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Tennessee wanted an experienced kicker when Joe Nedney was lost for the season with a torn knee ligament.
Gary Anderson, the NFL's career scoring leader, wanted one more chance at the Super Bowl title that eluded him for 21 seasons.
It's been a good
match so far.
The Titans (12-4) visit the Baltimore Ravens (10-6) on Saturday in an AFC wild-card
game. Anderson, already the oldest player in the NFL, has been a key contributor.
He became the oldest player, at 44 years, 5 months, 12 days, to be selected player of the week Tuesday when honored as the AFC's special teams player for kicking four field goals in Sunday's 33-13 victory over Tampa Bay.
It's just what the Titans wanted when they tracked down Anderson in Colorado in September, where he was on a fly fishing trip and enjoying being out of the NFL for the first time since 1981, the year before he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers.
``The experience has really been what I expected and more,'' Anderson said. ``Coming in, I knew Craig (Hentrich), and I knew it was a class organization. It's really been a great experience for me and my family, and that's due in particular because of Jeff (Fisher).''
The Titans tried out Brett Conway and Neil Rackers. But when Anderson showed them he still had plenty of leg and they were able to sign him to the veteran's minimum salary, it was no contest for a franchise that believes in experience.
``We're very fortunate that he thought twice about his decision and elected to come back,'' Titans coach Fisher said.
``His decision was based on an opportunity to have a chance to win a championship. So far we've held our end of the deal. We're in the playoffs now, and we're there, and he's had a lot to do with it.''
The Titans don't like to take risks on kickers, having stuck with Al Del Greco from 1991 through 2000. They cut Del Greco only after he missed two field goals in the first half and had another blocked and returned 80 yards for a touchdown in a divisional playoff game in January 2001. The Ravens won 24-10 against the AFC's No. 1 seed.
Anderson now has an NFL-best 2,346 career points after adding 123 this season, fourth highest in his career and fourth highest in team history. He was perfect on 42 extra points, and he was 27-of-31 on field goals, with all his misses from at least 41 yards.
He credited Fisher with making it easier on a father of two teenage boys by giving him off Mondays and Tuesdays to go home to Minnesota.
His teammates have cared only that Anderson does his job consistently on Sundays, even if he does look a little funny in his helmet with the single bar protecting his face. Receiver Derrick Mason called Anderson a valuable contributor.
``We really haven't missed a beat, because his consistency makes up for a lack of everything else as far as agewise,'' Mason said.
Running back Eddie George called Anderson a legend.
``We're just fortunate to have him. It's unfortunate what happened to Joe. But to have a Hall of Famer like Gary come in and do an outstanding job like he's done, he has ice in his veins. We're thankful for him because he's Mr. Automatic,'' George said.
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