Fisher Told His Players To Get Away

Fisher: Good Things But Still Tough Loss

Less than 24 hours after the Titans' 2000 season ended, head coach Jeff Fisher tried to find the silver lining but admitted even he had not expected things to end the way they did.

'It's been a very difficult day,' Fisher said Monday at his end-of-season press conference. 'Our players did exactly what we asked them to do in the gameplan for the most part. They played well enough to win the game. It just wasn't something that was meant to happen.'

Fisher talked to his team Monday morning pointing out the Titans have the chance to be among the AFC's elite with continued work this off-season. He also pointed out the team's accomplishments in 2000 including the first division championship since 1993, the best record in NFL history for franchise record, improved play among young players and the ranking of the defense.

'There wasn't much I could say to them except thank you for the effort,' Fisher said. 'Please get away is what we told our players to get recharged. The off-season program will be here before you know it.'

The off-season challenge will be different for the Titans in 2001 because, Fisher said, the team lacks the positive momentum it had coming off the Super Bowl appearance. Fisher said that means the approach the team takes will be different beginning with the off-season program.

'We have to step that up a little bit,' Fisher said. 'Every year as you get older you have to improve that.'

The Titans also have off-season challenges with the salary cap and retaining several key veterans, including Derrick Mason and Kenny Holmes. Work on that begins immeadiately...sooner than anyone would have liked.

'I'm very, very proud of this club,' Fisher said. 'I believe it's a better team than we had last year when we started the playoffs. That's what makes it more difficult. I thought we had the chance to be the best team in the league this year. And now, we will never know.'