the Jacksonville offense. Now it’s on Gabbert to show he can effectively get the ball to the new star receiver.

RISKIEST MOVE

The Titans didn’t touch a defensive end until Scott Solomon in the seventh round, and they didn’t add an offensive lineman at all. And pass rush and run blocking were two areas that qualified as weaknesses at the end of last season.

Tennessee hosted Scott Wells, Chris Myers, Jeff Saturday and Dan Koppen and saw all four sign elsewhere. On Saturday, coach Mike Munchak made those meetings sound like information-gathering get-togethers rather than courtships, a stance that’s pretty insulting to veterans who wouldn’t waste time making visits without the possibility of a contract.

The defense of incumbent starters on the interior -- Eugene Amano and Leroy Harris -- has entered a new round now. Munchak said the team felt no “dire need there” and that “we have guys we can win with.” Still, watch for a key undrafted addition or free agent or two.

The Titans added one big piece this offseason to its insufficient pass rush in the form of free-agent end Kamerion Wimbley, who was a cap casualty in Oakland. He may provide a big boost but also probably shouldn’t be on the field for every play. Tennessee’s only attempt to bolster itself on the edges came with the 211th pick, end Scott Solomon from Rice.

The Titans face a pretty good slate of quarterbacks this season. Those passers may have a lot of time to throw.

MOST SURPRISING PICK

We hit it hard Saturday night, but the Jaguars' selection of Bryan Anger in the third round was a baffler. Yes, the team will benefit from a big leg and stands to gain field position.

But Jacksonville overrated special teams’ impact by deciding to draft Anger so early rather than addressing other needs where it could have selected a player with a chance to play.

The Jaguars have a recent history of messing up at the position, and teams that struggle with stability at a spot are prone to overreach in an effort to correct it.

I believe that’s a good piece of what happened here. They could have gotten him or a punter who still would have been a big upgrade later.

The Jaguars found Terrance Knighton, Derek Cox and Will Rackley in the third round in Gene Smith’s previous three drafts. They are all starters who affect games more than a punter can.

They can rationalize this pick. And we can stridently disagree.

FILE IT AWAY

Six receivers came into the division -- Blackmon, Kendall Wright in Tennessee, T.Y. Hilton and LaVon Brazill in Indianapolis and DeVier Posey and Keshawn Martin in Houston. That’s two first-rounders, two third-rounders, a fourth-rounder and a sixth-rounder.

The countermeasures?

Just two incoming cornerbacks -- Titans fourth-rounder Coty Sensabaugh and Jaguars sixth-rounder Harris.

Secondary depth could be severely tested by good quarterbacks and receivers, especially when the division faces the NFC North and the high-powered passing offenses of Green Bay, Detroit and Chicago.

The Colts have no proven corners beyond Jerraud Powers. The Texans lost Jason Allen, who played a reasonable amount. The Titans need to unearth a new nickelback now that Cortland Finnegan is gone. Only the Jaguars have fortified the spot, adding two-time Super Bowl winner Aaron Ross, presumably getting Cox and Rashean Mathis back healthy and drafting Harris.

The AFC South is a big running back division, but it’s become more equipped to sling it and may not have the people needed to cover offenses with a lot of downfield weapons.

“It tells you that this is a wide-open league, the offensive focus is on scoring points probably more than ever,” Titans general manager Ruston Webster said. “It’s becoming more of a quarterback-wide receiver league probably every day.”

Nose tackle Mike Martin should pressure veteran Shaun Smith for playing time, and could ultimately push Smith off the roster. Tennessee nabbed Martin in the third round, 82nd overall.

“Mike Martin is what you want in a nose tackle,” general manager Ruston Webster told Nashville media. “He is tough as nails. He is a grinder. He doesn’t mind doing the dirty work and brings the kind of mentality that we want on our defense.”

Like Karl Klug, a successful pass rushing DT from last year’s draft, Martin has wrestled and said it helps him operate in close quarters.

“I’m a guy that the whistle is going to have to be blown three or four times for me to stop on the play,” Martin said. “I think that (Ndamukong) Suh plays that way, he’s got a heck of a motor and I just want to be that guy who can prove that he has that motor in the NFL. I feel like that is what I relied on in college. When guys would quit on a play or just decided not to finish, I was going to finish and I was going to make a play because of that.”

I was (too) hard on Zach Brown, the second-round linebacker. I like the sound of Martin.

Still, the Titans are due for a defensive end.

Reading the coverage ...

Houston Texans

General manager Rick Smith’s expecting a top pick who impacts the team, says Dale Robertson of the Houston Chronicle. Robertson interpreted Smith’s comments as suggesting offensive line or linebacker as the most likely first-round leanings.

Houston perspective on Andrew Luck, whose dad, Oliver Luck, was an Oilers quarterback, from John McClain of the Chronicle.

Kicker Neil Rackers left the Texans for Washington, says Mark Berman of Fox 26. Rackers said the Texans didn’t make a big push for him.

Indianapolis Colts

GM Ryan Grigson finally said publicly that Luck is the Colts’ man. Now can the quarterback pry No. 12 from Quan Cosby? Mike Chappell’s story from the Indianapolis Star.

Luck is ready for the NFL and the Colts, says Bob Kravitz of the Star in this video.

Indianapolis needs play-making linebackers and Chappell previews the position in this draft.

Chuck Pagano loves the enthusiasm at minicamp, says Chappell.

Jacksonville Jaguars

General manager Gene Smith has built a reputation as one of the staunchest NFL decision-makers with regard to character issues, says Gene Frenette.

Former Jaguars receivers coach Ted Monken went on to become offensive coordinator at Oklahoma State and tells Frenette why Justin Blackmon would be a great fit for the Jaguars. Odds seem slim that the receiver is still available at No. 7.

The Jaguars' draft strategy needs to change and produce some skill-position players who can help score points, says Nate Dunlevy of Bleacher Report.

Tennessee Titans

Every time the Titans pick, general manager Ruston Webster will be looking at a group of six players from the Titans' board, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

Whatever cornerback the Titans add in whatever round, he’ll need to be a versatile player, says John Glennon of The Tennessean.

Once again, Matt Hasselbeck is ready to defend his job, says David Climer of The Tennessean.

Reading the coverage…

Houston Texans

Linebacker Bradie James feels like the Texans give him the best chance to go out with a bang, says John McClain of the Houston Chronicle. James looks like a smart veteran addition to me.

Nick Scurfield of the team’s website ties into the National Football Posts positional draft analysis. This time it’s at nose tackle.

This draft will be an interesting philosophical test for the Texans, says Nate Dunlevy of Blaecher Report.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts will likely use the draft to add a big run stuffer to the middle of their defensive line, says Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Advice for Andrew Luck from other quarterbacks who followed legends, from Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News. Hat tip to Mark Alesia.

NFL analysts are concerned about the supporting cast Luck will take the field with, says Chappell.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Gene Smith remains steadfast about drafting a player and not worrying about where he went to school, says Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union.

Ganguli chronicles the ends to which scouts will go to see a player.

The league is looking to add more drama to draft pick announcements, says Vito Stellino of the T-U.

The Jaguars are likely engaged in smoke screening, says Adam Stites of Big Cat Country.

Tennessee Titans

A year after the lockout prevented offseason work with a new staff, the Titans commence their offseason program today, says Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

Ruston Webster’s stress relief as he heads into his first draft as GM comes from knowing he’s done his homework, and he has quality scouts around him, says Wyatt.

A slideshow of the Titans' best and worst all-time draft picks, with analysis by Wyatt.

Drafting 12 spots later than last year, it’s much harder for the Titans to foresee what will unfold ahead of them, says David Boclair of the Nashville City Paper.

There is buzz. There are small nuggets.

But as we try to predict what the teams of the AFC South will do in the NFL draft at the end of the month, let’s remember this: There are a lot of people with minimal or no track records involved in the process, and those people as much as anyone have the ability to keep their scouts quiet.

The Texans are the same as they’ve been.

The Jaguars aren’t vastly different, though new owner Shad Khan could be of some influence in the overall thinking.

The Titans have a new general manager. While Ruston Webster was very influential in last year’s great haul as Mike Reinfeldt’s right-hand man, this is the first draft where he’s running the show and making the final call.

The Colts have a new general manager, and Ryan Grigson is younger and less experienced than Webster, and we have very little actual idea of how exactly he will run a draft room and ultimately make decisions.

I don't think either guy is going to spend a lot of time serving up information, or misinformation, as they complete preparations. So the search for real signals can be even more difficult.

We know Houston GM Rick Smith likes to take tight ends. We know Jacksonville GM Gene Smith likes to mine small schools.

What we don’t know about Webster and Grigson limits our ability to make educated guesses about what they will do. But it sure adds intrigue to what will unfold.

Houston Texans

Wide receiver Andre Johnson talked to Sirius NFL Radio about the Texans' losses in free agency and how he still isn't over the DeMeco Ryans trade.

Johnson said he never took the Peyton Manning-to-Texans rumors seriously.

Arian Foster is not a fan of the NCAA. In an interview with NFLDraft365, Foster said, “I don’t really like the NCAA. I don’t believe that the system they have in place is fair. College football is a billion dollar business. And they equate the billions of dollars they make to a bachelor’s degree."

Nike unveiled the Texans’ new uniforms Tuesday, but there were no real changes.

Indianapolis Colts

The Colts have signed free-agent tight end Kyle Miller and long-snapper Matt Overton.

Indianapolis may be interested in signing free-agent quarterback Byron Leftwich to teach either Andrew Luck or Robert Griffin III, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.

The team had no comment after putting former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck through a private workout Tuesday in Palo Alto, Calif. Among those on hand were general manager Ryan Grigson, coach Chuck Pagano, offensive coordinator Bruce Arians and quarterbacks coach Clyde Christensen, reports Mike Chappell of the Indianapolis Star.

Former Colts offensive coordinator Tom Moore, in an interview with NBC, said Luck was the closest thing he's seen to a second coming of Manning.

Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jaguars say a new coaching staff and new facilities have changed the atmosphere.

Tyson Alualu is off crutches following offseason surgery to clean out his knee, reports Tania Ganguli of the Florida Times-Union. "I’m just excited and looking forward to a great season with two healthy knees," Alualu said.

The play of the Jaguars' receivers dropped off last season under former WR coach Johnny Cox, but wideout Mike Thomas expects better things under new position coach Jerry Sullivan, writes Ganguli.

Blaine Gabbert took a philosophical approach to the team's failed effort to land Tim Tebow. "It was not a worry in the world," Gabbert said. "[The Jaguars] had to do their due diligence evaluating players. It’s the nature of the business. You have to do that in order to build a complete football team.”

Tennessee Titans

Titans GM Ruston Webster says the team is preparing for a second round of free agency, reports The Tennessean's John Glennon. “We’ll keep looking at guys and talking about guys to sign and fill spots for us,” Webster said.

The Titans have signed former Jaguars defensive lineman Leger Douzable.

Tennessee has re-signed Pannel Egboh, a defensive end who has spent his three seasons in the NFL on practice squads, to add depth behind Kamerion Wimbley and Derrick Morgan.

Ben in Houston writes: In the chat yesterday someone asked about Coby Fleener to the Texans. I'm not busting your chops at all, but you read it as the Titans (understandably so when you've been speed-reading on a computer screen for awhile), and answered accordingly saying he wouldn't go as the 20th pick. But what do you think about Fleener to the Houston Texans at 26? I know Wright is the name everyone's putting out there, but Fleener is 6' 6", ran a sub-4.5 40, and the Texans love to run two tight sets when they have the personnel. Additionally with his height and speed, I don't see why he couldn't be considered a deep threat or even just a great complement to Andre if you wanted to put him in the slot. I know there is plenty of info I'm not privy to, but I'm interested in what your thoughts are and what additional insight you might be willing to impart. Thanks

Paul Kuharsky: It’s certainly possible. But I suspect one of those receivers -- or someone at another position -- will be judged more worthy of No. 26 than Fleener will be. The Texans have spent a lot of picks on tight ends. If they have Owen Daniels, James Casey (who may be working as a fullback at least some or could get to return to being more of a tight end) and Garrett Graham they could be OK at the spot.

The buzz on Fleener grew at Stanford’s pro day, but there wasn’t too much before that. He certainly looks like he can be a nice outlet for any quarterback and would work nicely in what the Texans do.

vallenii from Florida writes: Is it possible that the NFL would/will consider allowing QB's & WR's early camp access (like MLB does with pitchers and catchers)?

Paul Kuharsky: The players worked hard in negotiations last year to trim down the offseason. I can’t foresee them giving back a big “gain” in the name of certain players reporting early.

Greg in West Nashville writes: Titans GM Ruston Webster's main role is to make decisions to improve the team and he didn't feel Peyton Manning was worth pursuing until Bud Adams made him. Webster wants to shore up the defense. The Giants and Patriots were ranked behind the Titans in defense last year, but they both have elite QB's. Don't you think the Titans are behind the times in their way of thinking and will continue to be an 8-8 franchise?

Paul Kuharsky: Well, Manning chase aside, the Titans went and got their QB last year in Jake Locker. Now it’s a matter of when he takes over.

Defense and run games aren’t the surefire route to success they once were. But that doesn’t mean there are not multiple paths to winning.

My preference is what’s worked lately: Elite QB and weapons paired up with a big pass rush.

The AFC South is now a fullback division, unfortunately, with a philosophical mindset that may be behind the times.

Ian in College Station, Texas, writes: I just read the "Frustrated Texan Fan" article and thought your response was brilliant. You are truly one of the most unbiased writer at ESPN (in my own opinion). Keep up the good work!

Paul Kuharsky: Check’s in the mail, thanks. I need to keep your email handy, there are a lot of people I’d like to point to you.

The Tennessee Titans' news release announcing their deal with defensive end Kamerion Wimbley included these comments from team officials:

• GM Ruston Webster: “He is an excellent athlete, who has natural pass rusher traits -- ability to bend, get low and has a nice feel for using his hands. I liked him coming out of Florida State as a 4-3 defensive end and he will return to that role with us. In addition to that, his time as a 3-4 rusher gives him added versatility.”
• Coach Mike Munchak: “Kamerion has been a very productive player in this league and is a good pro. On passing downs over the last few years, he has played with his hand down in Oakland and he will playing full-time at defensive end for us. I feel like he is coming into the best years of his career and his skills will help us pressure the passer.”

I don't think putting Wimbley at defensive end qualifies as going out on a limb, but it's certainly the first big, somewhat-risky move for Webster as the Titans general manager.

If it plays out well, Tennessee's defense gets a boost in a spot where it absolutely has to have one.

So, 89-year-old Titans owner Bud Adams was bold in going for Peyton Manning.

He said he’d be disappointed if his executives were unable to land the quarterback.

What now?

I can’t imagine that team president Mike Reinfeldt or general manager Ruston Webster, both recently promoted, will lose any standing with their boss here, even though Adams can be unreasonable on such things.

If anything, they actually should get a little leeway.

The Titans missed out on other free agents because they prioritized Manning, and they prioritized Manning at the instruction of Adams.

So it’s not completely Reinfeldt's or Webster's fault the Titans couldn’t land defensive end John Abraham, center Chris Myers or center Scott Wells.

Reinfeldt and Webster appear to have handled a meddling boss as best as they could. From Adams:

“I want to thank the whole organization for their efforts in trying to sign Peyton and also to Peyton for the time he put into the process. Peyton called me this morning to inform me of his decision and obviously I am disappointed, because I thought we would be a perfect fit.

“Now that we move forward, I want our fans to know that our expectations haven’t changed -- winning a championship is still the goal. I like our quarterback situation moving forward and we will continue to build the team through free agency and the draft with that goal in mind.

“I also want to commend Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker. They were thrown into a very difficult situation. Matt was very good for us last year; and at some point, we expect Jake to be our future franchise quarterback.”

The Titans have former Oakland linebacker Kamerion Wimbley in for a visit today, per Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean.

If the Titans are able to come out of free agency with Steve Hutchinson (already signed) and Wimbley, that’s not a terrible haul.

If the Tennessee Titans do not land Peyton Manning, will their failed pursuit of him have a lasting effect on the franchise?

The team had a plan for free agency before owner Bud Adams declared the team would chase Manning and try to land him at all costs.

General manager Ruston Webster wouldn’t have been super active, but odds are he would have done more to this point than signing guard Steve Hutchinson.

The Titans were interested in Mario Williams, though I don’t believe they would have offered the sort of lottery winnings he will collect in Buffalo.

Perhaps, though, the Titans could have lured end John Abraham away from Atlanta. Perhaps they would have been able to land one of the centers they had in for visits -- Chris Myers, who re-signed with Houston, or Scott Wells, who went from Green Bay to St. Louis.

We don’t know where they stand with Kamerion Wimbley, the former Raiders pass-rusher. Maybe they chase him and land him whether they get Manning or not. But it will be hard to make him feel like a top priority while the quarterback question is unsettled.

This is likely to be the last great crop of free agents for some time because of the CBA. The way teams will be mandated to spend and the way contracts for high picks are now structured means more and more teams will make big efforts to lock up their top players before they get near free agency.

When Adams dictated the Titans draft Vince Young third overall in 2006, the decision had long-lasting negative implications for the organization.

I am sure Adams feels like landing Manning will help offset the Young failure.

He may have missed on his beloved Houston native and University of Texas quarterback. But if he lands an all-time great for the final three or four years of his career, he will have pulled a giant fish into his franchise's boat.

But if that fish doesn’t bite on the Titans’ line, will Adams have made another move with long-ranging, negative implications?

Will we go forward wondering about the guys the Titans were unable to chase and sign because their focus was on Manning?

Peyton Manning worked out for the Tennessee Titans in Knoxville Saturday morning and general manager Ruston Webster issued a short statement afterwards.

"This morning we traveled to Knoxville and had a workout with Peyton. I thought he looked comfortable throwing the ball and we had a good visit. This is another important step in the process."

Indications again seem to be that the Titans, San Francisco 49ers and Denver Broncos are competing to sign Manning, who’s now expected to make a decision early in the coming week.

The arm and health issues we thought would be a big deal for teams clearly have been addressed to the satisfaction of all three teams.

One report out of Denver, however, said the Broncos now have diminished expectations about landing Manning.

Now we wait, some more.

Mike Lombardi of the NFL Network said it first -- the Titans have a foot in the door with Peyton Manning.

Then our Chris Mortensen just tweeted:

“Peyton Manning will meet w Dolphins coach Joe Philbin & Titans coach Mike Munchak during next 3 days, scheduled away from team facilities.”

We’ve arrived, then, at Munchak’s biggest moment in his little over a year as coach of the Titans.

In 2010, he won over Matt Hasselbeck with relative ease.

Little did we know that he would be building off of that sales pitch to one less than a year later for an all-time great.

Munchak is a Hall of Fame player, an up-and-coming coach and an intelligent businessman. He can sell.

Can he outsell John Elway?

Munchak doesn’t have Elway’s personality or Super Bowls, but I think he’s got a shot.

He’s got an offensive coordinator in Chris Palmer who worked with Manning’s brother, Eli, as quarterback coach for the Giants when they beat the Patriots the first time for a Lombardi Trophy.

He’s got a line that might be the best pass protection line Manning’s ever played behind.

He’s got Kenny Britt getting healthy. He’s got a No. 2 receiver in Nate Washington, who got way better when they upgraded to Hasselbeck.

He’s got a dynamic tight end in Jared Cook who finished strong.

He’s got Chris Johnson looking to rebound, who could really benefit from a leap from the passing game.

So long as Munchak can explain how GM Ruston Webster, who was disinclined to chase Manning, has come to terms with Bud Adams’ mandate to go get him, he’s got enough to make a compelling case.