Three hurrahs for Boom King and Albert returning to practice yesterday!

 From elsewhere in the SBNation: should we trade Vince to the Texans for a 4th round pick?  I love a good laugh in the morning, don't you?

 Paul Kuharsky nails it: if we could have one guy back from the 2004/2005 Salary cap purge it would be Derrick Mason.  Alas, now he's playing for the hated Ravens and was acting like a [insert archaic feminine hygiene product paired with a narrow, oar-powered boat] last time we saw him.

 If The Ravens come in our house and try to run their version of the 'Wildcat' formation they're going to get crushed.  Our front 4, especially with Haynesworth collapsing the middle, get too much penetration to give up much there and the Ravens don't have the speed at RB to get outside and break contain on us.

 No matter how much Fisher wants to tell everyone that the history between the TItans and Ravens is old news, it's bunk.  I'm just glad there are fiery leaders like Jevon Kearse and Keith Bulluck to remind us of that:

The defensive linemen of the Tennessee Titans have photos of animals taped on the nameplates of their lockers, sort of as a descriptive depiction of their character or a particular look.

Perhaps defensive end Jevon Kearse should have an elephant as his designated animal, because Kearse hasn’t forgotten what happened to the Titans courtesy of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2000 playoffs.

"It definitely was stolen, because those guys went ahead and won the Super Bowl that year," Kearse said of the Ravens’ 24-10 victory over the top-seeded Titans that day...  You could look at it as payback. I’m not going to lie. In the back of my mind, I’m looking at it as payback, because so many things that we had going that year, and we did have the best defense that year," he said.

 Big ups to prolific contributor/haterade baron gramsey712 for pointing us towards the story about Kevin Mawae: the Titans center was on SIRIUS radio with John Riggins, and he didn't sound like a man who really plans on playing Sunday:

Riggins: "Will you be there this weekend?"

Mawae: "No, I'm not going to play this week. It's still questionable. We're day-to-day and hopefully things progress to where I'll be able to play next week. But again, we're day-to-day right now."

Schein: "So you're not going to play this week against Baltimore?"

Mawae: "Don't know. We're preparing like I'm not. Leroy Harris is taking the snaps right now and my job is just to get healthy and get stronger. But the final decision has not been made yet."

 Then the AP asked Mawae about it and he backtracked.  So, feel free to believe whichever account helps you through the day.

 Paul Kuharsky pulls some great stats on how opposing kickers have struggled mightily at LP Field, where their hitting FGs at a rate about 20 percent lower than the league average.  It's definitely a good read.

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Todd McShay has his first full mock draft up (Insider subscription required) now that the 2009 Draft order is established, and he joins many other Titans fans in failing the definition of insanity: doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results... just like Mario up there.

Who does Todd have us taking?

32. Tennessee Titans (13-3) -- Percy Harvin, WR, Florida

Let me go ahead and say this for the first time of the draft season: We're not getting a 1st round wide receiver.  It just won't happen, and in my opinion, shouldn't happen.  WR is the least important position on the field in Fisher's system, and it's a system that's worked pretty well over the years.  A great 1st round WR won't help us win nearly as many games as a better talent and depth at defensive lineman CB, LB, interior offensive lineman will.

We need new receivers, obviously, but that big of an investment is a bad idea.

Maybe I'll be proven wrong, but I'll go on record as hoping we don't go WR in the first round.  Defensive talent at any position would be a better investment for the best team in the NFL.  Every year guys unpredictably regress or get injured and depth is the key to making sure we're the best defense in the NFL for years to come.  And being the best defense is the key to keeping a stranglehold on this division and this conference.

I expect this discussion will be on going, and tempers may even flair over it.  The truth will remain the same though, it ain't happening.

So the Ravens stead-fastly claim they aren't thinking about the past when it comes to this rivalry, but then note that Rex Ryan and Ray Ray have been getting players up to speed on what this match-up has meant for the past 8 years.  I feel pretty confident that the Titans players are well aware of how the tide has turned in this series, and I expect them to use that to their advantage.

 The Ravens think their playoff run is feeling like déjà vu, though I'm sure most of them think  déjà vu just hasn't been the same since Stakes is High dropped in 1996 and Prince Paul quit producing.

 Fisher expects Boom King and Albert to both be healthy and starting Saturday, which hasn't happened since Dec. 7th.  I hope that's the case, because we need then to be at full force to terrorize Flacco and the Ravens' sizable offensive line on every play.  Center Kevin Mawae, however, is looking much less likely to go with his elbow injury.

 Paul Kuharsky spends some time with Titans punter Craig Hentrich as he tries to figure-out why he's been in such a vicious slump the last quarter of the season.  Hopefully Hentrich, who is a consummate professional and still a stud punter, will get this figured-out.  Also, I'd advice everyone cycle through Paul K.'s stories on the Colts, where in he takes them to task without turning it into a hit job.

 Despite missing significant time due to injury, congrats to Albert Haynesworth for finishing 4th overall in DPOY voting.  The award went to James Harrison of the Steelers.

 I know he probably hasn't watched the second half of a game since 1996, but does anyone still think Peter King even pays attention to what he writes anymore?  To wit [added emphasis is mine]:

Game 1, Saturday, Ravens (6th seed) at Titans (1st). Earlier this season, Oct. 5, at Baltimore: Tennessee 13, Baltimore 10. They should call this one the "First Team To 10 Bowl.'' Baltimore led 10-3 late in the third quarter, and this is when Kerry Collins cemented his 2008 legacy. He took the Titans on a 13-play, 81-yard drive to a Rob Bironas field goal, and on the next possession went 80 yards in 11 plays and won it on a short touchdown pass to Alge Crumpler. Shortly after this, defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz spoke for the team when he told Collins, "This is your team. We all believe in you.'' I doubt home-field will matter much in a donnybrook, but Tennessee's glad to have it.

You know all he was worried about was working 'donnybrook' into this week's column...

 Even the Canadian Press is smart enough to realize that this Titans team has tons of seasoned vets with extensive playoff experience and success.

 One thing we definitely know about how to play the Ravens is stay the hell away from Ed Reed!

 USA Today's Tom Weir knows that Kerry Collins probably still wakes up in a cold sweat thinking about how the Ravens treated him during the Super Bowl, but we know he's strong enough and surrounded be enough talent to close that chapter by pounding the Ravens in to a fine mist this Saturday.

Every time you email me a link the football gods smile upon you, so if you have a link you'd like to submit for tomorrow's Morning Links email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com!  (Be sure to include your commenting handle so I can give you semi-anonymous credit.)

Our first playoff game this year is against a team named after a poem.  I don't think we could ask for a better match-up seeing as how the only teams that have really given us fits were big time, balanced offenses.  Each time we've lined up against a great defense we've walked away victorious.

 Lets keep it positive people: 2003 Titans-Ravens results > 2001 Titans-Ravens results.

 ESPN's Paul Kuharsky has a first look at the Titans-Ravens match-up, including a wise word of warning for those who are getting a little too excited about Sunday's results which happened while our guys had earned the right to worry more about Hot Pockets than pocket passing for a day:

And while Baltimore's vaunted defense is likely going to get more attention heading into the game -- in large part because of what it did against the Dolphins while the Titans rested at home -- Tennessee was second in NFL scoring defense this season and Baltimore was third. Also, the Titans have 31 takeaways to Baltimore's league-leading 34.

Kerry Collins may be in for a tough day, but so should be Joe Flacco.

 Last week was pretty relaxing for the Titans players, but this week better be the most smash-mouth practices they've seen all year... my biggest fear is that, coming off of essentially 3 weeks off, our guys won't be ready for how physical Baltimore will be from the opening kickoff.  We have to trust Fisher to get them in the right head space for this grudge match.

 The Browns canceled their interview with Jim Schwartz this past weekend, and Eric Mangini became the public front-runner.  However, the Lions are still sniffing around for anyone who may be desperate enough or dumb enough to take that job.

 Titans center Kevin Mawae will be a big question mark to play Sunday, and though LeRoy Harris has played very well the past few weeks for the injured vet, something tells me Mawae would be out on that field with both arms chopped off and a pirate patch on if that's what it took.

 If you're anything like me, you also threw-up a little in your mouth during the 'Peyton has long hair' moment of Saturday Night's broadcast.  Such a rebel he is.  That do will look pretty rockin' on the golf course though...

 Jeff Fisher finished in 3rd place in Coach of the Year voting, which was won by Atlanta's Mike Smith.

Every time you email me a link the football gods smile upon you, so if you have a link you'd like to submit for tomorrow's Morning Links email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com!  (Be sure to include your commenting handle so I can give you semi-anonymous credit.)

A message from MCM to Crazy Legs: We Titans fans love you and want you to get the accolades you deserve, but ROY is definitely not one you deserve.  What Matt Ryan did was harder than what you did, and you're making yourself look like an idiot with statements like this.  Just drop it, please.

 Maybe Crazy Legs should ask Jeff Fisher what it's like to have a great year which defies all expectations, but have that legitimately not be enough to win the appropriate reward.

 Boom King and Haynesworth are getting closer to being healthy, and i just heard Jeff FIsher say on 104.5 The Fan that they would be back on the practice field next week - though he declined to say what day.

 It's a tense waiting game over the next few days as Titans players and coaches wait to see who will be at LP Field next week.  No matter who makes it, our boys are going to have to be ready to play a talented team who's very familiar with out team and scheme.

 In order to keep guys sharp and working with their head on a swivel, Fisher had them practice yesterday in full pads (which has been a rarity this season).

 Intrepid reader Joy Kat points us towards this article, where-in the Titans opine their short playoff stay last year and look for more time in the post-season this year.

 Kevin Vickerson is coming back off of his suspension, and the Titans have until next week to clear a roster spot for him if the want to.  I honestly have no idea if he'll be back, or if he'll get buried behind other options like Chris Henry did after his suspension last year.

 People who say the Titans don't have enough playoff experience are ill-informed and obviously don't know what players are actually on the roster.

 Happy Birthday to Titans starting QB Kerry Collins, who turned 36 on Tuesday.

 So is Chad Pennington the official NFL Comeback Kid now?

 On a more selfish note, Nick Harper isn't getting any younger and I think we're all aware of his declining (to be nice) man-to-man coverage skills.  With that in mind, perhaps we should look at CB early in the draft, and there's one right here in town that just might fit the bill...

I know you good people are reading more great articles than I can track down each day, so if you have a link you'd like to submit for tomorrow's Morning Links, email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com!  (Be sure to include your commenting handle so I can give you semi-anonymous credit.)

 Congrats to our Titans, who finished no.1 in ESPN's final Power Rankings.  Now time to move on, because we're all back to 0-0 records.

 Even though our defense surrendered the defensive scoring title with Sunday's no-show in Indy, The Sporting News knows that you have to be impressed with what the defense accomplished this year despite Boom King being out for a big chunk of the year.

 Yesterday's limited allotment of playoff tickets were gone in 3 minutes.

 Paul Kuharsky evaluates the 2008 season of each AFC South team.

 Teresa M. Walker goes in-depth on the 2 running back style that may be here to stay in the NFL.

 PFW shines a little light on the chronically under-appreciated Ahmard Hall.

 Bucky Brooks' final Awards Watch column ends with no Titans in the lead in any category, and Jeff Fisher isn't even on the radar.  Something tells me Fish will get some votes even though he won't win.

 Check out SI's Don Banks for the best coverage of the Shanahan firing.

 Here's the 2009 draft order.  I can definitely deal with us being in the 32 spot...

I know you good people are reading more great articles than I can track down each day, so if you have a link you'd like to submit for tomorrow's Morning Links, email me at mcmaugustwest@gmail.com!  (Be sure to include your commenting handle so I can give you semi-anonymous credit.)