Eddie George cries as his number is retired by Ohio State.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Eddie George has no idea what "concussion questions" trainers may have asked on the sideline Saturday. His day was done after a helmet-to-helmet hit from Pittsburgh Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton to start the second half -- the first time he's been iced by a concussion.

"I've had dings before, but not to this extent," the Tennessee Titans running back said, leaning on a hallway counter at the team's headquarters. "I was gone for a few minutes. Couldn't hear anything. Couldn't move. I was just knocked out cold. ... I had to collect myself."

By Monday afternoon, George, 29, was feeling much more like himself. He ran some during the team's light workout and declared himself eager to participate in Sunday's AFC title game at Oakland.

The former Heisman Trophy winner from Ohio State is one of the most durable running backs in NFL history. His streak of 112 consecutive regular-season starts is exceeded only by Walter Payton (170) and Ricky Watters (114). And no player besides George has ever logged at least 300 carries in seven consecutive seasons.

How George rebounds Sunday, with a trip to Super Bowl XXXVII on the line, could be pivotal. The Titans' best defense against the Oakland Raiders' No. 1-ranked offense might be ball control. Tennessee tied Pittsburgh for the NFL lead this season in average time of possession (32:47), still able to grind out the drives that wear down defenses.

In Saturday's 34-31 overtime thriller, Tennessee took a 14-0 lead with a 16-play, 76-yard drive that chewed up more than 9 minutes. It was capped by a 1-yard TD scoot by George. Earlier, he flattened safety Lee Flowers during a powerful 9-yard run.

But George also lost two fumbles against Pittsburgh, including one on the play he suffered the concussion -- after fumbling just once in 343 regular-season carries.

"I don't believe there's going to be a problem with Eddie," coach Jeff Fisher says.

George hopes the Titans are in a position to run, unlike their last trip to Oakland when they had to abandon the run after falling behind 21-0.

"We can't get frustrated if we're getting 2-yard runs." George says. "We have to stay with it, and pick it up on third-and-short."

Since George struggled through toe problems in 2001 (which contributed to a career-low 939 rushing yards), Tennessee has grown to rely more on the pass. Steve McNair threw a career-high 21 touchdown passes in 2001, then exceeded that total this season (22) and passed for a career-high 3,387 yards. The Titans still enjoy their "3 yards and a cloud of dust" flavor, but you'll also see a dose of three-receiver sets and empty backfields.

"Our offense has changed such that we don't rely on Eddie every play like we used to," says receiver Derrick Mason, who posted a team-high 79 catches. "Steve does a lot to spread it around; that takes pain and stress off Eddie, so we don't have to give it to him 30 times per game."

George rushed 30 times in only two games this season and had no 30-carry games in 2001. In 2000, he had six.

Says George: "It's not just 'Eddie left, Eddie right, throw to Wycheck over the middle.' There's been an evolution. It appears its taken away from my role, but it helps me out. I'm fresher."

Still, there's usually a strong hint in how successful the Titans will be when glancing at George's numbers. In 11 regular-season wins, he rushed an average of 24 times. In five losses, he averaged 16 rushes. Never mind that he averaged just 3.4 yards per carry.

It's about ball control.

And George is sick of pundits wondering whether he's on a serious decline.

"If 1,100 yards and 14 touchdowns is washed up," he says, reciting statistics from his season, "then I'm at a loss. I think that big game of 170 or 200 yards, I long for that. I haven't had one of those games in quite some time. I feel like I can still do it. I'm healthy enough to do it, strong enough. I just need the opportunities."

Originally published Friday, January 17, 2003