But when asked Wednesday about his future beyond 2008, Collins, who can become an unrestricted free agent, was clear in saying he would love to return to the Titans, but would not want to do so as a backup quarterback.

The Titans had briefly made overtures to Collins in preseason about potentially extending his contract beyond the current season, but that was when he was the backup to 2006 first-round pick Vince Young. Now, Collins said it is best for him and the team to probably wait until season's end before any contract talks take center stage.

"There's been a little talk, but it was mainly in training camp," Collins said. "Certainly a lot of things have changed since then. I'm probably more inclined to kind of wait till the end of the season to see how things play out, because at this point in my career, it's going to be hard for me to back up anymore. It really will."

Collins said that playing regularly and playing well this season has helped to rekindle the starter's mentality that had gone a bit dormant over the past couple of seasons.

"After sitting for two years and now being the starter, I know I can still do this at a high level, and to me, it's going to have to be a starting job, or I'm going to have to make some decisions on what I'm going to do," Collins said.

Collins turns 36 in November and said that he certainly enjoys being a Titan and the situation he is currently in, and being in Tennessee, as a starter obviously, would be a priority for him.

"I would love to stay here. I really would," Collins said. "I love playing for Jeff (Fisher). I love playing in Nashville. I really feel like I fit well as a part of this team. Having said that, who knows what's gonna happen. Certainly, I think I'm better off just waiting till the end of the year and seeing how it all plays out."

Young, who practiced Wednesday for the first time since his knee sprain in the season opener, is under contract through 2011 with the team. But currently, the Titans have offered no specific timetable for him to even supplant current No. 2 Chris Simms, much less regain his starting job.

General manager Mike Reinfeldt did not have too much to say when asked about the subject, but did say Collins is a player the Titans value and would love to have back. He did not elaborate as to what role they would prefer Collins be in.

"Kerry is a good player for us," Reinfeldt said. "He's a guy that we've always valued and would like to keep him here and have him here in the future. He's a valuable guy for what we do.

"We have 13 guys that are up (at the end of the year), so I'm not going to comment specifically on any of those individuals."

Collins, too, is more focused on trying to lead the Titans on the field than worrying about his situation off it.

"I don't think this is the right time (to discuss it). It's a lot of speculation, and I'm not worried about it, and I'm focused on what I need to do. All I'll say is I'd love to stay here," Collins said. "I don't want to burn any bridges and I don't want to close any doors. I'm open to discussing anything, but I'm not so sure this is the right time."

SERIES HISTORY: 18th meeting. Ravens lead the series 9-8, and the teams are 1-1 in two postseason meetings. The former bitter AFC Central rivals engaged in a number of classic games between 1999-2003 with the most memorable being the Ravens' stunning 24-10 upset in the 2000 playoffs on their way to winning Super Bowl XXXV. The Titans exacted a bit of revenge in the '03 playoffs, downing the Ravens 20-17 on a late field goal by Gary Anderson.