Now it counts: Mariani ready for NFL debut

The "Turk" didn't come for former Havre Blue Pony Marc Mariani last Saturday. That's what NFL players call whoever is in charge of bring players to the coaches' office on final cut day of training camp.

Instead, Mariani got through cut day and has been preparing all week to open his first NFL season when the Tennessee Titans take on the Oakland Raiders Sunday in Nashville.

Mariani was stellar in the preseason, leading the NFL in all-purpose yards, as well as leading the Titans in yards-per-catch, punt and kickoff yardage and all-purpose yardage.

But the preseason is over, and Mariani has a new job. No longer is it a struggle to make the Titans' 53-man roster, but instead it's now his job to help the Titans win football games every Sunday if he's put on the active game day roster.

"I'm really excited," Mariani said earlier this week. "It's a totally different mind-set now, because if you make the 45-man roster, you are going to play. It's not like college where you have 80 or 90 guys dressed out for games, in the NFL if you're on the active roster, you are going to play.

"So now I have to focus on being ready to help this team whenever my number is called," he added. "I feel really blessed and fortunate for this opportunity, and I'm excited to get out there and strap it up."

Making the 53-man roster was the goal of every player when training camps opened back in August. And for a seventh-round draft pick from the University of Montana, Mariani's feat this fall is already a rare accomplishment. But that was his goal all along, and now he's hoping to be part of the Titans' game plan every Sunday.

Tennessee doesn't release an official depth chart to the public, but according to the team's official web site, Mariani is listed as the No. 1 punt returner and No. 1 kick returner as of this morning. He's been in a battle with his friend and USC rookie Damien Williams for return duties throughout training camp, and in his Thursday press conference, Titans head coach Jeff Fisher had still not named a starter at either position.

"Both of them clearly can do it," Fisher said when asked about his two rookie returners. "It's nice being able to go back and forth if need be, or sometimes you have to adjust the roster because we can't keep all the receivers up. It just works out very well for us."

All NFL franchises must declare their 45-man roster to the league offices later this morning, and when the Titans do, there's a good chance Mariani will be not only on it, but returning the first kickoff Tennessee receives this season on Sunday.

But whenever the time comes for Mariani to do his job for the Titans, and it will come, he says he's anxious, excited and ready to go out and do his job in trying to be one of the players who hopefully helps get the Titans to an AFC South title, and beyond.

"It's the real deal now," Mariani said. "I'm really pleased with how training camp went, with how I was able to perform. But now the games are for real. Now the real work begins. I'm just going to keep working hard to get better each and every day, and I'm just really excited to get out there and get it started."

The Titans and Raiders will square off Sunday at 11 a.m. M.S.T. The game is part of CBS' package of games this weekend, and it can also be seen on DirecTV and Dish Network through NFL Sunday Ticket.

Note: Fans can follow Mariani's rookie season all year long with the Havre Daily News and online at http://www.havredailynews.com.