Two days after Peyton Manning publicly complained about the atmosphere at team headquarters, Colts owner Jim Irsay stunned everyone by calling his franchise player a "politician" who had decided to air dirty laundry. LINK

The Tennessean's version of Titans Moneyball looks at the highest-paid players and best values for 2012, plus an analysis of the most overpaid and underpaid players of this past season. LINK

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay obviously didn't care for some of quarterback Peyton Manning's comments earlier in the week. LINK

Former Tennessee Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck says he has no desire to return to the NFL after 11 seasons, including 2010 with the New York Giants. No one signed Bulluck for 2011. LINK

Former Titans linebacker Keith Bulluck ended up enjoying his first year away from football in more than 20 years more than he thought he would.

Bulluck didn’t play this past fall after playing 11 NFL seasons. He played for theTitans from 2000-09, and*played in 2010 with the Giants, but wasn’t signed by anyone after that season.

So, for the first time since he was 10 years old, he took it easy.

“I’ve been living and loving life, you know?,’’ Bulluck said on Wednesday. “It’s the first time in a long time I haven’t had a schedule, or training to do. So I am taking advantage of that. It’s been cool.’’

Bulluck recently returned from a trip overseas with former college teammate and current Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dwight Freeney. The two visited parts of New Zealand and Australia.

He has no plans to resume his football career after a year off.

“A year removed, I really have no interest in coming back to play,’’ Bulluck said. “I am comfortable with the position I am in. I definitely had closure. I had a great 10-year career in Tennessee, and to finish with my hometown team, the New York Giants, that was great. Even though I wasn’t in the role I wanted to be in at the end, I had closure. I’m happy with the career I had.”

Bulluck plans to watch Super Bowl XLVI next week, when he’ll pull for his old team against the New England Patriots. He still has plenty of friends on the team.

Bulluck started 130 games with Titans from 2000-09 and had 1,265 tackles and 19 interceptions. A knee injury ended Bulluck’s 2009 season, and the Titans didn’t resign him.

“When I played I feel like I was one of the best at my positions,’’ he said. “I take pride in the fact I was never a bad football player. People later in their career, their game starts to go down. I just got hurt.”

Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray is no longer in the mix for the head coaching position at Tampa Bay, a position he interviewed for earlier this month.

It ends Gray’s chances of becoming a head coach this offseason since the other position he interviewed for – with the Indianapolis Colts – was filled on Wednesday by Ravens defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano.

But Gray is fine with that.

“I am defensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans, and glad to be working with the Tennessee Titans,’’ Gray said on Thursday morning. “And that is what I am going to be doing.”

The Bucs still haven’t announced a new head coach, but former Packers and Texas A&M coach Mike Sherman interviewed for the second time on Wednesday.

In addition to Sherman and Gray, the Bucs have also interviewed former NFL head coaches Brad Childress and Marty Schottenheimer, Packers offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer, Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, Packers quarterbacks coach Tom Clements andOregoncoach Chip Kelly.

*Philbin has since been hired as head coach of the Dolphins and Kelly opted to pull himself out of the running for the job.

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is reportedly a candidate in Tampa as well.

Gray recently finished his first season as defensive coordinator with the Titans.

Dave McGinnis admits leaving the Tennessee Titans wasn't easy, although the assistant coach welcomes the chance to rejoin Jeff Fisher with the St. Louis Rams. LINK

When Dave McGinnis was named head coach of the Arizona Cardinals back in 2000, the first person he called was then-Titans Coach Jeff Fisher.

He had procedural questions, and needed advice. Several years later, when McGinnis was out of a job, Fisher called on McGinnis to be one of his assistants.

So when Fisher was named head coach of the St. Louis Rams earlier this month, it’s no surprise he came after McGinnis. McGinnis said it was an easy decision to join him, though he admitted it’s tough leaving the Titans after eight seasons.

McGinnis accepted a job as assistant head coach with the Rams earlier this week. The Rams on Wednesday officially announced the move.

“It’s hard to leave Nashville, and the Titans organization. I had eight great years here, seven with Jeff, and this past year with Coach (Mike) Munchak and it couldn’t have been better. The people in this organization and the city, everyone has treated me fabulously.

“It was just another blessing in my 27 years in the NFL. I thoroughly enjoyed everything and whatever little bit I was able to contribute I am grateful for.”

McGinnis, 61, initially joined the Titans as an assistant under Fisher in 2004. From 2005-10, McGinnis served as assistant head coach/linebackers with the Titans, and he worked in ’04 as linebackers coach.

In the final year of his contract in Tennessee, McGinnis served as senior assistant coach under Munchak, when the Titans went 9-7. During the past season he assisted Munchak and the entire defensive staff, while also assisting with personnel and administrative duties. McGinnis worked from 1996-2003 with the Cardinals, including the last 3 ½ years in Arizona as head coach.

McGinnis feels the Titans are headed in the right direction under Munchak.

But he feels the same way about the Rams, where he’ll be reunited with Fisher following a year when St. Louis finished 2-14.

“As soon as St. Louis hired Jeff Fisher as head coach that place got headed in the right direction,’’ McGinnis said. “I have known Jeff Fisher for a long, long time and there is nobody I trust more than Jeff Fisher. As soon as they hired Jeff Fisher they were in the right path and I am thankful he’s given me an opportunity to be a part of it. Hopefully I can contribute. I’m looking forward to it.”

Peyton Manning says he still wants to be the Indianapolis Colts quarterback, but the team's recent staff firings have been tough on him. LINK

Quarterback Peyton Manning isn't ready to retire and says the Indianapolis Colts' overhaul is creating an uncomfortable environment at the team complex. LINK