Titans say they can afford to keep Albert Haynesworth

Titans say they can afford to keep Albert Haynesworth
February 13
Tennessean

"General manager Mike Reinfeldt said the Titans have the cash to re-sign Albert Haynesworth, who wants to become the NFL's highest paid defensive player.

Now they just have to decide whether to take a massive chunk out of their salary cap space - the Titans are about $33 million under.

On Thursday, Reinfeldt said the Titans have an approximate figure budgeted for the two-time All-Pro defensive tackle, who becomes a free agent on Feb. 27 if they don't re-sign him before then.

What is that figure? Reinfeldt refused to say.

"I don't think it behooves us at this point in time to give away what our strategies would be, or where we think the market will be for an individual player," Reinfeldt said.

Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is currently the league's highest-paid defensive player. Last offseason he signed a six-year contract worth more than $74 million, including about $32 million guaranteed.

Haynesworth, who's already turned down at least one offer from the Titans, is seeking a similar deal. He is, after all, coming off a career season - 14 games (the most he's played since 2005), a team-leading 8.5 sacks and 75 tackles. He missed the final two games of the regular season with a sprained knee.

The Titans are also in negotiations to re-sign some of their other 13 free agents-to be, including quarterback Kerry Collins, receiver Brandon Jones, nickel back Vincent Fuller and cornerback/returner Chris Carr.

Chuck Cecil, announced Thursday as the team's new defensive coordinator, said he did not wait until his promotion to stress the importance of re-signing Haynesworth.

"I did that when I was the secondary coach," Cecil said after a laugh. "Obviously, a guy like that up front … makes the secondary better because the ball has to come out of their hands faster, and the quarterbacks have to make quicker decisions."

And the Titans are facing a quick decision about a very large number. Reinfeldt knows if Haynesworth reaches the open market, the game changes.

"You have 32 teams, and it only takes one to pay much more than the other 31 would be willing to pay," Reinfeldt said. "That's a concern, getting to free agency. And I think that if you're a player or agent, that's kind of what you're hoping for.""
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