"Less than a month after saying he would like to return to the Titans for the 2011 season, quarterback Kerry Collins announced his retirement from the NFL on Thursday.

His decision brings an end to the 16-year career of a quarterback who threw for more than 40,000 yards, and it eliminates the option of him serving as a possible starter and mentor for rookie quarterback Jake Locker in Nashville.

Collins figured that the longer the lockout lasted, the more likely the Titans would be to re-sign him. He knew the team's personnel and was familiar with at least some of the Titans' offensive terminology, though some would have changed under new Coach Mike Munchak and offensive coordinator Chris Palmer.

But in announcing his retirement, Collins, 38, sounded as if he wasn't ready to go through the grind of another NFL campaign.

"The past several months have brought on much introspection," Collins said in a statement, "and I have decided that while my desire to compete on Sundays is still and always will be there, my willingness to commit to the preparation necessary to play another season has waned to a level that I feel is no longer adequate to meet the demands of the position.""