Tennessee Titans receiver Nate Washington was not happy about the team's pursuit of quarterback Peyton Manning in March, The Tennessean reported Friday.
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Washington told the newspaper that he "wasn't too thrilled" that the Titans were among the teams courting Manning, the four-time MVP and former Indianapolis Colt who eventually decided to join the Denver Broncos. Washington endorsed incumbent Titans quarterbacks Matt Hasselbeck and Jake Locker.
Entering his fourth season with the Titans, Washington echoed the sentiment expressed by fellow receiver Lavelle Hawkins, who told The Tennessean in March that he preferred to keep the team on track with Hasselbeck and Locker rather than risk disrupting things with Manning.
"If Peyton would've come, we would have started a lot of things over," Hawkins said at the time. "Now we can just continue on with what we have."
With Locker and Hasselbeck throwing the ball, Washington set career marks, catching 74 passes for 1,023 yards and seven touchdowns in 2011, and the Titans fell just shy of the playoffs with a 9-7 record.
Washington also told The Tennessean on Friday that he had knee surgery to repair a chipped bone, but should be ready to participate in organized team activities.