Peyton Manning Rumors: Titans Foolish to Dismiss Manning Homecoming

It may be hard to realize this, but the Titans were not far from being at least a playoff team in 2011. So, it's a little puzzling to think that they won't have any interest in Peyton Manning. 

While it may be puzzling, General Manager Ruston Webster does not appear interested in the legendary quarterback, at least according to Titans beat writer Terry McCormick.

If you're a Titans fan, just hope that this is posturing. If you need any proof, just take a look at the numbers that Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker put up in 2011.

Completions/Attempts	Percentage	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions	Rating
353/584	60.4	4,113	22	14	84.4

Compare that to Manning's season in 2010. Before you look at the numbers, remember that it was a down year for him.

Completions/Attempts	Percentage	Yards	Touchdowns	Interceptions	Rating
450/679	66.3	4,700	33	17	91.9

With Kenny Britt returning from injury and Nate Washington emerging as a threat, the Titans have receivers in place for Manning to work with. 

His addition would also go a long way in opening holes for Chris Johnson. Defenses would have no choice but to respect the pass, forcing them to have only seven men (or fewer) in the box to defend the run. 

With that, holes will open and Johnson will burst right through them. The big play part of his game would be back, maybe even better than in 2009 when defenses knew he was running. More than any statistical advantage Manning has over Hasselbeck and Locker, that is the best thing he would bring to the Titans. 

The other element of this is the homecoming element. It takes all of four seconds of him talking to know that Manning is a southern boy. Not only that, but he went to school at Tennessee, where he was one of the best college quarterbacks ever. 

Never underestimate the home-field advantage that Manning has. Other teams that are unstable at quarterback include the 49ers (if they don't re-sign Alex Smith), Cardinals, Browns, Dolphins and Jets. Those are all either big cities which Manning has never played in, or rebuilding projects, which a 36-year-old future Hall of Famer would be foolish to want any part of. 

With the Titans, Manning would not only be playing in a comparable market to Indianapolis, but in a state really put him on the map. Also, as the 2011 season would indicate, they are a contending team. If you need another reason, there's one more. 

Manning has spent the better part of his career making NFL defenses look like a fourth-grade flag football teams. The defenses he has hurt the most reside in the AFC South. 

Manning knows the Jaguars and Texans from playing them twice a year since 2002. He knows the Colts from being a part of that team since 1998. There wouldn't be any adjustment period for him. He would simply be opposing the same defenders that have been helpless against him for years.

The fit is perfect for Manning, and the matchup is right. There is no reason to not make this happen. If Ruston is not posturing and is really not interested, he's not paying attention.

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