The 10 biggest what-ifs in Titans history
• Could Billy Volek have been a franchise QB?
• Imagine the Titans locking up the sheriff...
No. 3 biggest "What If" in Titans history: Giving Billy Volek a shot at being QB1
When it comes to the biggest one-hit wonders in NFL history, Billy Volek's name doesn't come up often but it should. Back in 2004, the Fresno State standout started eight games in relief of Steve McNair, completing 61.1 percent of his passes for 2,486 with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
While those numbers seem pedestrian by today's standards, they were pretty good in 2004, especially when you take into account that a 2,500/3,000-yard season was considered to be good at that time. Sure, Volek went 2-6 in those eight starts but the point is that he had shown starting talent and he never got an opportunity to show what he could do in a full season.
The Titans didn't renew Volek's contract after the 2005 season and spent the last five years of his career backing up a young Philip Rivers at the Los Angeles Chargers. Tennessee also moved on from Steve McNair in 2006 to make way for Vince Young.
Looking back, there didn't seem to be a succession plan in place and Tennessee could have benefited from re-signing Volek and giving him a chance to start. Worst case, he serves as a placeholder for Young. Best case, the Titans have a signal-caller that would have made the Kerry Collins signing unnecessary in 2006.
Nothing against Collins but there's a good chance that the Titans would have been able to beat the Ravens in 2008 if Volek had been behind center in the divisional round of the playoffs.