Anderson has done well this season.

He has connected on all 23 extra points and is 13-of-15 on field goals with two kicks blocked. Titans coach Jeff Fisher thinks Anderson’s leg is even stronger in 2004 than last year.

“He has done exactly what we brought him in here to do, and that was to be accurate and make the kicks. Unfortunately for us, he hasn’t been put in position to make that game-winning kick because it hasn’t worked out,” Fisher said. Fisher is the biggest reason why Anderson ended his brief retirement.

When the Titans signed him in 2003 after losing Nedney to a torn ACL in the opening game, Fisher agreed to let the kicker go home two days a week to be with his family in Minnesota. The Titans had to track Anderson down in Canada when Nedney tore his left hamstring days before the 2004 opener.

Anderson and his family had moved outside of Calgary to build his dream home and start a fly fishing business. His sons, Austin and Dougie, encouraged him to rejoin the team.

That has meant a much longer commute following games each Sunday, but Anderson says he’s been lucky and hasn’t had a delay yet. When he’s in Nashville, he stays with punter Craig Hentrich.

“That’s wearing on him a little bit,” Hentrich said. “But as far as games and practice, I think he still loves to do it and obviously is very good at it.”

Dougie has worked several of the Titans’ home games as a ball boy, and the whole family will join him later this week when school breaks for the holidays because the Titans host the Denver Broncos on Christmas night and conclude the season Jan. 2 at home against Detroit.

Fisher thinks Anderson easily has another year left in his leg, which could lead Tennessee to try to lure him back for 2005. Nedney has two more years’ left on his contract, but Anderson has what the Titans treasure most in a kicker: health and dependability.

“I’m sure there’ll be discussions once the season’s over,” Fisher said.

AP-ES-12-13-04 1541EST