In an effort to reduce the workload of second-year cornerback Pacman Jones in 2006, Titans head coach Jeff Fisher will likely remove the team's 2005 first-round draft choice from the punt return unit for the upcoming season. Barring a change in plans, Jones will continue to return kickoffs, in addition to starting at right cornerback. But the punt return duties probably will be assumed by three-year veteran wide receiver Bobby Wade, who was claimed on waivers late last season after the Bears released him.

Norm Chow didn't hide the fact that he was among those who preferred Matt Leinart, his former pupil at Southern Cal, to Young. Titans owner Bud Adams, of course, was among those who wanted Young. "We both understood the situation. We talked about it,'' Chow said. "I wasn't sitting around here pining away for Matt, but if we had to choose he was the one because I knew him better. Vince understood that. It wasn't a big deal for either of us and we got started.'' Nearly two months later, Chow and the Titans know Young a whole lot better. And they like what they've seen of the former Texas star through May and June minicamps. "The strides have been monumental,'' Chow said. "He is every bit the athlete you thought he was, but he has some good quarterback skills as well. The thing about Vince is he's not an athlete playing quarterback. He is a quarterback who is a good athlete. There is a big difference.''

Titans rookie running back LenDale White said the hamstring injury that has bothered him since the spring has healed, and he is now working on conditioning. "It feels a lot better getting in there with the team and coming along," said White, who participated in team drills for a second consecutive minicamp practice Tuesday. "It definitely feels good to finally be running the football, instead of rehabbing all day."

Barring any late job offers, offensive tackle Brad Hopkins is set to call it quit, ending his 13-season NFL career. Hopkins spent all 13 of those seasons with the Tennessee Titans and earned two Pro Bowl berths during his career.

Goodbye Steve McNair, hello Billy Volek as the Titans' new starting quarterback for 2006. And yes, rookie Vince Young will get his chance to play this season, too. "Let's face it. You're going to see [No.] 10 on the field this year," coach Jeff Fisher said Thursday. "Where and when and how, I can't be specific, but you're going to see him on the field at some time." The Titans wished McNair well on Thursday as they completed a trade with the Ravens, getting a fourth-round draft pick.

The Tennessee Titans have dealt Steve McNair to the Baltimore Ravens, pending a physical. The terms of the trade will be settled upon after the physical. ''We have granted permission to Baltimore to give Steve McNair a physical, which we expect to take place in the next 24 hours," the team said in a statement. This ends the stalemate between McNair and the Titans, which saw the club lockout their longtime quarterback.

Floyd Reese doesn't know if Steve McNair plans to come to work today at the Titans headquarters. But if McNair shows up for his first workout since an arbitrator ruled the team can't continue to lock him out over liability concerns, the long-time quarterback will be well received, Tennessee's general manager said. "I don't know if Mac's coming in or not, but he'd certainly be welcome," Reese said Sunday. Reese said he spoke with McNair's agent, Bus Cook, late last week and the two plan to talk again about a get-together to revisit McNair's contract. He's currently slated to make a base salary of $9 million in 2006, the final year of his deal during which he carried a $23.46 million cap number.

Steve McNair didn?t want to elaborate on the touchy situation regarding his arbitration victory over the Tennessee Titans Thursday. But it sounds as if Titans general manager Floyd Reese is willing to talk to McNair?s agent Bus Cook in the near future to make one last attempt to remedy the quarterback?s contract situation.