TITANS FACE A BIG DECISION IN 2009

With quarterback Vince Young recovering from a sprain to his knee and a bruise to his ego and former backup Kerry Collins leading the team to its first 4-0 start in franchise history, the Tennessee Titans will be facing a thorny decision after the 2008 season. Collins is in the final year of his contract with the team. He will be a free agent in March. And he doesn’t want to be a backup next year. “There’s been a little talk, but it was mainly in training camp,” Collins told Terry McCormick of the Nashville City Paper regarding the possibility of a contract extension. “Certainly a lot of things have changed since then. I’m probably more inclined to kind of wait till the end of the season to see how things play out, because at this point in my career, it’s going to be hard for me to back up anymore. It really will. “After sitting for two years and now being the starter, I know I can still do this at a high level, and to me, it’s going to have to be a starting job, or I’m going to have to make some decisions on what I’m going to do,” Collins added. “I would love to stay here. I really would,” Collins said. “I love playing for Jeff. I love playing in Nashville. I really feel like I fit well as a part of this team. Having said that, who knows what’s gonna happen. Certainly, I think I’m better off just waiting till the end of the year and seeing how it all plays out.” Collins also said that he’d consider an offer for an extension now, if a promise of an opportunity to compete for the starting job came along with it. Whether Collins stays will depend in large part on whether Young does. We still think there’s a chance that, in the offseason, the Titans and Young will strike a deal to allow him to retire without having to pay back any bonus money. Regardless of how it all turns out, it has the potential to be a huge mess -- and the success that the team ultimately enjoys in 2008 will be a significant factor in the decision that the Titans ultimately have to make.