NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Observed and heard in the locker room after the Tennessee Titans' 27-10 loss to the Indianapolis Colts:
Sticking with it: Titans president and CEO Tommy Smith said a couple times during the awful season that both coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Ruston Webster were not in trouble.
Smith was not still in the locker room after Whisenhunt finished addressing the media, but Terry McCormick reports that Smith indicated his stance remains the same regarding his top two football people.
I didn't expect the son-in-law of late owner Bud Adams to change his mind, but for those who needed to hear it again, there it is.
Emotional over likely ending: Nate Washington was emotional after the game, knowing the final season of his six-year contract with the Titans may have been his last. He said he is hopeful and optimistic about "maybe signing back."
Smith sat and chatted with Washington after the game, a gesture the receiver said meant a lot to him.
Washington got most choked up when asked about Kendall Wright's touchdown celebration, when the youngster mimicked Washington's finger roll move. Washington said Wright told him he would do it if he had the chance, and it clearly meant a great deal to the elder statesman of the receiver room.
Whisenhunt said the Titans were hopeful of getting Washington a ball on a couple red zone chances. But they couldn't make it happen, and Washington didn't get a catch against the Colts, though he was targeted three times.
"I have a tremendous amount of respect for Nate and how he's handled himself this year," said Whisenhunt, who didn't refute a premise that Washington was unlikely to be back.
Thanks and Happy New Year: Safety Michael Griffin appeared to be making the rounds with good wishes for teammates, though he will see them Monday at a final team meeting.
Players will have exit physicals and hear from Whisenhunt before heading into the offseason.
Griffin politely paused a chat I was having with Chance Warmack to wish him well -- and did the same with me -- before heading off to see who else might still be around well after the game was over.
You need to see: Find pictures of the Titans after the game and video of the first thing Whisenhunt had to say at my Instagram account.
