Titans President & CEO Tommy Smith yesterday made it "very clear" that he does not plan to sell the and "called reports suggesting otherwise 'totally irresponsible,'" according to Jim Wyatt of the Nashville TENNESSEAN. Smith said, "The team is not for sale. We are not entertaining any conversations in regard to the sale of the team. Period. Any statements that say so are completely off base, and I resent it. It is not helpful to what we are trying to accomplish as an organization and as a family." Smith said that his family is "committed to improving" the Titans, who finished 2-14 this year. Smith: "This is a family-owned business, and it is going to be a family-owned business. We meet as a family routinely and we enjoy it. We are proud to be owners, we are proud to be in Nashville and we are looking forward to resurrecting the situation as far as on-field performance and are working toward that. ... In no event is the team for sale at any price, period." Wyatt notes since the death of Bud Adams, Smith's father-in-law, in October '13, there has been "speculation the family might be interested in selling the team." CBSSports.com's Jason La Canfora yesterday reported on Twitter he continues to "hear rumblings of potential Titans sale in '15," with the "top candidates" including Steelers investor David Tepper and FedEx Chair & CEO and Redskins Minority Owner Fred Smith. Tommy Smith said, "I have only the highest respect for Fred Smith. He is a true captain of industry and one of the greatest entrepreneurs in the 20th century in American business. I think very highly of him. But I am not talking to Fred Smith about this, or anything else for that matter. I would be glad to visit with him, but not about the team. The team is not for sale" (Nashville TENNESSEAN, 1/20).
