Eddie George fumbles when hit by Artell Hawkins. (Steven M. Herppich photo) | ZOOM |

        NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Eddie George didn't have to wait until this week to know his string of four straight trips to the Pro Bowl would come to an end.

        “I knew I wasn't going to make it over there about eight weeks ago,” George said with a slight grin.

        What he didn't expect, however, was how quickly some of those around him would change during what's been the most trying season of his six-year NFL career.

        George has averaged just three yards per carry and has gained 65 yards or less in nine of the team's 15 games. Although he's just 111 yards from topping 1,000 for the sixth straight season, there have been few high points, few memorable runs, few flashes of the runner who has been dominant in seasons past.

        “When I look back on it, the majority of the people that I have been around or I thought were in my corner doubted me, and that's fine,” George said. “I have been doubted practically my entire career, from high school, through college, coming into this league and to this point now.

        “I am pretty sure next year all I am going to hear is 'He's finished.' But that's all right; I can accept that. I know I have a lot of good years in me and quite frankly I don't think anyone's seen my best yet.”

        Asked who he thought turned on him, George refused to name names. He didn't point at Titans fans or the media.

        “I would rather not get into the specifics, but you just see how some people are fair-weather,” he said. “The bottom line is your family and a small group of people are really behind you. ...

        “A lot of people want to see you down. They see joy in seeing other people suffer or go through tough times. They take cheap shots and basically kick a man while he's down.”

        Have his teammates doubted him during his struggles?

        “No, nobody has said that to my face. If anything my teammates have been supportive of me,” George said. “They have been waiting on me to break out, so to speak. They have been behind me all the way, especially guys like Steve (McNair) and Brad Hopkins and Keith Embray and Samari Rolle and Jevon (Kearse). They have all been very encouraging and I appreciate that.”

        His struggles have clearly led some fans to turn on him, however. George was booed during the Green Bay game last month at Adelphia Coliseum and there were chants for his backup, Skip Hicks.

        But George said he won't block out this season. He said his offseason toe surgery and the difficult months that followed have given him new perspectives.

        “Statistically yeah, it's been disappointing, but overall it's been pretty good for me despite the disappointments and frustrations. I think it is a year of growth,” George said. “I had to come to grips with a lot of things, and I've learned a lot from it. When the season is over I'll have an opportunity to reflect on what has happened this year and become a better person because of it.

        “ ... I am doing something that I love to do. You have to enjoy the moment because one day I won't have the pads on, one day I won't be wearing No. 27. Regardless of the situation, this is where it is right now, I have to get over the frustrations of what I wanted to happen and move on.”

        George perhaps has become a victim of his own success. A year ago, he became only the second running back in NFL history to rush for 1,200 yards in each of his first five seasons.

        “That's what people grow to expect from him. They want that cape every Sunday,” tackle Brad Hopkins said. “Well, even Superman gets a headache every once in a while.”

        By his own estimation, only recently has George been able to perform at 100 percent. Aside from the bothersome toe, George has also dealt with a sprained ankle and a hyperextended knee.

        “It has been difficult for him, it has been difficult for everybody,” Titans coach Jeff Fisher said. “Eddie, in his own way, personally, is probably very frustrated. But I know Eddie, and the priority is the team. And the team's lack of success, the anticipated success, is probably his biggest frustration.

        “Eddie's own personal situation kind of sums up the team's situation. That is basically what happened. We got knocked down. Now we have to bounce back.”

        Following Sunday's season-finale against the Cincinnati Bengals at Adelphia Coliseum, the Titans will go their separate ways. For George, what happens from then until the time training camp begins in the summer will be crucial.

        “After the Super Bowl (1999 season) he had the short offseason, but it was a great offseason. He came back and set the record for number of carries,” Fisher said. “That's the type of offseason he needs to have. When camp starts he needs to have had his best offseason of his career.”

        Because of his surgery last February, George wasn't able to go through his regular offseason conditioning program. He missed a lot of training-camp practices and played in only one preseason game.

        George said he's going to take four to six weeks off, then get back to work. But it also appears he may need more surgery.

        “I'm probably going to get my ankle scoped, at least it's looking that way right now,” George said. “It won't be anything like last year and the toe. They would just go in and clean it out and I would be ready to go pretty quickly after that.”

        George at least has a chance to end this season with some momentum. He racked up a season-high 130 yards last week against the Cleveland Browns to bring his season total to 889 yards.

        “It is important that I finish strong, regardless of the yards or what happens,” George said. “I just want to feel good and confident, and whatever the numbers are I will live with it. ...

        “The important thing is I feel healthy, I feel good, emotionally, spiritually and physically.”

Spurrier coach Bengals? Great idea; no chance Math teacher adding to Bengals lore Bengals ponder lineup changes George's struggles mirror Titans' woes Ailing McNair will face Bengals

Cinergy Field may be imploded
UC greets East Carolina in C-USA debut
UC women suffer 1st loss of year
Xavier, Dayton define defense
Xavier women lose to Duquesne
Miami coach returns to roots
Fitch making his mark for UK
College basketball Q&A
Five Questions With: Mike Davis
Who's hot and who's not
Enquirer's college basketball power ratings
Enquirer's player of the week
Must-See TV games
NBA ref Mathis retires
Top 5 disappointing teams
Biggs may play for Cyclones
Ducks center named to AHL All-Star Classic
Turfway series for 3-year-olds starts today
Sports events this week
HIGH SCHOOL PAGE
Ohio boys basketball scores
Ohio girls basketball scores
Winton Woods reasserts itself
Hamilton stuns Middletown early
Mount Healthy, Woodward considered locking out fans
CHL: Taylor shocks Mariemont
FAVC: Norwood back on track
GCL: Elder upsets No. 5 Moeller
GMC: Fairfield wins nail-biter
MML: Franklin suffers first league loss
MVC: NCH doubles Seven Hills
QCC: Woodward's Leon gets 200th victory
SBC: Hillsboro overpowers Williamsburg
Other Ohio boys games
Kentucky boys basketball scores
Kentucky girls basketball scores
Neltner, Highlands too much for Dixie
N.Ky. boys basketball roundup
N.Ky. girls basketball roundup
Indiana boys basketball scores
Indiana girls basketball scores
Prep wrestling results

• Return to Bengals front page...