The Monday after Spring Break is one of the more depressing days of the year for me. I get just a taste of what it is like to have my mom do my laundry and cooking, and then I get thrown back into the harsh reality of taking care of myself. This year however, that Monday was much worse than I could have imagined.

For the last week and a half, my hometown NFL team, the Tennessee Titans, have been chasing after coveted free agent quarterback Peyton Manning. We offered him anything he could possibly hope for, a fortune, a city that would immediately call him a hero, a front office job when he retired, even free pancakes for life from Shoney’s. On Monday, Peyton chose instead to play for Denver Broncos.

How could he not choose the Titans? Instead of beautiful, rolling, green hills of Nashville, the future Hall of Famer is going to play at Mile High Stadium, a cold barren wasteland where passes go to die. Peyton has spent his entire career playing in a domed stadium. Now, the 36-year-old quarterback coming off of four neck surgeries will be playing in a stadium that routinely sees below freezing temperatures and frigid winds. Good luck trying to resurrect your career in that, Peyton.

Originally I didn’t want Peyton to come to the Titans. We already had two good quarterbacks, veteran and “Mr. Reliable” Matt Hasselbeck and the young up and coming talent, Jake Locker. But the idea of #18 as my quarterback grew on me. Finally the Titans were going to make a splash in free agency, and although we wouldn’t be addressing a need, it would be awesome to have the country watching our games on a weekly basis.

So, our genius (sarcasm) owner Bud Adams threw out our free agency plan for this season, and instead decided to focus on the biggest name on the market. It would have been excusable if we would have actually gotten him. Instead the Titans are left with a full pocketbook and no free agents. There was no plan B. Or C. Or Z. Only plan Peyton. And that collapsed.

Thanks a lot Bud. You have screwed your franchise once again, and left your fans with a team destined for another 8-8 season.