Titans may wait on QB choice

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NASHILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans still have yet to decide whether Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker starts in their third preseason game, and coach Mike Munchak says he could go all the way up to opening week before picking his starting quarterback for the season.

"We have done that before, but I don't necessarily think we will do that," Munchak said Sunday.

Hasselbeck and Locker split work yet again with the first-team offense, rotating between drills Sunday in the final open practice of training camp for Tennessee. Munchak said he will meet with his assistant coaches Sunday night and make a decision on a starter.

Asked if the decision will be on the starter for Thursday night's exhibition against Arizona or for the season, Munchak had a short answer.

"We will talk about that tomorrow," Munchak said.

Locker was just 4 of 11 for 21 yards in his first NFL start Friday night, a 30-7 win at Tampa Bay.

Hasselbeck, who was intercepted twice in the preseason opener, was 4 of 5 for 29 yards. On Sunday, both had their moments with Hasselbeck picked off in a two-minute drill, while Locker completed 1 of 5 passes.

But Hasselbeck had some nice throws to tight ends Jared Cook and Craig Stevens into the end zone on another drill, while Locker made a nice pass to Cook down the right sideline.

Munchak said repetitions always help, though they saw Hasselbeck throw for more than 3,500 yards in 2011, with Locker impressive each time he came off the bench as a rookie.

"You have ideas on what you think is best, but ultimately you want to let things play out as long as you can and make the best decision for the team," Munchak said.

Neither Hasselbeck nor Locker spoke with reporters Sunday. Cook said the wait to pick a starting quarterback is not causing problems in the locker room and sees no pressure to rush a decision.

"It's good that they kind of push each other. They know that someone's right on their shoulder. Watch out. Competition's good," Cook said.

"You've got a guy you invested the future in in Jake and you also have a guy who's a crafty veteran who knows the game period in Matt. It's not an easy decision, and we've only played two games. You really can't decide a lot in two games."

Quarterback isn't the only position battle going on for the Titans right now, but it easily is the most watched in the first real competition for this team at that spot in years. The Titans open Sept. 9 against New England, and coaches will have to decide how many defensive linemen to keep, defensive backs, receivers and linebackers.

"This is just one of many that, hopefully, we will get right," Munchak said of picking a starting quarterback.

Receiver will be a challenge while Kenny Britt waits to hear from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on whether or not his eighth incident involving police merits a suspension and how many games. Munchak said Britt may not play this preseason as he recovers from a third surgery, on his left knee in late June, and the Titans are preparing for the worst.

Britt said he has not heard from the commissioner and is hoping for the best. He said he is working hard in the film room and in the training room to be ready once he is cleared off the physically unable to perform list. He surprised himself by running several passing routes hard recently.

"I'm real excited," Britt said.

Game notes
S Jordan Babineaux did not practice and said he might not play Thursday night against the Cardinals. He said his right shoulder, which he hurt while in Seattle in 2005 and 2006, is sore but will not prevent him from playing in the regular season.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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