It's Time for the Titans to Get Things Settled With McNair the Right Way

With the liability issue is so important to the Titans, Reese should invite McNair's agent Bus Cook to Baptist Sports Park for a final set of negotiations in exchange for keeping his client away from workouts for one week. In exchange, if those negotiations don't lead to a new contract for McNair by set date between now and the next team OTAs on June 13, the Titans would trade/release him.


I dont think your dream scenario is going to work Jeff. What incentive would Bus Cook have to actually negotiate with the Titans unless they match the money that the Ravens have already offered?

 

Well said

 

I couldnt disagree more with this scenario. While I agree with a lot of what you said Jeff I dont believe we should release him in a week under any circumstances. We should do nothing to help a team that we have to play and never do anything to helps the Ravens. With this abitration out of the way some other team might be interested in McNair ans increase his trade value. I hope we are able to work something out with his contract and he stays I know thats more emotion than anything else but I think we could be better than anyone thinks with McNair at QB. Our offense will be better even with Volek playing. The oline will be better with the addition of Mawae(his body rested last year he will probably be better physically than he has been in a few years) and Roos will be much better in his 2nd year, Bell should be fully recovered adding competion at the guard and tackle positions. Running game will be better with Brown behind an improved oline and Henry will play much better. The receivers will be much better the young guys will be better and Givens will open things up for other guys. The defense will be better at both corners and at lb and hopefully the dline will improve. With Steve we may go further than anyone predicts.

 

I think the Titans should either get a deal done in the next day or two or let him go. It's not right holding him up.

 

Notice option #3 in Jeff's article:

That is also the worst case scenario IF McNair were to get hurt while he is "working out". We would have to cut Pillar, Sirmon and maybe some additional dead weight. I can see the Titans strategy in not wanting McNair to work out before considering they really didn't want him to get hurt and were trying to pressure him to take a lower deal. But with the ruling I say open the door and let Mac work out. Mac will not feel warm and fuzzy and will not show up for the most part anyway and if he does Mac knows he stands to lose any chance he might have at playing in the playoffs again in his career if he gets injured. Thus, the odds are pretty darn good in the Titans favor. Imagine working out at a teams facitlity knowing you probally will not be around at the start of the season. That is a real motivator? Mac could then be released if a deal is not made just before training camp starts.

The other option is to pay Mac his 1.0 million bonus now with the agreement he will not work out until training camp starts (at the Titans facility, he could still workout on his own at his own risk) while the Titans try to work a trade or renogotiation. Because Mac is being compensated for not working out there is no issue with the CBA.

 

McNair has much more to lose if hes injured. Hes not going to take any chances of ending his career now with an injury. Baltimore will pay him more this year than the 9m we will have to pay him if hes injured. You can be sure that Cook as made it clear to him that he cant take any chances. This entire workout fiasco was put in motion by Cook to force the Titans to ante up or release him and it didnt work. I cant imagine Steve will even show up to work out he will go back to Mississippi and work with his personal trainer just like he always does. Now is not the time to blink if they want him let them give us the 4 with a conditonal 3 and if not let them explain to Cook and McNair why they dont think hes worth it. Now is not the time to panic.