An interview between Jay Harris of CrowNews.net and Tuff Harris of the Tennessee Titans from the evening of Friday, January 16th.
Jay: Well, brother, how’s everything going?
Tuff: Hey, things are going good. Mary and I are getting ready to go to Mexico tomorrow.
Jay: Mexico! Awesome. How are you getting down there?
Tuff: We’re flying from Nashville to Atlanta and then from Atlanta down to Puerto Vallarta (struggles with pronunciation).
Jay: Puerto Vallarta (also struggling with pronunciation)?
Tuff: Yeah, like Puerto Rico but Puerto Vallarta.
Jay: Well, I know it must be near the ocean since puerto means port in Spanish.
Tuff: Yeah, it is. We’re going to be down there for a week – from this Saturday to next Saturday.
Jay: So, this must be your official end of the football season relaxation trip.
Tuff: Yeah, kind of.
Jay: I’m wondering why you chose Mexico.
Tuff: As a wedding gift, Mary and I got a week allotment on a time share in Puerto Vallarta.
Jay: So, was this your only week available or could you have picked any week during the year?
Tuff: We could have went anytime as long as the place was available.
Jay: Oh. I was wondering if the Mexico trip was a consolation to having lost out when you did. In other words, if you guys would have beat Baltimore last week you would have missed out on Mexico.
Tuff: Yeah, we would’ve went down in February if we would have kept winning.
Jay: Well, since we’re on topic. We might as well talk about the Titans’ “titanic” finish, you know, crashing and sinking in the AFC Divisional Playoff.
Tuff: Haha. Well, it was a tough game to lose. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to watch the Super Bowl this year – just because we know how close we were to being there ourselves.
Jay: Yeah, I think nine games out of ten the Ravens don’t make those big plays on offense and you guys don’t turn the ball over like you did. The Titans were a Super Bowl team, and it’s really tough to lose a game like that. I haven’t felt this way at the end of an NFL season since the 49ers lost to the Giants by two points in the NFC Championship in 1991. But at least this time I didn’t ball my eyes out.
Tuff: Haha. You know one of things that really hurt us, in addition to losing our running back Chris Johnson to an injury during the game, was not having our starting center Kevin Mawae.
Jay: Yeah, I remember hearing one NFL analyst say before the game that losing Mawae could be the difference.
Tuff: Kevin’s just an important leader and he was always getting the offense pumped and ready to go. Everybody respected him.
Jay: Yeah, and the Ravens have the type of defense that goes wild once they can focus on pressuring the quarterback and defending the pass. Well, we got to give credit to them. They played a great game. So, altogether, you played in what seven or eight games this season?
Tuff: Yeah, seven games.
Jay: Well, let me say congratulations on a great NFL season. How secure do you feel as a member of the Titans?
Tuff: Thanks. It’s hard to say because anybody can be released at any time. Even top players have to expect the team to make moves that could affect them in order to cut costs.
Jay: What are your immediate plans?
Tuff: Well, I’ll be in Mexico for a week then Mary and I will spend some time in Montana.
Jay: What do you got planned in Montana?
Tuff: Oh, spend some time with friends and family. Make a few appearances, give a few presentations.
Jay: Cool. I just gave a presentation earlier today to a group of local native high school students. It was on leadership, goal-setting, and civic engagement. Anyway, if you get a chance, call me back when you’re in Mexico.
Tuff: I wonder if my cell phone will work down there?
Jay: I’m note sure. You might want to get an international calling card or something. Yeah, just call me while you are laying back on the patio of your bedroom overlooking the ocean sipping a pina colada. Haha…
Tuff: Yeah, or I could have a waiter deliver a pina colada and a phone on a platter.
Jay: Haha. What was the name of the place again, Puerto Vallarta (mispronounced)?
Tuff: Yeah, but I think the L’s are silent.
Jay: Okay, if you can call we can look back at the season that was and you can talk about your season highlights.
Tuff: Okay. I’ll talk to you soon. And if you don’t hear back from us for over a week, contact the federales.
Jay: Haha, will do. Adios.
