COLLINS SQUEEZING THE TITANS

Maybe Kurt Warner should pay attention to another graybeard quarterback as to the appropriate approach for putting the screws to a business that will pay up to $124 million in labor costs for the coming year. Both Warner and Kerry Collins are due to become unrestricted free agents. Both of their current teams clearly want them to stick around. But where Warner is saying that he wants to return to the Cardinals, Collins is being coy about coming back to Tennessee. “I think there is desire on their part to bring me back but a lot depends on what happens with the contract negotiations,’' Collins said Tuesday, according to the Tennessean. “I think Jeff wants me back,” Collins said. “In no uncertain terms did he say that I definitely was going to be the starter, but the desire to bring me back is there and it just depends on what capacity they want to being me back. A lot of it is going to depend on how they are wanting to treat the negotiations.’' Translation? They can say that they want me around. But being wanted is only part of the equation; indeed, flattery never paid a single bill. Collins is making it clear that, if the Titans are serious about keeping Collins as the starter, they need to pay him accordingly. Or they need to make other plans. “I’m at a point in my career where I want to start and personally I hope it works out with the Titans,” Collins said. “But I have to be ready to explore other possibilities, too.’' Maybe Warner should do more than mimic Collins -- maybe Warner should hire Collins to be his agent.