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Thursday, 03/08/07
'We have a plan,' calm Fisher says
Slow in free agency, Titans not nervous
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer
His workhorse running back from a year ago is now with the Denver Broncos.
His top two receivers from 2006 have also moved on, signing free agent deals in other cities because the money was far better than what was offered in Tennessee.
Meanwhile, the status of his star cornerback and return man remains unclear because of off-the-field issues, something the NFL could step in and suspend him for at some point.
Still, Titans Coach Jeff Fisher said things aren't as bad as they might seem. On Wednesday night, he certainly didn't sound like a man panicking, even though Titans fans everywhere seem a bit nervous.
"It is really pretty simple,'' Fisher said. "It is subtraction and it is addition. So when you're down three, people are saying, 'What are you doing?' The perception may be we are spinning our wheels and we're getting caught off-guard here.
"Well, that is not the case. We have a plan.''
Since free agency opened Friday, the Titans have lost Travis Henry (Broncos), Drew Bennett (Rams) and Bobby Wade (Vikings) without making a move of their own. Pacman Jones has once again been in the news for all the wrong reasons.
On Wednesday, there was some positive news. Eagles receiver Donte Stallworth visited Baptist Sports Park to meet with team officials, along with Lions cornerback Jamar Fletcher.
Two more players are scheduled to visit today — Colts cornerback Nick Harper and Cowboys linebacker Ryan Fowler, a restricted free agent, according to the players' agents. Bears receiver Justin Gage is expected to visit in the coming days as well, and the team is interested in Rams receiver Kevin Curtis.
The Titans have been in communication with Buffalo about back Willis McGahee, who the Bills are shopping. The Titans are interested in trading for McGahee, but others are interested, and the Ravens are considered the front-runner to land him. Fisher wouldn't comment on the players scheduled to visit, or talk about the team's interest in McGahee.
Not so bad off
Despite the subtractions, Fisher said his team is better off than most fans might think. He is counting on youngsters like running back LenDale White and receiver Brandon Jones to step up.
"We have a good core,'' Fisher said. "We were interested in keeping (Henry, Bennett and Wade), but it was a money situation and what we are not going to do is put ourselves in a position three or four years from now where we have to (go through salary cap problems) all over again. We are not going to do that.
"We have a good core of young players on our roster like LenDale and Brandon and the rest of the receivers, so we are in a good situation right now. In free agency there is a second tier that is really exciting and intriguing and it's going to be a good draft. We are not in a situation where we are in dire need of doing something right now. We are going to make prudent decisions based on need and based on people available.''
Fisher said there's been good communication between everyone in the front office, from COO Steve Underwood to General Manager Mike Reinfeldt, and "we are all on the same page.''
When the team completes it's plan, Fisher vowed the Titans "will be a better team'' than the one that finished 8-8 last season.
The team's visits with Stallworth and Fletcher went well, according to Fisher, and the team will remain in communication with both players. Stallworth is scheduled to visit the Dolphins on Thursday.
Early Wednesday, one national report indicated Colts running back Dominic Rhodes was scheduled to visit Tennessee later this week as well, but Rhodes' agent said while he's been in communication with the Titans, no visit had been set up. While the Titans are interested in another back to fill the void left by Henry, White's clearly on the spot.
"We drafted LenDale to be the future, so we have options,'' Fisher said. "We feel we got the most out of Travis. We feel Travis has a number of good years ahead, but from a cost standpoint (signing him) would have affected other positions and keep us from being able to do what we want to do.''
Henry signed a deal with $12 million in guarantees in Denver; the Titans were offering $8 million.
Harper, a starter on Indianapolis' Super Bowl team, was the team's top cornerback in 2006, finishing with 73 tackles and three interceptions. He's a six-year veteran who's recorded 15 interceptions in his career.
When he visits today, he'll be the second cornerback to meet with the team in as many days. Fisher said the uncertainty surrounding Jones has nothing to do with the team's interest in acquiring another cornerback, or two.
"Had these incidents not occurred with Pac, we would have still gone through this process (with the cornerbacks),'' Fisher said. "You can never have enough depth at the corner position and that is what we are doing. In '99, the only team that had more depth than we did at cornerback was the Rams (who won the Super Bowl).
"We have an up and coming player in Cortland (Finnegan) and a proven starter in Reynaldo (Hill). We are just in a financial position to help ourselves from a depth standpoint, and we have a great deal of respect for both players.''
At linebacker, Fowler played in 16 games for the Cowboys last season. He's a middle linebacker who's also received interest from the Eagles, and could visit Philadelphia on Friday. Since he's a restricted free agent, the Cowboys would have a right to match any offer sheet. Fowler was an undrafted free agent in 2004.
"I wouldn't be surprised that after these two trips there could be more,'' agent Alan Herman said. "The Cowboys could still match the deal, but my sense is once you have two there could be more.''
Also on Wednesday, running back Chris Brown visited the Bills and is scheduled to travel to Detroit today. The Titans continue to talk to Brown's agents about potentially re-signing him as well, while the Packers are also interested.
Thursday, 03/08/07
'We have a plan,' calm Fisher says
Slow in free agency, Titans not nervous
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer
His workhorse running back from a year ago is now with the Denver Broncos.
His top two receivers from 2006 have also moved on, signing free agent deals in other cities because the money was far better than what was offered in Tennessee.
Meanwhile, the status of his star cornerback and return man remains unclear because of off-the-field issues, something the NFL could step in and suspend him for at some point.
Still, Titans Coach Jeff Fisher said things aren't as bad as they might seem. On Wednesday night, he certainly didn't sound like a man panicking, even though Titans fans everywhere seem a bit nervous.
"It is really pretty simple,'' Fisher said. "It is subtraction and it is addition. So when you're down three, people are saying, 'What are you doing?' The perception may be we are spinning our wheels and we're getting caught off-guard here.
"Well, that is not the case. We have a plan.''
Since free agency opened Friday, the Titans have lost Travis Henry (Broncos), Drew Bennett (Rams) and Bobby Wade (Vikings) without making a move of their own. Pacman Jones has once again been in the news for all the wrong reasons.
On Wednesday, there was some positive news. Eagles receiver Donte Stallworth visited Baptist Sports Park to meet with team officials, along with Lions cornerback Jamar Fletcher.
Two more players are scheduled to visit today — Colts cornerback Nick Harper and Cowboys linebacker Ryan Fowler, a restricted free agent, according to the players' agents. Bears receiver Justin Gage is expected to visit in the coming days as well, and the team is interested in Rams receiver Kevin Curtis.
The Titans have been in communication with Buffalo about back Willis McGahee, who the Bills are shopping. The Titans are interested in trading for McGahee, but others are interested, and the Ravens are considered the front-runner to land him. Fisher wouldn't comment on the players scheduled to visit, or talk about the team's interest in McGahee.
Not so bad off
Despite the subtractions, Fisher said his team is better off than most fans might think. He is counting on youngsters like running back LenDale White and receiver Brandon Jones to step up.
"We have a good core,'' Fisher said. "We were interested in keeping (Henry, Bennett and Wade), but it was a money situation and what we are not going to do is put ourselves in a position three or four years from now where we have to (go through salary cap problems) all over again. We are not going to do that.
"We have a good core of young players on our roster like LenDale and Brandon and the rest of the receivers, so we are in a good situation right now. In free agency there is a second tier that is really exciting and intriguing and it's going to be a good draft. We are not in a situation where we are in dire need of doing something right now. We are going to make prudent decisions based on need and based on people available.''
Fisher said there's been good communication between everyone in the front office, from COO Steve Underwood to General Manager Mike Reinfeldt, and "we are all on the same page.''
When the team completes it's plan, Fisher vowed the Titans "will be a better team'' than the one that finished 8-8 last season.
The team's visits with Stallworth and Fletcher went well, according to Fisher, and the team will remain in communication with both players. Stallworth is scheduled to visit the Dolphins on Thursday.
Early Wednesday, one national report indicated Colts running back Dominic Rhodes was scheduled to visit Tennessee later this week as well, but Rhodes' agent said while he's been in communication with the Titans, no visit had been set up. While the Titans are interested in another back to fill the void left by Henry, White's clearly on the spot.
"We drafted LenDale to be the future, so we have options,'' Fisher said. "We feel we got the most out of Travis. We feel Travis has a number of good years ahead, but from a cost standpoint (signing him) would have affected other positions and keep us from being able to do what we want to do.''
Henry signed a deal with $12 million in guarantees in Denver; the Titans were offering $8 million.
Harper, a starter on Indianapolis' Super Bowl team, was the team's top cornerback in 2006, finishing with 73 tackles and three interceptions. He's a six-year veteran who's recorded 15 interceptions in his career.
When he visits today, he'll be the second cornerback to meet with the team in as many days. Fisher said the uncertainty surrounding Jones has nothing to do with the team's interest in acquiring another cornerback, or two.
"Had these incidents not occurred with Pac, we would have still gone through this process (with the cornerbacks),'' Fisher said. "You can never have enough depth at the corner position and that is what we are doing. In '99, the only team that had more depth than we did at cornerback was the Rams (who won the Super Bowl).
"We have an up and coming player in Cortland (Finnegan) and a proven starter in Reynaldo (Hill). We are just in a financial position to help ourselves from a depth standpoint, and we have a great deal of respect for both players.''
At linebacker, Fowler played in 16 games for the Cowboys last season. He's a middle linebacker who's also received interest from the Eagles, and could visit Philadelphia on Friday. Since he's a restricted free agent, the Cowboys would have a right to match any offer sheet. Fowler was an undrafted free agent in 2004.
"I wouldn't be surprised that after these two trips there could be more,'' agent Alan Herman said. "The Cowboys could still match the deal, but my sense is once you have two there could be more.''
Also on Wednesday, running back Chris Brown visited the Bills and is scheduled to travel to Detroit today. The Titans continue to talk to Brown's agents about potentially re-signing him as well, while the Packers are also interested.
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Don't forget, at this time last year the Titans hadn't signed anyone. They let Hartwig walk for a huge contract with the Panthers, that is even more laughable now, than it was then and a couple of other key guys walk. They ended up with four solid guys who were young and filled needs, and two other depth guys (Robaire and Collins) who were cheap. By all accounts, when all was said and done, I think most Titans fans were pleased with how last offseason ended up.
not exactly the kind of production you'd expect out of the contract he'll wind up signing and that's keeping your fingers crossed that you'll get a full season out of him.year tm gms rec yds avg tds 2002 nor 13 42 594 14.1 8 2003 nor 11 25 485 19.4 3 2004 nor 16 58 767 13.2 5 2005 nor 16 70 945 13.5 7 2006 phi 12 38 725 19.1 5
not exactly the kind of production you'd expect out of the contract he'll wind up signing and that's keeping your fingers crossed that you'll get a full season out of him.year tm gms rec yds avg tds 2002 nor 13 42 594 14.1 8 2003 nor 11 25 485 19.4 3 2004 nor 16 58 767 13.2 5 2005 nor 16 70 945 13.5 7 2006 phi 12 38 725 19.1 5
and eventually an upgrade over Drew "hands of steel" Bennett 
. I also like Maurice Hicks for depth at RB and Wistrom if he comes at the right price.
Provided they are not paying him crazy money
