NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Titans aren’t on the clock yet, but general manager Ruston Webster and head coach Mike Munchak said Tuesday that they are “ready to roll.”

The 2012 NFL Draft begins at 7 p.m. (CT) Thursday with the first round from Radio City Music Hall in New York. It continues at 6 p.m. Friday with the second and third rounds and concludes Saturday with rounds four through seven.

The event has blossomed into a major event that warrants prime time coverage and significant media attention, but is the product of hours of film study, tedious analysis and forthright discussions among Titans executives and scouts that occur with much less bravado.

“First of all, I want to start by saying how happy I am with the way the process has worked,” Webster said during Tuesday’s pre-draft press conference at Baptist Sports Park. “For about the last week-and-a-half, we’ve been in with our scouts and coaches and just solidifying the draft board. We’re in pretty good shape there now. We went through every position with every coach and every scout. Our coaches did an outstanding job of doing their work, and our scouts are very prepared. I think at this point in time, we’re ready to roll.”

The Titans have a total of seven selections, including the 20^th overall pick on Thursday. Webster, who was promoted in January from his position as vice president of player personnel, said the Titans usually project 21 to 25 players as first-round selections.

The amount of time teams have to make a selection after “going on the clock” is different for different rounds, but Webster said the Titans have a system that allows for conditions that change when a preceding team selects a player that the Tennessee scouts had in mind.

“We’ll have a group of six players kind of lined up there the way we would take them,” Webster said. “When one of them gets taken, someone else will come on that list and we’ll just keep moving up that way. That way, there’s no panic in the room and probably not even too much discussion.”

Webster participated in his first NFL Draft in 1988 as a regional scout with Tampa Bay and has been involved in each since, including 2010 and 2011 with Tennessee. He said he has found six players to be a good working number to allow some flexibility, but maintain efficient decision making.

“Experience tells you one of those guys will be there,” Webster said. “I guess the point for us is to have a pool of players and when somebody drops off that list to have somebody else to come on it. We’ll just keep working the list.”

Munchak, a longtime assistant coach, said he has been looking forward to his second draft as head coach. He said this year has been different because he was able to spend more time at the pre-draft combine in Indianapolis in February. In 2011, Munchak was still building his coaching staff at the time of the combine.

“Last year, I was hired during that time and was hiring coaches, so I wasn’t involved at all in the first run-through of seeing possible college draft picks,” Munchak said. “This year was nice because I was able to spend a week to 10 days with the scouts, start getting a feel for the strengths of the draft and getting to know some of these guys.”

Munchak said he also gained additional evaluative experience in the past year to help consider players at other positions than just offensive line, which was his specialty as an assistant.

Thursday will mark the second time in Titans/Oilers franchise history to select from the 20^th overall spot. In 1987, when the franchise was still the Houston Oilers, the team selected wide receiver Haywood Jeffires from N.C. State. Jeffires made 515 catches in his career, which is second best in franchise history.

The Titans drafted quarterback Jake Locker out of Washington in the first round last year with the eighth overall pick. Tennessee then drafted defensive players with four of their next five selections, including second-rounder Akeem Ayers who started all 16 games in 2011 and produced results at linebacker. The Titans were happily surprised that Ayers was still available at the 39^th overall slot.

Webster said the Titans will focus more on their plans than the actions of other teams, but will be prepared for all scenarios.

“You try never to fall in love with one guy,” Webster said. “Jake was somebody we targeted last year, but even in that case, you have to be ready just in case that player is not there. We had a pool of players at that point in time as well. We’ll do the same thing (this year).”

Team’s 50-stop tour through the Mid-South begins April 30

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Titans have announced the complete itinerary for the 14th Titans Caravan, a regional series of school visits and free, public autograph signings.  Titans Caravan, sponsored by Grange Insurance, will make 50 total stops in Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama from April 30 through May 11.

• 2012 Titans Caravan Schedule

The Caravan kicks off in Robertson County, Tenn., on Monday, April 30, with two-time All-Pro tackle Michael Roos. Students from Greenbrier and Watauga Elementary Schools will come together to hear from Roos in a special Titans Caravan school program.

A total of 28 schools will participate this year in Titans Caravan (24 total stops). The school program features a high-energy, educational message from seven-time Pro Bowl Titans mascot T-Rac, host Rhett Bryan and a Titans player.  The Titans use the opportunity to speak to the youngsters about making good choices in all parts of their lives and the importance of daily exercise. T-Rac and the Titans school program are sponsored by Tennessee State Parks, which celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2012 and will provide several unique surprises to viewers during the program.

In addition to the school stops, there will be 26 public events on the Caravan, which allow fans to meet Titans players, T-Rac and the “Voice of the Titans” Mike Keith.  Posters are provided to all Caravan attendees for autographs, and photos are encouraged.  Every Titans Caravan public event is sponsored by the Trusted Choice agents of the Insurors of Tennessee and is done at no charge to fans.  Public stops generally last one hour.

Also for the first time, the U.S. Army will be joining the Titans Caravan public stops.  Fans will have the opportunity take part in a cornhole competition, test their skills at a variety of team-building exercises and claim free commemorative Titans Caravan 2012 dog tags.  U.S. Army representatives will be on hand to share the exciting opportunities available in today's Army.

On Monday, May 7, Titans Caravan will have the first-ever “Legends Day.”  Former Titans Pro Bowl players Frank Wycheck and Blaine Bishop will tour Middle Tennessee as Titans Caravan’s special guests. Free posters commemorating Titans Caravan Legends Day will be given away to fans.

The entire player lineup for Titans Caravan will be announced later in April.  Besides the players who will appear, head coach Mike Munchak will spend an entire day with the Caravan.

“This is our most ambitious Titans Caravan in years,” said Don MacLachlan, Titans executive vice president for administration and facilities. “Our staff has been planning this event since early January, and we believe that Titans fans will have their greatest access ever to Titans players. And T-Rac’s new school program with Tennessee State Parks is just terrific!”

Titans Caravan began in 1998 as a small effort to spread goodwill through the region. Today, six full-time staffers travel with Titans players and T-Rac through the Mid-South on a specially-decorated motor coach provided by Grand Avenue.  Since 1998, Titans Caravan has made over 700 stops, traveled approximately 50,000 miles, visited close to 300 schools and allowed the team to interact directly with an estimated audience well in excess of 100,000 fans.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.-- The Tennessee Titans return to the primetime football lineup with games against the New York Jets on Monday Night Football and their long-time rival the Pittsburgh Steelers on NFL Network. The Titans will open the 2012 season against the reigning AFC Champion New England Patriots at LP Field on September 9th.

• 2012 Schedule (PDF)

“It is obviously exciting to open the season at home against a quality opponent in New England,” said head coach Mike Munchak. “They have been one of the best teams in the league for a number of years and the game will be a great test for us.

“What stands out to me is the two home primetime games. We didn’t have any last year and those are fun for our fans and an opportunity to showcase our team.

“The bye falls really late, but hopefully the Thursday night game in October will give us a long weekend and extra days to get players some rest. The final six games feature four division games and five AFC games, so it gives us a chance to control our own destiny down the stretch.”

The Titans schedule features home games against New England, New York Jets, Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Houston, Indianapolis and Jacksonville. Tennessee will travel to Buffalo, Miami, Green Bay, Minnesota, San Diego, Houston, Indianapolis and Jacksonville.

Again this year, the NFL will feature “flexible scheduling” for the Sunday night game in Weeks 11-17. Teams will be given two weeks notice if a game is moving from an afternoon game to a night contest.

The Titans 2012 schedule contains several interesting stories:

• The schedule features six games against 2011 playoff teams: Houston (twice), New England, Pittsburgh, Green Bay and Detroit. The Titans will face three of these six opponents in the first four games of the schedule.

• Former Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will return to Nashville for the first time as the head coach of the Detroit Lions.

• The Titans will make their first regular season trips to Green Bay and Minnesota since 2004.

• This is the first year without a three-game home stand or three-game road trip since 2008.

• This will mark the 7th Monday Night Football game played at LP Field and first since 2008 (Indianapolis).

• Since byes were introduced into the NFL in 1990, this is the latest bye in franchise history.

• This will be the first time the Titans have finished the regular season at home since 2006.

N, N.Y. -- Nike unveiled the next generation of NFL uniforms, featuring superior lightweight performance built for a body-contoured fit to amplify speed.

• Photos

Upon completion of the Nike/NFL contract, the Tennessee Titans were the first team to take full innovation in the Nike Elite 51 football uniform. The Titans design aesthetic will stay true to years past while updating the color-blocking in the neckline in order to accommodate the Flywire technology to reduce weight and provide a lockdown fit over the pads.

Designed and engineered from the inside out, the new uniform focuses on creating a system where the baselayer, padding, jersey and pant work in concert. A few of the new innovations include increasing sleeve articulation for better range of motion and integrating new four-way stretch fabrication to provide a streamlined shrink-wrap fit.

In addition to serving as the Titans on-field supplier for uniforms, sideline apparel, practice wear and baselayer, Nike will also provide men’s and women’s fan wear apparel. Athletes will now also be able to wear the Nike Vapor Jet 2.0 Glove featuring the interlocking team logo on the palms.

Key features of the Nike Elite 51 uniform include:

• LIGHTER - The Nike jersey and pant, wet or dry are lighter than previous versions

• FLYWIRE TECHNOLOGY - Eliminates layers, reduces weight, and provides lockdown fit

• ZONED MESH VENTILATION – Provides cooling zones for optimal thermoregulation

• ZONED STRENGTH - High tenacity, stretch material, for lightweight lockdown strength.

• CUT FOR MOBILITY – Four-way stretch, hydrophobic materials enable range of motion wet or dry.

• STRETCH TWILL NUMBERS – Four-way stretch even on numbering system

• CUSTOMIZABLE BASELAYER PADDING – Nike Pro Hyperstrong baselayer with integrated lightweight, Deflex padding offering customizable flexible protection.

• DEFLEX PADDING - Lightweight, flexible impact protection integrated into top “hit zone” areas

• ALUMINUM D-RING BELT - Aircraft-grade aluminum D-ring belt reduces weight.

Titans QB Jake Locker's youth football camp will take place June 16-17 at Battle Ground Academy from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Locker will be on site to direct camp activities and provide instruction during the two-day event. He will be joined by a selection of the top prep and collegiate coaches from the Nashville area.

The camp is open to boys and girls ages 7 to 14 and focuses on team concepts and fundamentals of football. Groups will be small to ensure that each camper gets personalized instruction. Locker will also give daily talks highlighting the finer points of the game of football and beyond.

Each camper will receive an autographed camp team photo with Locker, a camp T-shirt, goodie bag and the opportunity to win additional prizes.

Cost of the camp is $149.

Additional information and registration is available by visiting www.JakeLockerProCamp.com or calling 888-389-CAMP (2267).

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans own seven selections, including the 20th overall pick, in the 2012 NFL Draft.

Kicking off in primetime for the third consecutive year, the first round will start on Thursday, April 26 at 7:00 p.m., CT. The second and third rounds are set for Friday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m., CT. Rounds four through seven will be held on Saturday, April 28 at 11 a.m., CT.

The Titans currently have one pick in each of the seven rounds.

2012 NFL DRAFT ORDER

1. Indianapolis Colts
2. Washington Redskins (from St. Louis Rams)
3. Minnesota Vikings
4. Cleveland Browns
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
6. St. Louis Rams (from Washington Redskins)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars
8. Miami Dolphins
9. Carolina Panthers
10. Buffalo Bills
11. Kansas City Chiefs
12. Seattle Seahawks
13. Arizona Cardinals
14. Dallas Cowboys
15. Philadelphia Eagles
16. New York Jets
17. Cincinnati Bengals (from Oakland Raiders)
18. San Diego Chargers
19. Chicago Bears
20. Tennessee Titans
21. Cincinnati Bengals
22. Cincinnati Bengals (from Atlanta Falcons)
23. Detroit Lions
24. Pittsburgh Steelers
25. Denver Broncos
26. Houston Texans
27. New England Patriots (from New Orleans Saints)
28. Green Bay Packers
29. Baltimore Ravens
30. San Francisco 49ers
31. New England Patriots
32. New York Giants

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. --The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with defensive end Kamerion Wimbley on a multi-year contract.

“He is an excellent athlete, who has natural pass rusher traits – ability to bend, get low and has a nice feel for using his hands,” said Titans general manager Ruston Webster. “I liked him coming out of Florida State as 4-3 defensive end and he will return to that role with us.  In addition to that, his time as a 3-4 rusher gives him added versatility.”

“Kamerion has been a very productive player in this league and is a good pro,” added Titans head coach Mike Munchak. “On passing downs over the last few years, he has played with his hand down in Oakland and he will playing full-time at defensive end for us. I feel like he is coming into the best years of his career and his skills will help us pressure the passer.”

A six-year NFL veteran, Wimbley (6-4, 255) has totaled 42.5 career sacks in 94 regular season starts. He played the last two seasons with the Oakland Raiders, after starting his career with the Cleveland Browns (2006-09). In his two seasons with the Raiders, he registered 32 starts and 16 sacks, including seven last year with one interception.

As a rookie in Cleveland, he totaled 11 sacks, which was a Browns rookie record and the second highest that season by an NFL rookie. Wimbley racked up 26.5 sacks in his four seasons with the Browns.

Wimbley was originally a first-round pick (13th overall) by the Cleveland Browns in the 2006 NFL Draft from Florida State.

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Peyton Manning will no longer be terrorizing Tennessee Titans fans twice a season  – at least not in an Indianapolis Colts' uniform.

As expected, the Colts officially release the four-time NFL MVP this morning in a press conference that saw Manning present himself gracefully but emotionally.

After leading the Colts to 11 10-win seasons, dominance of the AFC South and one Super Bowl championship, Manning missed all of last season due to multiple surgeries to address neck issues.

The Colts were then the worst team in the NFL, earning the No. 1 pick in this spring's NFL draft that obviously will be used for Stanford's highly touted Andrew Luck.

Manning is expected to be pursued vigorously by Miami, Washington, Arizona and the New York Jets.

Here's the full release from the Colts:

INDIANAPOLIS – The Indianapolis Colts today elected not to exercise the contract option on four-time MVP and 11-time Pro Bowl quarterback Peyton Manning, thus terminating him and making him an unrestricted free agent.

Manning, a 14-year veteran, missed the 2011 season following neck surgeries.  The medical procedures for Manning started since the end of the 2009 season.  Manning was scheduled to enter the second year of a five-year contract signed prior to the 2011 season.

“Today is a very difficult day for every Colts fan,” said Colts Owner and CEO Jim Irsay.  “Peyton Manning has meant so much to the organization, the city of Indianapolis, the state of Indiana and to Colts fans worldwide.  We salute Peyton for all he has accomplished on and off the field, and we wish him health and happiness as he moves forward.

“Peyton represented what we aspire to have in our players.  He promised to win for the Colts years ago, and he did.  His achievements are as notable as those of any athlete in any sport, and I offer him my sincerest thanks for his outstanding service and example.”

Manning joined the Colts as the first overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft and directed 13 memorable seasons with Indianapolis that included eight division championships (1999, 2003-07, 09-10), three AFC Championship game appearances (2003, 2006, 2009), two conference titles (2006, 2009) and a World Championship in Super Bowl XLI.

Manning completed 4,682-of-7,210 passes for 54,828 yards with 399 touchdowns and 198 interceptions in setting virtually every club passing record.

Manning is the only NFL player to open a career with 13 consecutive 3,500 -yardage and 25 -touchdown seasons.  He started the first 208 games of his career, an NFL career-opening record at any position, and his consecutive games streak marked the second-longest ever by an NFL quarterback.  He is one of 11 players ever to start 200 consecutive regular season games.

After a 3-13 rookie season, Manning helped the Colts produce a 10-game turnaround in 1999 on the way to the AFC East title.  It marked then the best one-season improvement in NFL history.  In 2000, Indianapolis went 10-6 and earned a second straight playoff berth (the first for the franchise since 1976-77), and it started what would become the winningest decade in NFL regular season history.  Indianapolis rolled to a record of 115-45 (.719), the most victories by team in any NFL decade.  Ten franchises have combined to produce the 13 100 -victory decades in the NFL history.

Manning was a part of 141 victories, the most by any Colts player.  He is one of 11 NFL quarterbacks ever to top 100 career starting wins.  His victory total ranks fourth among NFL quarterbacks, and his victory total with one team has been surpassed only by three other players (160, Brett Favre, Green Bay (186 overall); 148, John Elway, Denver; 147, Dan Marino, Miami).

In addition to being the most glamorous Indianapolis professional athlete, he helped project the Colts onto a national stage as prominently as the franchise ever had been in its history dating back to 1953.  Manning ranks third in NFL history in completions, yards and touchdowns.  His 11 double-digit victory total seasons are the most by any quarterback in the Super Bowl era, while nine consecutive years in that category (2002-10) are an NFL record.  Manning owns an unprecedented 11 4,000 -yardage seasons, and he helped Indianapolis achieve a record seven different offenses featuring a quarterback with 4,000 yards and a rusher and a receiver each who topped 1,000 yards.  The feat has been accomplished but 39 times in the NFL’s 92 seasons, and never as often as by the Colts.  Manning produced the 13 best Colts seasons in completions and yards, the 12 best seasons in attempts, the 10 best seasons in games with a touchdown pass, 12 of the 13 best seasons in completion percentage and 13 of the 15 best seasons in touchdown passes.  Manning owns the club seasonal marks in completions (450, 2010), attempts (679, 2010), yards (4,700, 2010) and touchdowns (49, 2004), and he owns six of the club’s seven 30 -touchdown seasons.  Twice (at New Orleans, 9/28/03; at Detroit, 11/25/04) he tossed six touchdown passes in a game, and he threw for five in four other outings.  He is one of six NFL players to twice throw for six scores in a game.

Manning was at the helm when the Colts won a franchise seasonal-record 14 games in 2005 and 2009, and he helped the club become the first in NFL history to win 11 and 12 games in seven consecutive seasons (2003-09).  He also helped the club become the only one in NFL history to win seven or more consecutive regular season games in six consecutive years (8, 2004; 13, 2005; 9, 2006; 7 and 6, 2007; 9, 2008; 14, 2009).  Manning helped engineer the team to start 5-0 in 2003, 13-0 in 2005, 9-0 in 2006, 7-0 in 2007 and 14-0 in 2009.  In its decade of achievement (2000-09), the Colts set the NFL record with 23 consecutive regular season wins.

Manning helped lead the Colts to 400 points in 10 of 12 seasons from 1999-2010.  He helped direct the club to 13 consecutive seasons with 5,000 net yards.  He won the league crown in passing yards in 2000 and 2003.  He threw for touchdowns in 182 of 208 games, for two or more touchdowns in 123 games and for four or more touchdowns in 22 outings.

Manning teamed with 35 different players for touchdowns and tossed scoring passes in 35 of the 36 arenas in which he played during regular season action.

Manning’s 63 career 300 games tie Dan Marino for the most in NFL history.  His six career seasons with 30 touchdowns rank behind Brett Favre’s nine for most ever.  With 399 touchdown passes and 198 interceptions for his career, Manning is the only NFL player with 200 more touchdowns than interceptions at any point in a career.  Manning (13) is second to Brett Favre (15) for most 20 touchdown seasons.  He directed 45 fourth-quarter and overtime game-winning drives, a club record and among the most in league history.

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INDIANAPOLIS – The NFL named Tennessee Titans owner K.S. “Bud” Adams Jr. the first recipient of the Salute to Service Award presented by USAA, the League’s Official Military Appreciation Sponsor. In its inaugural year, the award acknowledges exceptional efforts by members of the NFL community to honor and support U.S. service members and veterans.

Adams was announced as the winner during the NFL Honors award ceremony and gala in Indianapolis this evening.  As part of the prize package, a $25,000 contribution will be made by USAA in Adams’ honor to the aid societies representing all five military branches.

“The entire NFL community stands together as a proud supporter of our nation’s troops and veterans,” said Bud Adams, Jr. “It’s my desire to see the work we’ve done encourage others to take action to support the men and women who make sacrifices daily so that we can live our lives freely.”

A veteran of the U.S. Naval Reserve serving during World War II, Adams’ connection with the military community is a personal one, and in his 52 years as franchise owner, he has been a longstanding advocate of all servicemen and women.

Since moving with the franchise to Nashville in 1997, he has been a familiar face to the troops stationed at nearby Fort Campbell, home to the Army’s 101^st Airborne Division, and the Night Stalker and Green Beret special operations forces.

Located less than an hour away from the Titans’ home field, Adams has established relationships with the base’s primary commands and frequently hosts Fort Campbell troops at Titans’ home games. More than 11,000 troops have attended games as guests of Adams at LP Field since it opened in 1999. Adams also conducts an annual, all-day visit to Fort Campbell where Titans players, cheerleaders and staff can participate in autograph sessions and greet residents at the Blanchfield Army Community Hospital and the on-post schools.

Adams was one of 22 coaches, active and former players, and team executives and personnel nominated by their clubs for demonstrating outstanding support for the military community. The submissions were evaluated in December and January by a panel of judges from the NFL and USAA, including NFL greats Roger Staubach, Chad Hennings, Rocky Bleier and Jim Mora Jr. Earlier this week, the judging panel named both Adams and Baltimore Ravens head coach John Harbaugh finalists before officially naming Adams the award winner.

The Salute to Service Award concludes a series of military appreciation events and initiatives held throughout the 2011 season by the NFL and USAA inviting football fans across the country to salute members of the Armed Forces.

“It has been a remarkable experience for USAA to work with the NFL to create these opportunities for fans to join us in honoring the military community for their service,” said Steve Speakes, executive vice president of USAA’s external affairs and a retired Army lieutenant general. “It was very encouraging to witness fans share their enthusiasm for their favorite teams with America’s home team – the U.S. military.”

About USAA

USAA provides insurance and more to 8.6 million members of the U.S. military and their families. Known for its legendary commitment to its members, USAA is consistently recognized for outstanding service, employee well-being and financial strength. USAA membership is open to all who are serving or have honorably served our nation in the U.S. military – and their families. For more information about USAA, or to learn more about membership, visit USAA.com.