NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Pro Bowl is broken and irrelevant.PB17 non sponsor citydate WEB

For years I’ve said one team should be named, with no alternates getting moved up. Then no game should be played. A week in Hawaii should be highlighted by community service projects and major fan interaction. (I know the Pro Bowl this season is in Orlando. It should always be a trip to Hawaii. The prime destination is one way to minimize dropouts.)

There should be a  skills competition that would draw better ratings than an exhibition game. And the awards show the NFL has put on the Saturday night before the Super Bowl should be held that night to cap it all off.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Referee Ronald Torbert and his officiating crew from Titans-Steelers Thursday night botched a call that handed the home team the field position it needed for a field goal at the end of the first half.

Adoree’ Jackson forced a fumble as Antonio Brown ran with the ball after a catch. Martavis Bryant recovered the fumble, which had advanced 10 yards. The rules say that inside of 2 minutes remaining in either half or on fourth down, if the fumbling team recovers the fumble with gained yardage, it must be returned to the spot of the fumble.

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It hardly cost the Titans a game, but it did cost them a field goal. And when such a clear call goes against them it’s hard for them not to wonder about the system that disciplines such misses by officials.

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The league reiterated that the error is part of the crew’s review for the game. Cumulative reviews determine whether officials get playoffs assignments. Those are additional work, which brings prestige and additional pay.

Mike Mularkey was upset about a lot of things after a poor showing in a 40-17 loss and in his comments he said the NFL should “say it like it is, quit hiding things.”

He, of course, fears the wrath of the league there, in the form of a fine.

But he still expounded on Monday.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – There is a gauge in my house that tells me how things are looking for the future.

He is 8.

When Fox uses a robot graphic or Seattle wears neon uniforms or a team does a silly touchdown celebration, I use Simon as a test.

Was that cool? Did you like it?

Because what sports do isn’t meant for his 48-year old dad nearly as much as it’s meant to get hooks in him.

So on a Sunday when the Titans were off, my son and I made a deal. He’d watch a big chunk of Red Zone with me, granting permission for me to write about it through his eyes.IMG 4129

Home from church, we changed into football watching clothes and sat side-by-side. A tray of snacky lunch items magically appear on the chair arms between us -- thanks, Teresa – as Scott Hanson took us around the league and showed off his remarkable bladder control while not going to the bathroom for over six hours.

“He could be sitting on a toilet while he does it,” Simon said.

Potty humor out of the way, right away.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- This post was inspired by this Tweet:

PK: That’s a fine idea Steve. Let’s do it.TitansStorm

PK: Were you really expecting the Browns to beat the Jaguars? I mean even as that game played out and Cleveland stuck around, you couldn’t have been relying on that team.

Chill out.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – I have slept off the Pittsburgh trip and am ready for a weekend with the family. Right after I post this mailbag.

First off, here's yesterday's Periscope for all the people.

Below, you'll find the members-only continuation.

Now to your questions and comments.TitansStadiumWall

PK: Of all the complaints about what Mike Mularkey and Terry Robiskie are, and are not, doing, this one is the most reasonable. Marcus Mariota absolutely thrives in no-huddle and we saw a bit of it, finally, outside of 2-minute or game-desperation situations against Baltimore. I don’t understand their reluctance, and they have not articulated it well. I think on some level, it’s a stubborn reluctance to relinquish control, as Mariota is calling plays when they hurry up.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. – My thanks to Pickers for affording me the opportunity to show off what I tell you all the time -- the top appeal of the NFL is it's unpredictability.

Games of the week (1-2-1)

L.A. Rams +2 at Minnesota

I am not a big believer in Minnesota, and I think the Rams are absolutely for real. Jared Goff and Todd Gurley will have good showings against a good defense.

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mdi construction barPITTSBURGH – Fresh of a four-interception performance in a terrible 40-17 loss at Heinz Field, Marcus Mariota’s coach and teammates worked to disperse the blame for the turnovers.

“The first one sailed on him, there is no doubt on that,” Mike Mularkey said. “He could have used some help on the other ones, especially from some young guys. Some lessons learned from some young players.”DavisPIT

Sure, Mariota wasn’t exclusively at fault. On his second pick, rookie receiver Corey Davis needed to fight back to the ball and make it harder on Coty Sensabaugh.

But Mariota looked long and hard at where he was going with the ball, and it wasn’t hard for the former Titans cornerback to see where it was going to go.

To his credit, Mariota wasn’t looking for anyone else to take any responsibility for his giveaways. He was McNairian in his responsibility-taking.

On a national stage in a game that could have really staked the Titans a place in the upper-echelon playoff field, the quarterback they’ve spent a great deal of capital to provide quality protection and quality weapons struggled mightily.

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mdi construction barPITTSBURGH – They came flying out of the locker room, ran a play they picked out special, got a 75-yard scoring connection from Marcus Mariota to Rishard Matthews and looked to be on their way to a fight to the end.

But from the moment the Titans pulled to within 2-points of the Steelers at Heinz Field, everything went wrong.

The Titans left the 40-17 loss to the Steelers talking of a potential rematch in the playoffs but knowing they’ve got a ton of work ahead to earn one.Image 11 17 17 at 1.40 AM

“Tough game, tough second half for us,” Brian Orakpo said. “We had to make adjustments and just couldn’t make the right ones at the time. It’s one game, we can’t get too down on this one.

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