"Kerry Collins isn't prepared to ride off into the sunset just yet.

The veteran quarterback would like to return to the Tennessee Titans in 2011 and would be open to grooming rookie Jake Locker if the situation "felt right," he said Saturday.

Yet Collins also knows it takes two sides to make something happen. Right now he's not sure what the Titans are thinking.

"When we came to Nashville (in 2006) I told my wife, 'We are going to ride this thing out here as long as it goes and that is going to be it,' " said Collins, who is coming off his 16th NFL season. "I know I am getting near the end, but I still have good football left in me.

"If it makes sense on both sides to do it, I'd be good for coming back. Physically, I definitely have a couple of years left in me, no doubt. But I want to see where the Titans are at, too."

Collins, 38, who played in the City of Hope's Celebrity Softball Challenge on Saturday morning at Greer Stadium, said he's been working out regularly and is in great shape.

He spoke with new Titans Coach Mike Munchak before the NFL lockout, when he also met new offensive coordinator Chris Palmer for the first time. Right now the Titans have quarterbacks Rusty Smith and Brett Ratliff under contract, and in April they selected Locker with the eighth overall pick in the NFL Draft.

While the Titans are expected to explore their options on the free-agent market whenever the lockout is lifted, Collins knows he could be valuable for a team in transition such as the Titans.

"It is legitimate speculation to think the longer this thing goes, the more attractive I would be to them because of my familiarity with everything," Collins said. "I know we have new coordinators, but I am sure a lot of terminology is going to be the same. On paper it makes sense to at least talk to me about coming back."

Collins said Munchak told him back in March: "The longer this thing goes, the better it could work out for (Collins)."

The Titans signed Collins in 2006, mainly as insurance behind Vince Young, the team's first round pick that year. The way things played out, Collins was called into duty on a regular basis and made 32 starts over the past five seasons.

Last season, he replaced Young as the starter in November and finished with 1,823 yards, 14 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Collins was also the starter in 2008, after Young suffered an injury in the season opener, and had the job at the start of the '09 season before the Titans went back to Young after a 0-6 start."