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Fisher wants his club relaxed, focused

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Posted: Friday January 28, 2000 04:56 PM

 

Their media responsibilities have been met. The playbook has been committed to memory. The ultimate task is in sight.

But for the Tennessee Titans, there is still plenty of important work to be done leading up to Super Bowl XXXIV.

That is the message head coach Jeff Fisher delivered to his team on Friday. It is the message Fisher will preach until kickoff Sunday night.

"These two days are very important," Fisher said during a 30-minute morning news conference. "Friday is always an important day because you work on certain phases -- red-zone offense and defense (inside the 20-yard lines).

"Our club is relaxed, poised, they're enjoying themselves. It's the same approach we always take. I told the guys last week that if they sensed any of our coaches tensing up in any way, I would send them home."

At last glance, all the Titan coaches were still in Atlanta.

Fisher's zinger

In five-plus seasons as Tennessee's head coach, Fisher has fashioned one of the NFL's most serious, business-like images.

But on Friday, Fisher showed he also has a humorous side, a dry sense of humor. When asked how difficult it has been to keep his team focused through four home stadiums in four years, Fisher replied:

"Some say it's five home stadiums if you include Alltel." That is a reference to the Titans' dominance in Jacksonville.

Game-day decision on Thigpen

Wide receiver Yancey Thigpen, who didn't practice all week because of a broken foot, will find out his status for the Super Bowl about three hours before game time.

Fisher said if Thigpen "convinces me he can play 35-40 plays with that foot, he'll play. If it's less, then it's unlikely (he'll play)."

If Thigpen can't play, Isaac Byrd would start and Chris Sanders would see increased playing time.

Sanders, by the way, will appear with his wife and two children in Madonna's music video remake of "American Pie."

Thanks, mom

Running back Eddie George receives praise from teammates for his self-discipline and tireless work ethic.

Those qualities were forged as a teenager, when George's mother shipped her son from their Philadelphia home to the Fork Union Military prep school in Virginia.

Said George: "That one decision my mom made changed my life around completely."


 
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