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It's about time the AFC South rivalry between the Texans and Titans heated up. Until now, the Titans didn't respect the Texans enough to trash talk them. Now the Titans don't like the Texans. And the Texans don't like the Titans. Both claim the other takes cheap shots. This is starting to remind me of the AFC Central. On Thursday, the Titans launched broadsides from Nashville, and it will be interesting to see if the Texans come out swinging or shrink under the pressure of their first playoff race. Because the Texans broke a seven-game losing streak in this series to win the last two 13-12 and 34-31, they have the Titans' attention. Now some Tennessee players are turning the screws from afar, trying to torture the Texans mentally before they invade our city. In other words, they are trying to get inside the Texans' heads before the Monday Night Football game at Reliant Stadium that will be sent nationwide by ESPN. Word games First up is outside linebacker Keith Bulluck, a 10-year veteran who is the dean of the Titans' defense. Bulluck insulted the Texans after practice Thursday. He told reporters that when the team comes to Houston, he's looking forward to “destroying all playoff hopes and aspirations they have.” Ouch! Them's fightin' words! Next up is tight end Bo Scaife, who played at the University of Texas. He also took a shot at the Texans. “We owe them, and they know we owe them, and every time we play them, this is the biggest game of their season, or so they say,” Scaife said. “We owe them for two losses.” Finally, running back Chris Johnson, the NFL's leading rusher and most exciting player, wasn't satisfied with his 197-yard rushing performance in the first game. He had touchdown runs of 91 and 57 yards, not to forget his 69-yard touchdown catch. “I was kind of upset I didn't get 200 yards,” Johnson said. “I'm going to try and get that. I think I'm unstoppable.” DeMeco Ryans, Brian Cushing and Bernard Pollard might have something to say about that 200-yard goal against a defense that has allowed 60.5 yards rushing over the last six games. The Titans have a three-game winning streak after starting 0-6. Taking shots Back in September at LP Field, the Texans' three-point victory wasn't secured until Jeff Zgonina outwrestled Kerry Collins and center Kevin Mawae for the quarterback's fumble. That game wasn't just physical; it was dirty. Andre Johnson started a brawl with his nemesis, cornerback Cortland Finnegan, and was fined $7,500. Earlier, Johnson was screaming and pointing at Finnegan for what he considered cheap shots. Jacoby Jones was fined $5,000 for throwing a punch during the fight that included players from both teams. Eric Winston challenged Kyle Vanden Bosch to a fight on the field because the defensive end kept going for Joel Dreessen's knees to settle an old score. Titans defensive tackle Jason Jones was ejected and fined for throwing a punch, supposedly at receiver David Anderson, who must have bitten him on the leg. On Monday night, expect players on both teams to get down and dirty before the national television cameras. It could be so physical Reliant Stadium feels like a house of pain. John McClain can be heard on Sports Radio 610 at 8:30 a.m. Monday, 7:30 a.m. Wednesday and 4:30 p.m. Friday john.mcclain@chron.com.

ATLANTA – Though Tracy McGrady made it clear again that he has grown weary with waiting for Monday's practice and MRI, the Rockets' designated next step toward his return to the court, he and Rockets coach Rick Adelman said Friday that their conversation about it Wednesday was not emotional and that voices were not raised. Yahoo Sports reported that McGrady and Adelman “engaged in an emotional and sometimes loud closed-door confrontation” after McGrady put on his uniform as if he was going to play. “It's not even an issue,” McGrady said. “If coach tells you something different, I'd be surprised. I'm here to play basketball. I'm not here to be a distraction. I've been through enough of that drama last year. I'm not going to let it start this year, at all.” McGrady said that voices were not raised during their conversation. “No question about it,” he said. “I'm not that type of person and you know coach is not.” Adelman did not seem upset on Wednesday. McGrady had gone through his usual pregame workout before he returned to the locker room and later changed into his uniform while Adelman conducted his pregame media interview. Adelman later laughed when told that McGrady was in uniform. Adelman said on Friday that when they met, the conversation did not get loud, but that McGrady did not want to wait for next week to make his season debut. McGrady could not have played at the time he put on the uniform on Wednesday because that night's inactive list had already been turned in. “I knew I wasn't going to play,” McGrady said. “I saw my uniform. I was excited. I put it on, like a little kid. It felt refreshing to put it on because it was in sight.” A person with knowledge of NBA insurance policies said that insurance has been paying McGrady's salary since last season. The Rockets have said that doctors chose Nov. 23 for McGrady's MRI based on the time doctors believed he would need following the surgery and the team's practice schedule. Yahoo reported that McGrady put on the uniform to force Adelman to meet with him. Adelman, however, said McGrady could have spoken with him at any time and that they did talk last week, with Adelman reiterating then and again Wednesday that he would stick with the plan to have McGrady work out and go for an MRI on Monday before any decisions were made. McGrady, however, has not wanted to wait, Adelman said. “There was a difference of opinion,” Adelman said. “He wasn't going to play. I told him that. That was it. I have no idea what they're talking about. He wants to play. I said ‘you're not.' We're going to wait to next week and then we're going to discuss it. We haven't practiced (since Nov. 9). We're going to just suit him up and throw him out there? No. “We haven't had any arguments. He wants to know what we're going to do. I don't have an answer for that. This is an issue for doctors and the people who work with him. In my mind, he hasn't practiced enough. He's not ready to play.” Asked if he was eager for Monday's practice and test, McGrady said, “You have no idea.” jonathan.feigen@chron.com

Hall of Famer Michael Jordan joins via phone ‘All-Access with Ahmad’ to wish Ahmad Rashad a happy birthday and to discuss LeBron James’ recent suggestion of retiring the No. 23 jersey across the league. “It was very nice, I totally understand that. But I’m a guy that says there is no one great player in the NBA. The NBA lasts a lot longer than one particular person so I understand what his point is. Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Bill Russell all those guys should have their jerseys retired too. I understand his gesture, but I am in the same group as those guys so I wouldn’t want to see my jersey retired unless you retire those guys. It is a compliment. I totally understand that. I appreciate LeBron for doing that and it is very thoughtful.”

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NEW YORK -- Allen Iverson will not be the answer for the New York Knicks, a team official said Friday. Iverson Iverson After two days of debating the pros and cons of adding the four-time NBA scoring champion, the Knicks decided late Thursday night not to offer the newly unrestricted free agent a one-year contract. "We are definitely not pursuing him anymore," the Knicks source said. Knicks president Donnie Walsh was expected to speak to the media at the team's facility Friday at noon ET. Iverson cleared waivers Thursday night and is free to sign with any NBA team. The former MVP was waived Tuesday after playing only three games with the Memphis Grizzlies and no team claimed him in the following 48 hours, making him a free agent. Iverson was unhappy coming off the bench last season in Detroit and this season with the Grizzlies, so there wasn't expected to be much interest in him.