BEST OF BIRONAS

Jim Wyatt ranks the top three moments of Titans kicker Rob Bironas’ career so far:
• 1. 60-yard game-winner (Dec. 3, 2006 at LP Field): Bironas kicked a career-long 60-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Titans a 20-17 win over the Colts. It tied for the fourth-longest field goal in NFL history.
• 2. Great eight (Oct. 21, 2007 at Houston): Bironas set an NFL record with eight field goals — from 52, 25, 21, 30, 28, 43, 29 and 29 yards — in a 38-36 win over the Texans. The final kick sailed over the goalpost as time expired.
• 3. Comeback capper (Nov. 26, 2006 at LP Field): The Titans trailed the Giants 21-0 when quarterback Vince Young led a frantic fourth-quarter comeback. Bironas finished off the improbable 24-21 win with a 49-yard field goal.

BEST OF BIRONAS

Jim Wyatt ranks the top three moments of Titans kicker Rob Bironas’ career so far:
• 1. 60-yard game-winner (Dec. 3, 2006 at LP Field): Bironas kicked a career-long 60-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Titans a 20-17 win over the Colts. It tied for the fourth-longest field goal in NFL history.
• 2. Great eight (Oct. 21, 2007 at Houston): Bironas set an NFL record with eight field goals — from 52, 25, 21, 30, 28, 43, 29 and 29 yards — in a 38-36 win over the Texans. The final kick sailed over the goalpost as time expired.
• 3. Comeback capper (Nov. 26, 2006 at LP Field): The Titans trailed the Giants 21-0 when quarterback Vince Young led a frantic fourth-quarter comeback. Bironas finished off the improbably 24-21 win with a 49-yard field goal.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Tennessee Titans need help on defense. They decided the best way to get it with the 20th overall pick in Thursday night’s NFL draft was by taking an “electric” offensive playmaker in Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright.

The Titans made Wright just the fourth wide receiver ever drafted by the franchise in the first round but their second in four seasons. They expect the receiver to contribute in a big way in his rookie season.

Wright may have been a surprise pick to some, but new general manager Ruston Webster said the Titans just stuck to their draft ratings.

“It really was more about Kendall and the fact he was the best player available,” Webster said.

Coach Mike Munchak, trying to build off a 9-7 record in his first season, said adding a talented player like Wright will help the defense immediately because the offense should stay on the field and score more points.

“It helps both sides of the ball,” Munchak said. “I mean when you’re looking for guys to help you win, this is the type of guy that jumps to the top of the list. And that’s what’s exciting about it I think for the whole team.

“This is a guy who’s going to help this team win football games.”

Wright joins Haywood Jeffires in 1987, Kevin Dyson in 1998 and Kenny Britt in 2009 as the only wide receivers drafted in the first round by this team. Britt is coming off a torn right ACL and has missed games to injuries each of the past two seasons.

The Titans also looked at receiver Stephen Hill of Georgia Tech along with Michael Floyd of Notre Dame. They visited with Wright and also sent their coaches to work out the Baylor receiver.

And Wright now becomes an extra target for either Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker, the quarterbacks who Munchak wants competing to see which starts this season.

Offensive coordinator Chris Palmer called Wright electric and compared him to the likes of Drew Hill and Ernest Givens from this franchise’s days with the run and shoot offense as the Houston Oilers.

“The fact he has the ability, with his run after catch, his hands are very, very good, and I think he’s a guy that will allow us to move him around and complement our other receivers and give us a chance to be more explosive offensively,” Palmer said. “And the fact he can get down the field, if you watch the film, he’s throwing passes, he’s made outstanding catches. I think this guy is electric and a very explosive player.”

The Titans got career seasons out of receivers Nate Washington, Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins after Britt was sidelined last September despite no offseason to learn Palmer’s scheme. Hasselbeck became the first quarterback for this franchise not named Warren Moon to throw for at least 3,500 yards, finishing with 3,571 yards passing with 18 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions.

But the Titans ranked 21st in the NFL, averaging 20.3 points per game. They also managed to stay on the field an average of 27 minutes, 54 seconds.

Britt, a first-round pick out of Rutgers in 2009, was off to the best start of his career with 289 yards receiving ranking him fifth in the NFL before his knee buckled underneath him in the second quarter of a win over Denver on Sept. 25. Munchak said Britt is running, though not cutting yet, and is expected to be able to play in preseason games.

The 5-foot-10, 196-pound Wright caught 108 passes for 1,663 yards working with Robert Griffin III at Baylor last season, and he was timed at 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Wright played four seasons at Baylor and finished his career with 302 catches for 4,004 yards with 30 touchdowns.

“We made each other as good as we were,” Wright said on a conference call when asked if he helped the QB known as RGIII. “So I didn’t make him, he didn’t make me. We made each other.”

Wright is known for being able to get in and out of his breaks on pass routes, using his speed to race by cornerbacks.

Tennessee still needs help for a pass rush ranked next to last in 2011 with a measly 28 sacks. The Titans had plenty of choices at defensive end with Whitney Mercilus of Illinois, Courtney Upshaw of Alabama, Syracuse’s Chandler Jones and Nick Perry of Southern California still available.

The Titans did sign defensive end Kamerion Wimbley to a five-year deal and re-signed Dave Ball, and they also expect lots of improvement out of end Derrick Morgan with his first real offseason after being the 16th pick overall in 2010 only to tear his own ACL in his first month of his rookie season.

Webster said they would be looking at defensive players in the second round slotted to pick at No. 52 and also in the third round.

But the Titans also have worked to improve the offense going into Munchak’s second season, signing five-time All Pro Steve Hutchison to play left guard in free agency.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans need help on defence. They decided the best way to get it with the 20th overall pick in Thursday night’s NFL draft was by taking an “electric” offensive playmaker in Baylor wide receiver Kendall Wright.

The Titans made Wright just the fourth wide receiver ever drafted by the franchise in the first round but their second in four seasons. They expect the receiver to contribute in a big way in his rookie season.

Wright may have been a surprise pick to some, but new general manager Ruston Webster said the Titans just stuck to their draft ratings.

“It really was more about Kendall and the fact he was the best player available,” Webster said.

Coach Mike Munchak, trying to build off a 9-7 record in his first season, said adding a talented player like Wright will help the defence immediately because the offence should stay on the field and score more points.

“It helps both sides of the ball,” Munchak said. “I mean when you’re looking for guys to help you win, this is the type of guy that jumps to the top of the list. And that’s what’s exciting about it I think for the whole team.

“This is a guy who’s going to help this team win football games.”

Wright joins Haywood Jeffires in 1987, Kevin Dyson in 1998 and Kenny Britt in 2009 as the only wide receivers drafted in the first round by this team. Britt is coming off a torn right ACL and has missed games to injuries each of the past two seasons.

The Titans also looked at receiver Stephen Hill of Georgia Tech along with Michael Floyd of Notre Dame. They visited with Wright and also sent their coaches to work out the Baylor receiver.

And Wright now becomes an extra target for either Matt Hasselbeck or Jake Locker, the quarterbacks who Munchak wants competing to see which starts this season.

Offensive co-ordinator Chris Palmer called Wright electric and compared him to the likes of Drew Hill and Ernest Givens from this franchise’s days with the run and shoot offence as the Houston Oilers.

“The fact he has the ability, with his run after catch, his hands are very, very good, and I think he’s a guy that will allow us to move him around and complement our other receivers and give us a chance to be more explosive offensively,” Palmer said. “And the fact he can get down the field, if you watch the film, he’s throwing passes, he’s made outstanding catches. I think this guy is electric and a very explosive player.”

The Titans got career seasons out of receivers Nate Washington, Damian Williams and Lavelle Hawkins after Britt was sidelined last September despite no off-season to learn Palmer’s scheme. Hasselbeck became the first quarterback for this franchise not named Warren Moon to throw for at least 3,500 yards, finishing with 3,571 yards passing with 18 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions.

But the Titans ranked 21st in the NFL, averaging 20.3 points per game. They also managed to stay on the field an average of 27 minutes, 54 seconds.

Britt, a first-round pick out of Rutgers in 2009, was off to the best start of his career with 289 yards receiving ranking him fifth in the NFL before his knee buckled underneath him in the second quarter of a win over Denver on Sept. 25. Munchak said Britt is running, though not cutting yet, and is expected to be able to play in preseason games.

The 5-foot-10, 196-pound Wright caught 108 passes for 1,663 yards working with Robert Griffin III at Baylor last season, and he was timed at 4.46 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Wright played four seasons at Baylor and finished his career with 302 catches for 4,004 yards with 30 touchdowns.

“We made each other as good as we were,” Wright said on a conference call when asked if he helped the QB known as RGIII. “So I didn’t make him, he didn’t make me. We made each other.”

Wright is known for being able to get in and out of his breaks on pass routes, using his speed to race by cornerbacks.

Tennessee still needs help for a pass rush ranked next to last in 2011 with a measly 28 sacks. The Titans had plenty of choices at defensive end with Whitney Mercilus of Illinois, Courtney Upshaw of Alabama, Syracuse’s Chandler Jones and Nick Perry of Southern California still available.

The Titans did sign defensive end Kamerion Wimbley to a five-year deal and re-signed Dave Ball, and they also expect lots of improvement out of end Derrick Morgan with his first real off-season after being the 16th pick overall in 2010 only to tear his own ACL in his first month of his rookie season.

Webster said they would be looking at defensive players in the second round slotted to pick at No. 52 and also in the third round.

But the Titans also have worked to improve the offence going into Munchak’s second season, signing five-time All Pro Steve Hutchison to play left guard in free agency.

The Tennessee Titans courted Peyton Manning, craved Peyton Manning, and didn’t get him.

So now they move forward, but what does that mean? Do they turn to second-year player Jake Locker at quarterback or is it another year with Matt Hasselbeck?

The Titans have stockpiled some good, young talent, so if they can figure out the quarterback position they could push the Houston Texans in the division.

Now we know why they pursued Manning.

QB: The Titans have a big decision now that Manning went elsewhere. For the long-term success of the franchise, they might want to move on to Locker. He showed well in the time he played last season. Hasselbeck is still a decent starter, but is he the long-term solution? He was top 10 last season in only one passing category (completion percentage). The Titans have an interesting decision to make. Rusty Smith is the third quarterback.

RB: After a holdout, Chris Johnson wasn’t the same back last season. It took him a while to get into a groove, although the poor line play early on contributed. Johnson rushed for 1,047 yards, but his per-carry average was 4 yards, the lowest of his career. It’s why the Titans were 31st in rushing yards per game. He needs to be more explosive again. Javon Ringer and Jamie Harper are solid backups. Harper is a bigger back who flashed as a rookie. The fullback will be Quinn Johnson.

WR: The Titans need a healthy Kenny Britt. He went down with a knee injury in the third game and finished with 17 catches and three touchdowns. Britt has to be healthy for the Titans to have a real No. 1 threat down the field. Nate Washington was the leading receiver last season with 74 catches and seven touchdowns. Lavelle Hawkins and Damian Williams each had over 40 catches and Williams had five touchdown catches. Marc Mariani is another reserve who excels on special teams. The key to this unit is Britt’s health. They could take a receiver at some point in the draft.

TE: Jared Cook emerged as a big-time threat in his second season in 2011. Cook caught 49 passes, but averaged 15.5 per catch. The Titans have to get that number up to 70 catches this season. The backups are Craig Stevens and Daniel Graham, but they’re both more blockers than receivers.

OL: Tennessee’s tackles form one of the best tandems in the league, with Michael Roos on the left side and David Stewart the right. Both are good in the run game, which is key for the Titans, but they are also solid in pass protection. The inside play wasn’t very good last season. That’s why the Titans signed veteran Steve Hutchinson. He is getting up there in years, but he will help the inside run game. Center Eugene Amano and right guard Leroy Harris have to be better. Duke Robinson, Fernando Velasco and Kevin Matthews provide backup inside.

DL: The Titans had a lot of injuries on the line last season that slowed their progress and limited the team to 28 sacks. Derrick Morgan, who was counted on to be a breakout star, was limited to 10 starts. The Titans signed Kamerion Wimbley as a free agent from Oakland. He will start at one end. Jason Jones left to sign with Seattle. The leading returning sacker from the end spot is Dave Ball with four, but he is a free agent who hasn’t signed yet. The inside play was the surprise for the team in 2011. Jurrell Casey and Karl Klug both had good rookie seasons. Klug had seven sacks from his tackle spot. Sen’Derrick Marks and Shaun Smith offer good depth inside.

LB: The Titans signed Barrett Ruud to a one-year deal as a free agent, and he opened as the starter. But when he got hurt, rookie Colin McCarthy stepped in and played well. He will be the starter this season and should be for a long time. He’s a heck of a find. Akeem Ayers had a good rookie season on the outside, giving the Titans a nice young 1-2 punch. Veteran Will Witherspoon is the other starter. He was solid in 2011. The top backups are raw, with the exception of Gerald McGrath. They could use an early pick on a linebacker.

DB: The departure of Cortland Finnegan to the Rams in free agency leaves a void on the corner. Alterraun Verner will get the first shot, but don’t be shocked to see the Titans use an early pick on a corner. Jason McCourty was good on the other side as he emerged as their best cover player last season. Ryan Mouton is the top reserve and he could push for the starting job. Tommie Campbell and Terrence Wheatley are also in the mix. The Titans put the franchise tag on free safety Michael Griffin, even though he didn’t have a great season. That speaks to the weakness of the safety spot in the league. Jordan Babineaux was a pleasant surprise last season with 14 starts and was given a new contract extension.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Tennessee Titans made boosting their offensive line a big focus in free agency, and they landed All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson with a multi-year contract Thursday.

Terms of the deal were not released.

”Steve is a really talented player who has had a great deal of success in this league,” general manager Ruston Webster said in a statement. ”I like his leadership and his toughness and he will obviously add to the overall talent of the group upfront.”

Hutchinson visited with the Titans on Tuesday, and he also visited Seattle where he started his career before reaching a deal with Tennessee. Hutchinson did not immediately respond to a message left on his cell phone Thursday by The Associated Press.

Coach Mike Munchak said in a statement he always has liked Hutchinson and respected how he plays.

”I have evaluated hundreds of players coming out of college in my time as a coach, and he may have been the finest college guard I have watched,” said Munchak, who is a Hall of Fame guard himself. ”I still see him playing at a high level, even in his 11th NFL season. He brings experience and success to our line and into the locker room. He is just an all-around good football player and we are excited to have him.”

The 6-foot-5 Hutchinson is a five-time All Pro with seven Pro Bowls. He spent the past six seasons with Minnesota before being released Saturday. A first-round pick out of Michigan in 2001, Hutchinson has blocked for Shaun Alexander in Seattle where the 2005 MVP led the league with 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns. In Minnesota, Hutchison blocked for Adrian Peterson, who averaged 1,350 yards each year the past five seasons.

Now Hutchison will help block for Chris Johnson, the sixth man in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards or more. But Johnson had a career-worst 1,047 yards in 2011 after signing a big contract extension. The Titans ranked 31st averaging 89.8 yards rushing per game.

The Titans, who spent eight hours meeting with Peyton Manning on Wednesday, also have focused on improving the offensive line. They also met Wednesday with center Scott Wells, a Tennessee native who won a Super Bowl with Green Bay, and with Houston center Chris Myers on Thursday.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A group of Tennessee Titans executives have returned to Nashville with Peyton Manning for a meeting with the free agent on the team’s home turf.

Coach Mike Munchak, general manager Ruston Webster and chief operating officer Mike Reinfeldt landed Wednesday afternoon at Nashville International — not John C. Tune airport as indicated on a flight plan — after flying into Raleigh-Durham Airport to pick up Manning.

They returned to the team’s headquarters where the Titans will try to convince Manning to sign with Tennessee.

Titans owner Bud Adams told WSMV-TV on Tuesday the executives were going to spend the day with Manning.

Munchak, Webster and Reinfeldt had arrived in North Carolina just before 1:30 p.m. EDT. Manning arrived at the airport riding in the backseat of black Escalade at 1:53 p.m. EDT, boarded the plane and the group headed back to Tennessee.

Manning had been in Raleigh-Durham working out several times at Duke recently. Blue Devils coach David Cutcliffe was his offensive coordinator at the University of Tennessee.

The owner has said he will do whatever it takes to sign Manning in his chase for a championship. He sees the quarterback as the missing piece. The 89-year-old Adams is staying in Houston, and that’s why Reinfeldt joined Webster and Munchak for this trip.

Adams promoted Reinfeldt from general manager in January to senior executive vice president and COO to act as his point man with the team in Tennessee while he lives 650 miles away.

The Titans already have veteran Matt Hasselbeck with two years left on a deal signed last July, and drafted Jake Locker with the eighth pick overall in the 2011 draft.

The quarterback’s suitors include Denver, Arizona and Miami. He reportedly visited with the Dolphins Monday night in Indianapolis.

Cutcliffe declined to answer any questions about Manning Wednesday following the Blue Devils spring practice. However, when asked how his players were handling the distraction with the new faces around, the coach laughed and said, “you found a way, didn’t you” to get in a question about Manning.

He said having Manning at the team’s facilities has not been a problem.

“That’s always, for them (the Duke players), encouraging and fun. That’s the honest truth,” Cutcliffe said of Manning working out at Duke’s facilities. “But they’ve done a great job of letting anybody that’s in here work and do what they’ve got to do, and they work around them.

“I think it’s always good to have examples and see the kind of work ethic it takes to succeed in football.”

___

AP Sports Writer Joedy McCreary in Durham, N.C., contributed to this report.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The Tennessee Titans will be meeting with Peyton Manning on Wednesday, according to owner Bud Adams.

Adams told WSMV-TV the Titans’ contingent will fly out of Nashville on Wednesday and spend the day with Manning, a meeting delayed apparently by trouble getting a co-pilot for his private plane. Adams told the TV station he thinks Manning really is interested in the Titans’ offer, and he expects a quick decision from the four-time MVP.

”I think he’s … wanting to sign up with somebody pretty quickly,” Adams said by telephone from his Houston home.

Where the meeting will take place remains a secret, though a private plane with a Titans’ emblem on the tail arrived in Nashville on Tuesday afternoon with a flight plan projecting the plane to arrive in Raleigh-Durham a couple hours later. The plane was towed behind a hangar with the flight plan scrapped for the night.

That left coach Mike Munchak busy with other non-Manning business. Munchak left shortly before 1 p.m. ET and returned about 45 minutes later with free agent guard Steve Hutchinson. Munchak left again a couple of hours later and returned with an unidentified passenger, but not Manning in a day in Nashville with lots of waiting and watching.

It’s been that way since Adams made it known he wants Manning and will do whatever it takes to sign the quarterback. The anticipation has mounted since the former Indianapolis and University of Tennessee quarterback agreed to meet with the Titans – though when and where has been a closely guarded secret.

Manning’s day book has reportedly included meetings with the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins. The Titans are his latest suitor.

But there was other free agent business to deal with besides the Manning watch.

Munchak met with Hutchinson, who played with Minnesota last year. The five-time first-team All-Pro guard could boost the offense line for the Titans. Tennessee ranked 31st in rushing last year averaging 89.9 yards per game. Chris Johnson had a career-low 1,047 yards.

Munchak picked Hutchinson up at the airport with some personal service. The coach drove past reporters hoping for an update as Munchak pulled back into the parking lot.

Tennessee also made a few other moves. The Titans signed safety Jordan Babineaux and linebacker Patrick Bailey to multi-year contracts before free agency opened. Re-signing Babineaux means Tennessee returns both their starting safeties with the franchise tag slapped on Michael Griffin.

Guard Fernando Velasco and defensive end Malcolm Sheppard signed deals as exclusive rights free agents.

With most of the non-Manning business apparently completed, Munchak rolled out of the Titans facility at 7:50 p.m. wearing a sport coat and waved to reporters – but again, not stopping to talk.

Reporters staked out across the street from the Titans’ facility all day weren’t there for Hutchinson or any other free agent, and everyone knew it. People driving by slowed down and asked for updates on Manning.

One jogger asked, ”They signing Peyton?” as he ran past.

That’s what everyone wants to know, and nobody with the Titans is talking.

Manning certainly has plenty of connections to Tennessee, the state where he starred at the University of Tennessee, and where his name remains a popular choice for children. His wife is from Memphis, and Manning already knows the Titans’ facility a bit, having practiced against Tennessee a few years ago when the Colts came to town for some joint practices.

Munchak also was a teammate of Archie Manning in 1982 and briefly in 1983 with the then-Houston Oilers. Munchak just hired Dennis Polian – son of former Colts general manager Bill Polian – as his assistant.

The biggest key is Adams, the 89-year-old billionaire who wants back in the playoffs. His Titans have been only twice since 2004 with both trips in 2007 and 2008 lasting only one game each. When he wants a quarterback, he gets him whether it was having his Titans draft Vince Young in 2006 or signing Warren Moon away from the CFL.

”I want Manning,” Adams told The Tennessean. ”I’d love to see him in Titan blue after watching him so many years with the Colts. … I want him. I am ready to do what it takes to get him aboard, and I think he’d be the guy to get us into the playoffs.”

The Titans already have veteran Matt Hasselbeck, signed to a three-year contract last July, and Jake Locker picked with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2011 draft. But Hasselbeck is due $5.5 million in salary this year after getting a chunk of his deal last season.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A person familiar with the situation says the Tennessee Titans [team stats] will be visiting with four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning in his search for a new team.

ESPN.com first reported Titans coach Mike Munchak will meet with Manning after a session with Miami coach Joe Philbin.

The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday about Manning’s meeting with the Titans on the condition of anonymity because the location and time of that meeting remains confidential.

Titans owner Bud Adams made it known Sunday he will do whatever it takes to sign Manning to get back to the playoffs and win his team’s first Super Bowl. Adams told The Tennessean he had talked to Manning’s agent, Tom Condon, asking for a visit with the quarterback.

Manning has plenty of connections to Tennessee.

He starred at the University of Tennessee, leading to his first name becoming a popular choice for newborns in this state. His wife is from Memphis, and Manning already knows the Titans’ facility a bit, having practiced against Tennessee a few years ago when the Colts came to town for some joint practices.

Munchak also was a teammate of Archie Manning in 1982 and briefly in 1983 with the then-Houston Oilers. Munchak just hired Dennis Polian — son of former Colts general manager Bill Polian — as his assistant.

But the biggest key is Adams, the 89-year-old billionaire who wants back in the playoffs. His Titans have been only twice since 2004 with both trips in 2007 and 2008 lasting only one game each. A meeting with Manning could come in Houston where Adams still lives after relocating his Oilers to Tennessee in 1997.

“I want Manning,” Adams told The Tennessean. “I’d love to see him in Titan blue after watching him so many years with the Colts. … I want him. I am ready to do what it takes to get him aboard, and I think he’d be the guy to get us into the playoffs.”

The Titans already have veteran Matt Hasselbeck, signed to a three-year contract last July, and Jake Locker picked with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2011 draft. But Hasselbeck is due $5.5 million in salary this year after getting a chunk of his deal last season.

So far, Manning has met only with the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals.

He was expected to be heading back to Florida, but did not show at the Dolphins’ headquarters Monday despite reports he would meet with the team.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross arrived at the team complex at midmorning, and several players — including quarterback Chad Henne — showed up around the same time to work out. Henne is a free agent and not expected back this season.

A media stakeout at the complex began when a local TV station camera crew arrived at 4 a.m. Half a dozen TV cameras and a handful of reporters eventually gathered across the street. They weren’t allowed on the team’s property, but a Dolphins official brought out water, pizza and napkins.

Curious motorists occasionally pulled up to ask for an update.

A person familiar with the situation says the Tennessee Titans will be visiting with four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning in his search for a new team.

ESPN.com first reported Titans coach Mike Munchak will meet with Manning after a session with Miami coach Joe Philbin.

The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday about Manning’s meeting with the Titans on the condition of anonymity because the location and time of that meeting remains confidential.

Titans owner Bud Adams made it known Sunday he will do whatever it takes to sign Manning to get back to the playoffs and win his team’s first Super Bowl. Adams told The Tennessean he had talked to Manning’s agent, Tom Condon, asking for a visit with the quarterback.
Manning has plenty of connections to Tennessee.

He starred at the University of Tennessee, leading to his first name becoming a popular choice for newborns in this state. His wife is from Memphis, and Manning already knows the Titans’ facility a bit, having practiced against Tennessee a few years ago when the Colts came to town for some joint practices.

Munchak also was a teammate of Archie Manning in 1982 and briefly in 1983 with the then-Houston Oilers. Munchak just hired Dennis Polian — son of former Colts general manager Bill Polian — as his assistant.
But the biggest key is Adams, the 89-year-old billionaire who wants back in the playoffs. His Titans have been only twice since 2004 with both trips in 2007 and 2008 lasting only one game each. A meeting with Manning could come in Houston where Adams still lives after relocating his Oilers
to Tennessee in 1997.

“I want Manning,” Adams told The Tennessean. “I’d love to see him in
Titan blue after watching him so many years with the Colts. … I want him. I am ready to do what it takes to get him aboard, and I think he’d be the guy to get us into the playoffs.”

The Titans already have veteran Matt Hasselbeck, signed to a three-year contract last July, and Jake Locker picked with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2011 draft. But Hasselbeck is due $5.5 million in salary this year after getting a chunk of his deal last season.
 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says the Tennessee Titans will be visiting with four-time NFL MVP Peyton Manning in his search for a new team.

ESPN.com first reported Titans coach Mike Munchak will meet with Manning after a session with Miami coach Joe Philbin.

The person spoke to The Associated Press Monday about Manning’s meeting with the Titans on the condition of anonymity because the location and time of that meeting remains confidential.

Titans owner Bud Adams made it known Sunday he will do whatever it takes to sign Manning to get back to the playoffs and win his team’s first Super Bowl. Adams told The Tennessean he had talked to Manning’s agent, Tom Condon, asking for a visit with the quarterback.

Manning has plenty of connections to Tennessee.

He starred at the University of Tennessee, leading to his first name becoming a popular choice for newborns in this state. His wife is from Memphis, and Manning already knows the Titans’ facility a bit, having practiced against Tennessee a few years ago when the Colts came to town for some joint practices.

Munchak also was a teammate of Archie Manning in 1982 and briefly in 1983 with the then-Houston Oilers. Munchak just hired Dennis Polian — son of former Colts general manager Bill Polian — as his assistant.

But the biggest key is Adams, the 89-year-old billionaire who wants back in the playoffs. His Titans have been only twice since 2004 with both trips in 2007 and 2008 lasting only one game each. A meeting with Manning could come in Houston where Adams still lives after relocating his Oilers to Tennessee in 1997.

“I want Manning,” Adams told The Tennessean. “I’d love to see him in Titan blue after watching him so many years with the Colts. … I want him. I am ready to do what it takes to get him aboard, and I think he’d be the guy to get us into the playoffs.”

The Titans already have veteran Matt Hasselbeck, signed to a three-year contract last July, and Jake Locker picked with the No. 8 overall selection in the 2011 draft. But Hasselbeck is due $5.5 million in salary this year after getting a chunk of his deal last season.

So far, Manning has met only with the Denver Broncos and Arizona Cardinals.

He was expected to be heading back to Florida, but did not show at the Dolphins’ headquarters Monday despite reports he would meet with the team.

Dolphins owner Stephen Ross arrived at the team complex at midmorning, and several players — including quarterback Chad Henne — showed up around the same time to work out. Henne is a free agent and not expected back this season.

A media stakeout at the complex began when a local TV station camera crew arrived at 4 a.m. Half a dozen TV cameras and a handful of reporters eventually gathered across the street. They weren’t allowed on the team’s property, but a Dolphins official brought out water, pizza and napkins.

Curious motorists occasionally pulled up to ask for an update.

Manning spent nearly 6½ hours at the Arizona Cardinals’ headquarters and training facility on Sunday in meetings designed to lure the superstar to the desert.

The session followed a meeting of nearly six hours Manning had at the Broncos’ facility in Denver on Friday night. The two sessions were evidence that, for the time being at least, Arizona and Denver appear to be the top two contenders.

___

AP Sports Writers Steve Wine in Miami and Bob Baum in Tempe, Ariz., contributed to this report.

The Tennessee Titans and the agent for cornerback Cortland Finnegan met Friday at the 2012 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, but moved no closer to a long-term deal, according to The Tennessean.

Finnegan’s agent, Terry Watson, met with Titans general manager Ruston Webster and vice president/football administration Vin Marino, the newspaper said. Webster and Marino could not be reached for comment. Watson was brief in telling the newspaper via text that they “had a good visit.”

Finnegan wanted an extension last offseason on a contract that paid the All-Pro cornerback more than $3.7 million in 2011. He briefly left training camp over a contract dispute and is now set to become a free agent next month.

Though unexpected, the Titans could use the $10.6 million franchise tag on Finnegan before the March 5 deadline.

Finnegan, 28, turned down a four-year, $28 million deal before last season, according to The Tennessean. According to the report, Finnegan is seeking more than the five-year, $48.75 million contract cornerback Johnathan Joseph signed with the Houston Texans last July, a deal that included $23.5 million in guarantees.

Earlier this week, when asked what kind of deal Finnegan is looking for, Watson told The Tennessean, “one that makes him one of the top-paid cornerbacks in the NFL.”

NASHVILLE — The Tennessee Titans will spend the offseason thinking of the three games that cost them a playoff berth and looking ahead to a promising second season with Mike Munchak as head coach.

Just how many players are back for 2012 remains to be seen with contracts of more than 20 expiring. With Munchak taking over a team that went 6-10 and didn’t have an offseason because of the lockout, the Titans have high expectations for what’s next.

“Who would have thought we’d be 9-7?” fullback Ahmard Hall said Monday after the Titans cleaned out lockers. “Who would give us a chance to be 9-7? Munch is building something great here, and everybody wants to be a part of that.”

Hall is among those whose contracts are up, meaning the Titans have plenty of personnel work ahead.

For a franchise that got rid of a quarterback and head coach a year ago, handling a secondary with four pending free agents should be much easier. Defensive captain and cornerback Cortland Finnegan and safeties Chris Hope, Michael Griffin and Jordan Babineaux all are up with no contract talks since Finnegan bolted training camp in August.

Finnegan doesn’t sound as if he expects to be back, though he hopes to return after six seasons in Tennessee.

“Coach Munchak is building something really special around here,” Finnegan said. “He plans to talk to everyone. We’ll see what the future holds.”

Munchak said the salary cap will decide how many players the Titans keep. He hopes they keep as many as possible in free agency along with another crop of rookies to go with a 2011 draft class that had three starters on defense.

A fourth rookie, Karl Klug, led the Titans with seven sacks, and the Titans ranked eighth in the NFL in points allowed per game.

“You’ve got a nice little core here, so I think it’s something we can build on,” Munchak said. “I think that’s part of the excitement of selling to the guys that are in this room is that yeah, 9-7 was OK. It wasn’t quite good enough this year, but a lot of good things happened at 9-7 that we’re excited about as an organization, as a team and that we can build on.”

The Titans finished the season beating the Houston Texans 23-22, missing out on their first playoff berth since 2008 when the Jets lost to Miami and Denver lost to Kansas City. That left Tennessee tied with Cincinnati but losing the head-to-head tiebreaker due to a Nov. 6 loss to the Bengals when the Titans blew a 10-point lead and lost 24-17.

“Hopefully the lesson we learned is you can’t hope that someone else can do your job for you,” Munchak said. “We had to earn our way in, and we didn’t.”

Tennessee also lost its opener 16-14 in Jacksonville and became the first team to lose to the previously winless Colts 27-13 on Dec. 18 when a win would have put the Titans into the AFC’s sixth and final playoff spot.

At least Munchak has his quarterbacks in veteran Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker going into a full offseason to push for the starting job. Hasselbeck started all 16 games and became the first quarterback for this franchise not named Warren Moon to throw for at least 3,500 yards. He finished with 3,571 yards passing with 18 touchdown passes and 14 interceptions. Locker threw for four TDs with a 99.4 passer rating coming off the bench in five games.

Munchak said the quarterbacks will compete again with the player who should start being an obvious decision when the time comes.

He plans on keeping his coordinators, giving Chris Palmer time to work on an offense that ranked 17th in the NFL in passing even though top receiver Kenny Britt tore his right ACL in September.

The biggest focus will be on a run game that ranked 31st in the league averaging a measly 89.9 yards. Chris Johnson ran for a career-low 1,047 yards after missing the preseason before getting his new contract extension.