Titans CEO Tommy Smith: 'Team is not for sale'

Titans president and CEO Tommy Smith wants to fix his football team, not sell it.

Smith made that very clear Monday in an interview with The Tennessean, when he called reports suggesting otherwise "totally irresponsible."

As for speculation that Broncos quarterback and former University of Tennessee star Peyton Manning potentially could buy the Titans after Manning's retirement, Smith called such talk "nonsense."

"The team is not for sale. We are not entertaining any conversations in regard to the sale of the team. Period,'' Smith said. "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, who replaced Bud Adams as president and CEO after Adams' death in October 2013, said the family is committed to improving a football team that finished 2-14 in 2014. The Titans haven't been to the playoffs since the 2008 season.

In addition to Smith, who was Adams' son-in-law, Adams' daughters Susie Adams Smith and Amy Adams Hunt serve as co-chairpersons with the franchise, and Kenneth Adams IV is a member of the Titans board of directors.

"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,'' Smith said. "We are going to build an organization that the city and the fans in Nashville and the mid-South can be proud of. We are sorry about last year's record. It was disappointing for all of us. But in no event is the team for sale at any price, period."

Bud Adams founded the franchise in 1960 as the Houston Oilers before moving the team to Nashville in time for the 1997 season. He renamed them the Titans in time for the 1999 season.

On several occasions prior to his death, Adams was approached by potential buyers, but he declined overtures.

Since his death, there has been speculation the family might be interested in selling the team.

Last month, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com reported, citing unnamed sources, the Titans could be on the market in 2015, while also reporting "not all members of the family are as intent on keeping the team long term."

La Canfora said Fred Smith, CEO of FedEx and a minority owner of the Redskins, has strong interest in the Titans. He also named Steelers minority owner David Tepper, with an estimated wealth of more than $10 billion as a wildly successful hedge fund manager, as another potential owner.

On Monday, La Canfora reported via Twitter, "Continue to hear rumblings of potential Titans sale in '15; continue to hear same top candidates as before — David Tepper and Fred Smith."

Smith didn't hesitate to quash the speculation when contacted by The Tennessean.

"All that is totally irresponsible,'' Smith said. "All of that is completely off-base and unfounded.

"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.

"As for Mr. Tepper, he is successful in the business world and I wish him success. But they have had nothing to do with the Tennessee Titans and my family."

The Titans boss said he was aware Manning's name had been linked to the team last month. Manning has made it clear he'd like to stay involved in the NFL once his playing career is over, just like John Elway in Denver. Elway, a former quarterback with the Broncos, is now executive vice president for football operations with the Broncos.

All eyes in Denver these days are on Manning, who must decide whether he wants to keep playing or retire. Smith wished him well but has no plans to sell even a part of the team to Manning.

"All of that is just nonsense. It's completely unfounded. It's just irresponsible,'' Smith said. "It's not going to happen. Peyton may retire; I am not saying that's not going to happen. And I want to say I have only the highest regard for Peyton and the Manning family. They are a first-class family, Peyton and Eli and Archie have contributed greatly to the National Football League and I appreciate their efforts.

"I wish them the best in their future pursuits, but it's not with me."

Reach Jim Wyatt at 615-259-8015 and on Twitter @jwyattsports.