Tennessee Titans Morning Links: Sports Illustrated Hearts The Music City March Edition

Sports Illustrated gets the first story for sending me an early preview of this stunning six-page article that breakdown the Titans' 99-yard drive against the Cardinals last year. It's a huge piece by Jim Trotter in the newest issue, and is a mandatory read for every Titans fan. I can only run a few lines from it, but I thought these comments about the game-wining play show just how much 'Dinger trusts Vince these days:

Heimerdinger: "We have not run that play in practice, in OTAs or in two-a-days since I’ve been back [with the Titans]. I knew Vince had run it as a rookie so he would know the read, but Hawk had never run the play, Kenny had never run the play, Nate had never run the play and Chris had never run the play... I knew it was the best route against the coverage that I could possibly call. So I felt good about it.

The other big story yesterday was a report (which is now looking premature at best) that the Heisman Trust would ask for Reggie Bush's trophy back. In response, Vince Young's mother chimed in to repeat what Vince has said repeatedly: Vince probably deserved the award, but he has no interest in receiving it at the expense of Bush. I can understand that, especially since the cynical side of me says that Reggie just got popped doing what every elite college player who didn't come from means does at some point. Plus, I'm sure Reggie would trade that Heisman to be a part of the winning touchdown in the greatest college football game of the past half-century. Side note: the Heisman Trust meets the second Tuesday of each month, so if there is any decision coming on this issue look for it next week.

It appears as though the talks revolving around Albert Haynesworth coming back to Tennessee have cooled off, and Fisher is saying he's plenty happy with the defensive line we have right now. I'll agree with that, but that doesn't mean you don't try to make it better if a reasonable opportunity falls in your lap.

Congratulations to the NFL for grabbing their ankles while the Colts dictate the rules of the game in ways that best suit their personnel. The league managed to make a pretty simple rule change that kept officials safer into the most convoluted crap of a ruling I've seen them implement in a long time. Now if only the Colts can make it a rule that all of the refs know the Heimlich Maneuver they could quit blaming receivers and offensive linemen for their quarterback's big game failures.

USA Today's Jim Corbett has 10 questions for the 2010 season, including can the Titans or Texans win the division over the Colts? Yes and no. That's a yes for us, and a no for the Texans. I'm still not giving them credit for squat until they do something.

The Titans picked up Herb Donaldson for the practice squad yesterday after cutting LeGarrette Blount over the weekend, and they also signed the well-traveled second year tight end Carson Butler to the eight and final practice squad spot. Butler has recently spent time with the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants, and New England Patriots.

The Raiders are coming to LP Field on Sunday, and All-World CB Nnamdi Asomugha says their defense isn't quite hitting peak performance yet. I don't know if that means there is a problem, or if it means he thinks they can get even better. Either way, I expect it to be a long flight back home for Al's boys.

PFW has a Rookie of the Year Meter going all ready, for as much as that's worth.

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