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Titans, Ravens talk McNair deal
Reese: Offer 'insufficient;' agent is more optimistic


[FONT=Arial,Helvetica,Sans-serif]Coach Jeff Fisher, right, and injured starting quarterback Steve McNair watch the Titans season finale against the Jaguars. ASSOCIATED PRESS[/FONT]
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer

Published: Monday, 05/01/06 For weeks there's been talk that Titans quarterback Steve McNair will end up with the Baltimore Ravens.
Sunday, the first steps were taken toward making it happen.
The Titans gave the Ravens permission to speak with McNair's agent, Bus Cook, about working out a deal that would facilitate a trade between the two teams.
The talks didn't produce anything, but Cook said Sunday night there's a chance McNair could still be traded to the Ravens or released, possibly in the next day or two.
"That's not going to happen,'' said Titans General Manager Floyd Reese, who downplayed the seriousness of the talks. "We talked early and they made an offer and it was insufficient, and it died right there. Right now all that is dead.''
Said Ravens Coach Brian Billick: "Stay tuned.''
The flurry of activity marked the latest chapter in the ongoing saga between the Titans and McNair, their starting quarterback since 1997. It came one day after the Titans used their first-round draft pick to select their quarterback of the future, Vince Young.
Earlier Sunday, Cook indicated he was on the verge of striking a deal for McNair with the Ravens. At issue was what the Titans would get in return for McNair. Reese said the Ravens offered a draft pick, but it wasn't "good enough."
"Steve's a Tennessee Titan,'' Ravens General Manager Ozzie Newsome said. "That has not changed.''
There were mixed signals as to whether a deal could be reached in the near future.
Reese left open the possibility of reentering contract negotiations with McNair at some point, but Titans owner Bud Adams indicated earlier Sunday a decision might come sooner than later.
"I'd say we might act pretty quick (on McNair) now that we've drafted Vince,'' Adams said.
McNair is scheduled to make $9 million in base salary in 2006 and count $23.46 million against the salary cap. The Titans want to lower those figures in a restructured contract, but haven't negotiated with Cook for weeks. McNair wants guarantees for future years, and the Titans aren't willing to make any.
The Titans need to reduce or rid themselves of McNair's $23.46 million cap figure in order to sign their draft picks and any free agents, but they aren't expected to begin contract negotiations with those players until July.
Last month the Titans barred McNair from working out at Baptist Sports Park, citing liability concerns in case he was injured.
The NFL Players Association filed a grievance on McNair's behalf, and Cook said it asks for the Titans to release the quarterback. Both sides are attempting to expedite a hearing on the grievance.
Reese said he allowed Cook to speak with the Ravens because McNair "has a $23 million cap number and they can't afford it. For them to even talk about a trade, they have to get the cap number down.''
Yet at one point Sunday, Cook was all but certain McNair was about to become a Raven.
"He is getting ready to go to Baltimore,'' Cook said. "Steve will be sad (to leave Nashville). He gave his heart and soul to that team and that town. But he'll be fine. (The Ravens) are a very competitive team, and he can take them to the Super Bowl.
"Hopefully (the deal) will almost double the same money over three years that Tennessee had on the table.''
Reese said the Titans have no plans to release McNair any time soon. He acknowledged a decision will have to be made eventually but said, "We are in no hurry.''
Said Titans Coach Jeff Fisher: "It is difficult, when you take into consideration what he has done and what he means to this franchise. Steve has been around long enough to understand that you have to separate the business side from everything else.
"Steve has confidence in his ability. Steve is not finished playing. He is determined to prove that he can play and play at a very high level, and that is what he is living on right now. The hope is that this thing gets resolved.''
McNair did not return a phone message from The Tennessean.

 

Translation of Reese's statements: "We have not finished fucking over the guy who played his heart out for us over the years. When we have finished making ourselves even larger assholes we will then consider a trade."

 

dont worry. Brett Favre mentioned how this isnt fair, so all will be right soon.

 

Why is it that nobody is roasting the Titans for jerking McNair around?

When T.O. was bitching about a new contract, everybody pulled the "well you signed it" card.

McNair signed a contract, hasn't made a nuisance of himself and the Titans are screwing the guy over.

I understand that's how the current system works, but it's quite unfair.

 

McNair is now at the point of his contract where everyone knew he wouldn't be getting this funny money. He's supposed to count $23 million against the cap this season, which means the Titans couldn't even pay their draft picks if they kept him at that price. I assume they're just waiting until June 1st to cut him if they can't trade him before then, but if he practices with the team and gets injured then all that money has to be paid. I think it's a horrible situation and that Tennessee handled it very poorly, but it would simply be impossible for them to allow McNair to come in and get all that money.

 

Yeah, they've handled it horribly and but seem to be getting a free pass.

I don't think T.O. OR the Titans handled things well, but the Titans seem to be getting a free pass.

 

I believe the new rules allow them to cut him now and they still could split his cap hit over two years. Problem of course being that until June 1st, that cost would be counted 100% against the cap until then (not all the $23M). If they can't get a trade in the next couple of weeks they'll probably just release him. Everyone know this that's why no one will trade for what they'll get for free.