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Breaking down the AFC South road trips

Colts camp gets the edge, with better access and fan buzz

Image: SanchezGetty Images
Mark Sanchez and the Jets will be a popular camp this summer — HBO is filming its “Hard Knocks” show there.

AFC SOUTH

Joe’s favorite training camp: Access to the Titans, Texans and Jaguars is real convenient because camp is held right in each team’s respective city. But it’s also very hot in the south, so almost by default I prefer Colts camp. Additionally, Colts camp traditionally has a better overall fan buzz than the other three teams and has pretty good access.

HOUSTON TEXANS

Road tripping: In addition to annual visits to Indianapolis, Tennessee and Jacksonville, Houston visits the Jets, Philadelphia, Washington, Denver and Oakland.

Recommended road trips: Get a head start on Thanksgiving weekend by flying to New York Nov. 21 to watch the Texans battle the Jets at the New Meadowlands Stadium. If you’re feeling adventurous afterward, head 90 miles south to Philadelphia and catch the Eagles host the rival Giants in prime time (the Texans visit Philly on Dec. 2). After double-dipping on Nov. 21, head back to the New York to enjoy three days in the Big Apple before the Thanksgiving Day parade. An alternative travel suggestion includes the Nov. 1 Monday night affair in Indianapolis. The day before, two hours away by car, take in a game in Cincinnati as the Bengals host the Dolphins.

Visiting training camp (open to the public): The Texans hold court at their training center across from Reliant Stadium in Houston. Like Miami, Houston’s summer heat can be brutal, so try and catch a morning practice or prepare for Mother Nature with a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water.

What’s more, you’ll likely need a ticket to watch practice. It's free, but check www.houstontexans.com on its practice access policy. Also, you might want to arrive early anyway to get autographs in an organized fashion from select players because in the past they’ve only enabled access for this to the first 100 fans they’ve distributed wristbands to. That doesn’t mean, however, you can’t look for and score autographs from other players on your own that are not on the organized list. For more information on Texans camp, including practice access, visit www.houstontexans.com or call 832-667-2323.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

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Road tripping: In addition to annual stops in Nashville, Houston and Jacksonville, Peyton Manning and the boys head to New England, Philadelphia, Washington, Denver and Oakland.

Recommended road trips: If you’ve never been to the Nation’s Capitol, don’t let Oct. 17 pass you by when Indy visits the Redskins. Fall is a great time to visit D.C. Yet you have some tough travel decisions to make. If you want to truly experience enemy territory, don’t bypass the chance to head to New England Nov. 21 as Peyton Manning and Tom Brady renew acquaintances. Another trip to consider? The Colts’ Aug. 26 preseason tilt at historic Lambeau Field.

Visiting training camp (open to the public): The Colts move across the state for training camp, returning to Anderson University in Anderson , Indiana (40 miles northeast of town) where they first held camp when the franchise moved from Baltimore in 1984. Camp officially opens Aug. 1 with practice starting the next day. The university charges a $10 parking fee. For more, click this link.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Road tripping: The Jags will be busting out those frequent flyer mile cards with trips north to the Giants and Buffalo and northwest to Kansas City, Dallas and San Diego. And that’s on top of annual pilgrimages to Nashville, Indianapolis and Houston.

Recommended road trips: Look in the closest for the biggest hat you can find and then see if you can get it in the overhead compartment on the airplane as you head to Dallas for Halloween as the Jags visit ultra-huge Cowboys Stadium. Alternatively, the most recent cathedral of football after Dallas can be visited Thanksgiving weekend as Jacksonville takes New York by storm, visiting the Giants Nov. 28 at New Meadowlands Stadium. But if you want to get a head start on the season, head to the other side of the Sunshine State for the Aug. 28 exhibition game at Tampa.

Visiting training camp (open to the public): The Jags train right in Jacksonville, practicing on fields adjacent to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium, their home stadium. The sight lines are pretty good, with bleacher seating on the Field Turf close to the two parallel grass fields to soak in all the bruising hits. For more information on practice access, visit www.jaguars.com or call (904) 633-6525.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Road tripping: Jeff Fisher’s boys hit the southeast and southwest NFL extremes with stops in Miami and San Diego, plus visits to the Giants, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Dallas, Houston and Jacksonville.

Recommended road trips: Who could pass up a chance to visit New York? Let it not be you. Tennessee invades the Big Apple Sept. 26 to tackle the Giants at the New Meadowlands Stadium. That weekend, the Yankees host their big, hated rivals the Red Sox at the still fairly new Yankee Stadium. Speaking of big, an alternative roadie, includes the Titans visiting gigantic Cowboys Stadium on Oct. 10. Start loading that copper into your coin jar because securing a ticket for Tennessee in Dallas will cost a pretty penny, even though you shouldn’t have a problem finding a seat. The Cowboys’ digs fit more than 100,000 fans.

Visiting training camp (open to the public): The Titans train right in Nashville at Baptist Sports Park, about five minutes drive from downtown. It’s a fairly fan-friendly affair to enjoy practice here and get autographs, though the summertime heat can be draining. For more information on Titans camp, including practice access, visit www.titansonline.com or call 615-565-4190.

Joe Connor is a contributor to NBCSports.com and author of the annually-updated online training camp and stadium guide, “A Fan’s Guide To The Ultimate NFL Travel Experience” which is available for purchase exclusively at his Web site: www.mrsportstravel.com.

© 2012 NBC Sports.com  Reprints

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