SI cover: Flash of the Titans, quarterback Marcus Mariota

Tennessee Titans rookie quarterback Marcus Mariota appears on this week's cover of Sports Illustrated.

Author:
Scooby Axson
Publish date:
May 5, 2015

For new Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota, the debate about whether he could be a top-notch NFL starter has been argued even before he announced that he was entering the draft.

Every other top prospect had his own list of pros and cons, but for Mariota, who is on the national cover of this week's Sports Illustrated, the debate centered on whether he was too nice for an NFL huddle, too dependent on the high-octane Oregon offense and could he adjust or read NFL defensive schemes.

Revival for the Titans is now paramount and the team, which missed the playoffs in each of the past six seasons, is hoping Mariota can and will be the face of the franchise.

At his draft party in Honolulu, attended by some 300 people, Mariota contemplated being the second overall pick, instead of the draft's top selection, which the Tampa Bay Buccaneers made in Jameis Winston.

"It's something you can't really control," he says. "Eventually you end up in the right spot with the right team. That's all that matters."

The Titans have a chance to prove they made the right decision when the past two Heisman Trophy winners square off in Week 1, when the Titans visit Tampa.

Things were so wild at his draft party that the Titans accidently hung up on him minutes before he was drafted. And when his name was finally called, Mariota didn't hear NFL commissioner Roger Goodell brutally butcher the pronunciation of his last name.

2015 Sports Illustrated Covers

Will Smith

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Serena Williams

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Deshaun Watson

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Brock Osweiler

December 7, 2015 | Two games after replacing the injured Peyton Manning as Denver's quarterback, Brock Osweiler lands on a regional cover of SI on the strength of victories over Chicago and undefeated New England.

LeBron James

December 7, 2015 | LeBron James appears on yet another cover of SI, this time with an exclusive interview on what the past 16 months have been like since his return to Cleveland and the urgency he feels to win another title.

Cam Newton

November 30, 2015 | Quarterback Cam Newton and the 10–0 Carolina Panthers are featured on this week’s national cover of SI. Carolina has been led in the quest to remain undefeated by Newton, who has generated controversy with his on-field antics.

Iowa Hawkeyes

2015-1130-Iowa-Raucous-X160163_TK1_1211-rawcovfinal.jpg — Jeff Haynes for Sports Illustrated

November 30, 2015 | Iowa football, which shares the Panthers’ undefeated record, is featured on the regional cover delivered to the following locations: Missouri, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota.

Jeff Gordon

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Todd Gurley

November 23, 2015 | It's not hard to imagine all the rushing records falling to St. Louis Rams rookie Todd Gurley, who appears on a regional cover of this week's SI.

Michael Phelps

November 16, 2015 | A year ago the best swimmer in Olympic history was lost. Now, after coming to terms with himself, the best might lie ahead for Michael Phelps, who appears on this week's SI cover.

Clemson: Deshaun Watson

November 16, 2015 | Regional Cover: When not coining acronyms, Dabo Swinney is building the nation's #1 team, which is why Clemson is on the cover of the mid-November issue of SI.

Kansas City Royals

November 9, 2015 | After winning their first World Series title since 1985, the Kansas City Royals are featured on this week’s cover of Sports Illustrated.

Daniel Murphy

November 2, 2015 | New York Mets second baseman Daniel Murphy, the NLCS MVP who helped his team reach the World Series, is on this week's cover of Sports Illustrated. Murphy hit an astronomical .421 with a 1.026 slugging percentage in the first two rounds of the playoffs, thanks to his seven home runs, six of which he hit in consecutive games.

Lorenzo Cain

November 2, 2015 | With the Kansas City Royals back in the World Series, centerfielder Lorenzo Cain appears on a regional issue of Sports Illustrated. Cain was the 2014 ALCS MVP and hit .300 in this year’s ALCS as the Royals peppered the Toronto Blue Jays with hits to score 38 runs and earn a ticket to baseball’s finale.

Karl-Anthony Towns with Kevin Garnett

October 26, 2015 | Four NBA teams are featured on the cover of this week’s NBA Preview issue of Sports Illustrated, which takes a look at how each team’s superstars will act as mentors to their next wave of stars, including Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns and Kevin Garnett (pictured at right).

LaMarcus Aldridge and Tim Duncan

October 26, 2015 | Four NBA teams are featured on the cover of this week’s NBA Preview issue of Sports Illustrated, which takes a look at how each team’s superstars will act as mentors to their next wave of stars, including LaMarcus Aldridge and Tim Duncan (pictured at right).

D’Angelo Russell and Kobe Bryant

Andrew D. Bernstein for Sports Illustrated

October 26, 2015 | Four NBA teams are featured on the cover of this week’s NBA Preview issue of Sports Illustrated, which takes a look at how each team’s superstars will act as mentors to their next wave of stars, including Kobe Bryant and D'Angelo Russell (pictured at right).

Justise Winslow and Dwyane Wade

Jeffery A. Salter for Sports Illustrated

October 26, 2015 | Four NBA teams are featured on the cover of this week’s NBA Preview issue of Sports Illustrated, which takes a look at how each team’s superstars will act as mentors to their next wave of stars,including Dwyane Wade and Justice Winslow (pictured at right).

Leonard Fournette

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Toronto Blue Jays

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Muhammad Ali

October 5, 2015 | Muhammad Ali is honored on the cover this week to celebrate the magazine’s Sportsman Legacy Award. The Legacy Award was created in 2008 to honor former athletes and sports figures who embody ideals of leadership, sportsmanship and philanthropy as vehicles for changing the world. The renaming of the award was announced earlier this week, and Ali will be recognized at a dedication ceremony at the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Ky., on Thursday. That date, Oct. 1., also marks the 40th anniversary of Ali’s legendary “Thrilla in Manila” defeat of Joe Frazier.

Trae Elston

September 28, 2015 | After a 3–0 start to their season, the Ole Miss Rebels and defensive back Trae Elston are featured in a Sports Illustrated cover story by Andy Staples. In wins over UT Martin, Fresno State and Alabama, Elston, a senior, logged a team-leading three interceptions for 159 yards and two touchdowns with 12 total tackles.

Aaron Rodgers

September 21, 2015 | As Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers prepares for a season without his top receiver, the reigning NFL MVP is featured on a regional cover. Rodgers completed 18 of 23 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns in Sunday’s season opening win over the Chicago Bears.

Marcus Mariota

September 21, 2015 | Tennessee Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota is also featured on a regional cover. Mariota completed 13 of 16 passes for 209 yards and four touchdowns in his debut, recording a perfect 158.3 passer rating in the team's 42-14 victory over the Buccaneers on Sunday.

Tom Brady

Illustration by WM J. Hennessy Jr., CourtroomArt.com for Sports Illustrated

September 14, 2015 | The New England Patriots appear on this week's cover of Sports Illustrated, with S.L. Price analyzing the Deflategate court ruling and three investigative reports writing about other teams' distrust of the Patriots.

Cody Kessler

September 14, 2015 | Cody Kessler of USC is on a regional cover this week.

Odell Beckham Jr.

September 7, 2015 | New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. headlines a list of five players featured on regional covers of the NFL Preview issue.

Lavonte David

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Russell Wilson

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J.J. Watt

September 7, 2015 | Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt headlines a list of five players featured on regional covers of the NFL Preview issue.

Matt Forte

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Serena Williams

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Chicago Cubs

August 31, 2015 | Cubs' resurgence, Wrigley optimism featured on this week's regional SI cover.

Cardinals Rule

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Fantasy Football Preview

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images, Photo Illustration by Elevendy Studio

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John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated, Photo Illustration by Elevendy Studio

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Fantasy Football Preview

David Banks/Getty Images, Photo Illustration by Elevendy Studio

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Fantasy Football Preview

Tom DiPace, Photo Illustration by Elevendy Studio

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Ohio State

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Notre Dame

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Mississippi State

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TCU

August 10, 2015 | TCU narrowly missed the College Football Playoff last season, but Heisman candidate Trevone Boykin and the Horned Frogs are primed for a title run this year.

Pete Carroll

Rod Mar, John Iacono for Sports Illustrated (background)

August 3, 2015 | Pete Carroll isn't shaken by his fateful decision to pass from the 1-yard-line at the end of Super Bowl XLIX.

Darrelle Revis

July 27, 2015 | New York's Darrelle Revis is back on Broadway, recreating the iconic Joe Namath SI cover.

U.S. Women’s National Team

July 20, 2015 | Julie Johnston, Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, Hope Solo, Becky Sauerbrunn and Megan Rapinoe of the U.S. Women’s National Team appear on one of 25 different SI covers this week. The other 24 covers honor each individual player and coach Jill Ellis.

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Jordan Spieth wins the U.S. Open

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NBA MVP Stephen Curry

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Chicago Blackhawks win their third Stanley Cup

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The NBA Finals

John W. McDonough for Sports Illustrated

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American Pharoah Wins The Triple Crown

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