SUMMARY: For the first time in recent years, the Tennessee Titans head into the offseason free from salary cap jail. Yes, they are technically over the cap, but that’s just an accounting formality as they can easily free up many millions of dollars in free cap space. While they will be letting a few players go, it won’t be anything like cutting many high-priced starters in their primes, as we witnessed last year on “Blue Monday”.
On March 3, teams will need to be under the salary cap, which we can conservatively expected to be around $93M in 2006 (it could easily be a few million dollars higher). The Titans got one big move out of the way early by signing defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch to a new 4-year deal, preventing their best potential free agent from walking away.
http://www.gotitans.com/artman/publish/article_001328.shtml
What do you think about this article? Post your comments below.
On March 3, teams will need to be under the salary cap, which we can conservatively expected to be around $93M in 2006 (it could easily be a few million dollars higher). The Titans got one big move out of the way early by signing defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch to a new 4-year deal, preventing their best potential free agent from walking away.
http://www.gotitans.com/artman/publish/article_001328.shtml
What do you think about this article? Post your comments below.
Good work Star. I agree with all the moves and for the most part the only question might be what to do with Boiman and Sirmon. Boiman could be worth keeping if he were cheap IMO. Either way we are looking at a scary situation that could point to Reese seriously looking to trade for more picks either from the #3 or the 2nd round pick. We could easily lose both starting safeties and two starting LBs not to mention 3 OL. Add in possibly losing our #2 RB with our #1 not being the most reliable we really have alot of holes to fill.
Very nice work, Jon.
After reading the article, you can see the Titans will have some holes. Even if someone on the current roster steps up to fill the spot, the Titans will have some depth issues after the draft.
After reading the article, you can see the Titans will have some holes. Even if someone on the current roster steps up to fill the spot, the Titans will have some depth issues after the draft.
Thanks. I'll be interested to see where they can agree to new contracts with players, because the current cap rules make that very hard. That's one reason I decided that Henry is more likely to be let go than re-signed to a new contract. Honestly, Sirmon could be difficult to keep as well, but he calls the plays on defense and they will also replace 1 LB, so I think they'll try to keep him.
I think some young players will fill holes. Bell and Stewart could easily start this year, and maybe even Amano. And I'm all for giving Fuller a shot at FS. But we need to find replacements at a few spots like MLB and SS (if Tank is gone).
I think some young players will fill holes. Bell and Stewart could easily start this year, and maybe even Amano. And I'm all for giving Fuller a shot at FS. But we need to find replacements at a few spots like MLB and SS (if Tank is gone).
That really puts into perspective all the ideas and questions that have floated around for the past couple months. I, for one, was on the wrong track about how much money the Titans could have to spend. Looks as if it's likely to be in the $3-$4 million range while I was thinking we could have up to $15 million. Still, the front office has shed the load it carried around all last season when so much of the salary cap was paid out in dead money.
Great work, Star.
Great work, Star.
KVB is taking up $4M that he wasn't yet counting for a few weeks ago. And McNair's contract could save us a ton of money if they alter it, though that will surely be too late to add a big name player.
The only thing I dont agree with is cutting Lamont Thompson. But then my soft spot for Wazzu players is well known.
We will end up saving a very nice chunk of change whichever way Mac's contract talks go. If he restructures we save money and if he is cut we save 9mil....the one thing that I'm sure of is that Mac will not play at his current cap value. Floyd will not pay a guy 9mil for 1 yrs service. It is going to be a game of chicken, but Floyd has the power because he can hold onto Mac until all the other teams fill their QB needs and then cut him if Mac doesn't work with him.
2003, 2004, and already 2005 to all finally pay off in 2006. Better late than never. Look out in camp and watch the parity of the NFL take its turn in Titans Country. If so, that would render an earhquake in the midst of AFC South Territory.
Olson and hopkins...
I can't disagree with much of what star wrote but i don't think we will cut loose both those guys. Seeing that we will not likely go o-line in rd 1 and maybe not in rd 2 either with so many other needs it might be too traumatic to lose 40% of our line. Bell was in camp from the beginning and while his acl from 2004 limited him in the beginning he must have worked through it by late season. Still he played little and both our rookie lineman didn't get on the field. Hard to tell what we may be getting.
In star's scenario we could be losing both starting safeties, 2/3 of our linebackers, our backup RB, one of our top QBs and 40-60%% of our o-line. That's a lot of changes.
My guess is that we will come to terms with tank and find a way to keep olson. Hopkins is a problem because even if we cut him he will cost us over $6M against the cap. But what do we do? Can't keep him at his current price tag and he is at best average at this stage of his career.
It all depends on mcnair. Assuming we can come to terms that will cost us $8-9M less against the cap we can then trade volek hopefully for a third rd pick which could bring us help at safety, linebacker or o-line.
I don't want huge changes made to this team. I sincerely believe that at least 50% of our problems last season were attitude. We had a bunch of guys who didn't believe we could win, didn't believe in each other and didn't give 110%. Inexperience at some postions also factored in no question especially at WR and CB and we had many guys coming off of acls. An attitude change, the years experience in our first and second year players, some improvement from our acl guys like bell, tank and calico can make us 5 games better. I sincerely believe that. Sure we need to improve athletically at certain positions and we have players making more money than they are worth so some changes need to be made but star's scenario scares me a little.
I can't disagree with much of what star wrote but i don't think we will cut loose both those guys. Seeing that we will not likely go o-line in rd 1 and maybe not in rd 2 either with so many other needs it might be too traumatic to lose 40% of our line. Bell was in camp from the beginning and while his acl from 2004 limited him in the beginning he must have worked through it by late season. Still he played little and both our rookie lineman didn't get on the field. Hard to tell what we may be getting.
In star's scenario we could be losing both starting safeties, 2/3 of our linebackers, our backup RB, one of our top QBs and 40-60%% of our o-line. That's a lot of changes.
My guess is that we will come to terms with tank and find a way to keep olson. Hopkins is a problem because even if we cut him he will cost us over $6M against the cap. But what do we do? Can't keep him at his current price tag and he is at best average at this stage of his career.
It all depends on mcnair. Assuming we can come to terms that will cost us $8-9M less against the cap we can then trade volek hopefully for a third rd pick which could bring us help at safety, linebacker or o-line.
I don't want huge changes made to this team. I sincerely believe that at least 50% of our problems last season were attitude. We had a bunch of guys who didn't believe we could win, didn't believe in each other and didn't give 110%. Inexperience at some postions also factored in no question especially at WR and CB and we had many guys coming off of acls. An attitude change, the years experience in our first and second year players, some improvement from our acl guys like bell, tank and calico can make us 5 games better. I sincerely believe that. Sure we need to improve athletically at certain positions and we have players making more money than they are worth so some changes need to be made but star's scenario scares me a little.
Losing both safeties is what I call an upgrade...RollTide said:
As for the rest, I did suggest keeping Sirmon and only changing 1 LB spot. On the Oline, we all know they played badly last year, so why not make wholesale changes?
I'd say keeping Hopkins is far more likely than Olson. For 1, Bell is a proven player who can replace Olson. Stewart is unproven (even if the coaches do like him), and he'd have to start at RT when Roos moves to LT.
Also, Hopkins' kids are in Nashville (his ex-wife lives here) so he has incentive to take a paycut to stick around. Olson has no such incentive to take less money to remain a Titan.
Star...
The problem with keeping hopkins and letting olson go is that hopkins is entering his 14th season and olson his 9th. Olson still has a good 4 prime years left and hopkins is already past that.
The problem with keeping hopkins and letting olson go is that hopkins is entering his 14th season and olson his 9th. Olson still has a good 4 prime years left and hopkins is already past that.
I don't want to keep either for what it's worth.
But the difference is that Olson is easily replaceable. They shouldn't keep Bell sitting on the bench because he played very well even as a rookie. They can't afford to pay Olson and they'd be stupid to keep him around, even at a somewhat lower salary, when someone arguably just as good (but younger and cheaper) is able to replace him immediately.
Also, Hopkins is more likely to take a big paycut and stay than Olson. It's not just a choice of the team.
But the difference is that Olson is easily replaceable. They shouldn't keep Bell sitting on the bench because he played very well even as a rookie. They can't afford to pay Olson and they'd be stupid to keep him around, even at a somewhat lower salary, when someone arguably just as good (but younger and cheaper) is able to replace him immediately.
Also, Hopkins is more likely to take a big paycut and stay than Olson. It's not just a choice of the team.
RollTide said:
This attitude situation has its roots in the hiring of Jim Schwartz. Every year since SGWB was placed in the DC role by Fisher the aggressiveness of the D has lessened. He publicly states the Manning CANNOT BE BLITZED for cryin' out loud. Until Schwartz is removed an attitude adjustment is just wishful thinking.
Sounds like the cap will be $95M this year. That would give us (an everyone else) an extra $2M to spend over my projections.
GoT said:
I am with you 100%. Look what the Steelers did to him in the Playoffs. I only wish we could get Greg Williams back.
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