Terry McCormick: Titans lowballed Haynesworth

[Titans and Turtles]

According to this, from the city paper (http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=67402), the Titans barely made an honest attempt to keep their pro-bowl defensive lineman.


As it turns out, the Titans drew their line in the proverbial sand, and didn’t deviate from it, which played a large role in Haynesworth signing his record deal with Washington early in free agency. Tennessee’s final offer to Haynesworth, according to a league source, amounted to a four-year package worth $34 million total, with about $20 million in guarantees, The City Paper learned.

So, we offered 34mill/4 years, with 20mill in guarantees. And we didn't budge. We slapped him in the face. We kicked him below the belt and called his mother some dirty names.

I'm not nearly as surprised as I'd like to be, but to those who were actually convinced the team was making an honest effort to keep him, what say you now?

Sure, it was one thing to see him go when it appeared that it took a monstrous, and undoubtedly foolhardy, 100mill contract from the Redskins to lure him away. But with this info, even if the Redskins hadn't overpaid by so much, almost any team in the league could have and would have been able to secure Albert. Albert, in NFL terms, is not worth near what the Redskins paid him, but he sure as hell was worth more than the insult qua offer we made.

I heard someone say it in comments on a web site the other day. Bud Adams has figured out that this fanbase is willing to accept a team that has a cup of coffee in the playoffs every few years and doesn't really care if we ever make moves to be a serious contender. And if he can keep us content while saving a big pile of cash under the cap, he can and will do so.

I'm really beginning to think this is why Reese was let go and Reinfeldt was hired. It has nothing to do with winning a championship. Reinfeldt simply has better skills at being able to field a decent enough team to slip into the playoffs every few years and save money, whereas Reese spent too much, concievably because he had the ridiculous notion in his head that this franchise was conerned with trying to win a championship.

Now don't get me wrong. Of course bottom-line Bud would love a superbowl victory - extra $$$. But he's learned he can get away with aiming lower and saving some cash, and it's looking pretty plain to me right now that the Titan's motus operandi is exactly this.

[315]

I'm not nearly as surprised as I'd like to be, but to those who were actually convinced the team was making an honest effort to keep him, what say you now?.

How could anyone not know that AH was gone when we worked his deal last year? All the marbles went into the basket last year.

[Titans and Turtles]

How could anyone not know that AH was gone when we worked his deal last year? All the marbles went into the basket last year.

Oh, I wish we still had the TOMB archives. When we franchised Al last year, a lot of us knew it was the end of Albert in TN, but a metric TON of posters were convinced we'd resign him, OR, he'd get injured or have a major let down, and that if he played another good season, then we'd make sure to sign him.

PLENTY of TOMB members convinced themselves we'd make an honest attempt to keep big Al.

[315]

I just cant figure out why they did it. Were they afraid he would lay down for the year if they didnt let him out of the franchise tag this year?

[Toronto]

I just cant figure out why they did it. Were they afraid he would lay down for the year if they didnt let him out of the franchise tag this year?

In a word? Yes.

[kytitansfan1]

His contract figure is insignificant because he'll never see $100 million. He left for the guaranteed money, obviously. He was a very good player for the Titans...when he was on the field. I don't have a problem with the Titans not giving him a ridiculous guarantee. I don't have a problem with Haynesworth getting everything he can while he can. I just hope that in 3 years, after he's cut by the Redskins, the Titans don't look to re-sign him.

[Titans and Turtles]

I don't have a problem with the Titans not giving him a ridiculous guarantee.

Is there a middle ground, perhaps?

I'm not upset they didn't break the bank and try to match the Redskins ridiculous offer or something similarly foolish.

I AM upset that they completely lowballed him. They didn't even make a truly serious offer. Not even a fair offer. Yes, yes, 20million is a whole damn lot for us 'mortals' to consider. But this was a dominating pro-bowl player who was bandied about mid-season as a possible MVP candidate, largely unheard of for a d-line player.

With the Redskins offering what they did, Al was done being a Titan any way you slice it. But the fact that we slapped him in the face instead of making an offer we thought had the slightest prayer of being accepted irks me. As I said above, this front office is reeking to me right now of doing the bare minimum to keep us fans content while saving cash. I don't feel any sense of urgency by the FO to try and put together a championship team.

[kytitansfan1]

Is there a middle ground, perhaps?

I understand what you're saying, but I am also one that believes that his deal was done with the Redskins long before it should have been. The un-named league source from the original article can't/won't say anything about any talks that might have been going on with Haynesworth's agent and Snyder prior to the official start of the free agency period. How does a deal that large get done that quick?

Maybe his agent was telling the Titans FO it would take 'x' amount of guaranteed money and the Titans knew early on and they weren't going to be sucked in. We'll never know. I respect Terry McCormick's reporting but we're only getting one side of the story. As Titans fans, we know that many like to portray our team in a negative sense.

Like you, I hope the team comes out looking like genuises. :thumbsup

[MillaKilla8]

He's only a player

[Jones31]

He's been gone a month?




Meh

[pookha]

funny how this league source seems to contradict another league source terry quoted.

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/news.php?viewStory=66270

According to reports, the initial offer was for four years and a reported $36 million. According to a source, approximately $20-25 million of that would have been in guarantees. How much the Titans have increased their offer is not yet known, but speculation is that if Haynesworth reaches the open market some team will likely come close to meeting his demands.

---
look not all league sources are created equal.
i remember when mort was claiming that the titans and fisher were no where near getting an extension done when in fact the contract was done and in the league office awaiting approval.

as toronto noted the reason the titans handled albert they way they did is they didnt trust him to put forth without still having something on the line for this season.
fisher in the past has struggled to get him to camp in shape.

and i still think the bottom line was the titans just were not willing to offer out a lot
of guaranteed money due to their past experiences with hanseworth.
it is really going to get interesting to see what washington gets out of albert after his first season when he will have gotten most of his guaranteed money by then.,

the contract supposedly is back loaded about the biggest difference is how much was guaranteed.

to just hand over that kind of money without strings after next season especially when said player in the past never had seasons comparable to his contrat seasons plus had several altercations over the course of his career is questionable.

especially since washington had greater needs at other positions.

[315]

Well... I think there were times that AH didnt give 100% and that makes me less upset that the Titans didnt exactly give 100% to try and sign him.

[felloffthewagon]

I am good with not resigning him. We weren't getting him for 20 million more. he was going to free agency no matter what.

They set a value and that was it. Just like they do with everyone else. This should not surprise anyone and 13 - 3 says it works.

[TitanPop]

Well... I think there were times that AH didnt give 100% and that makes me less upset that the Titans didnt exactly give 100% to try and sign him.

Thanks for saying what I was thinking........ :toast

[DelawareTitans]

Let's wait and reserve some judgment until the seaon gets underway. If Al has a mediocre season and the Redskins go nowhere whereas the Titans make the playoffs again,then we know we made they chose wisely.

However, if Al has a monster year, the Titans defense struggles and they go nowhere, then they had chosen poorly.

It's easy to sit here now in the offseason and criticize, what they coulda, shoulda, woulda done. A lot of decisions have been second guessed by the fans, and for the most part, they turned out to be good ones (Travis Henry being an example).

I'll keep the faith that they know what they are doing and what is best for the team. But they better win a Super Bowl soon, dammit.

[pookha]

actually his having one monster season proves nothing. he dosnt get the lions share of the bonus until after 13 months.
they might have bought themselves one great season from him.

[ms_zonian]

actually his having one monster season proves nothing. he dosnt get the lions share of the bonus until after 13 months.
they might have bought themselves one great season from him.

One great season is all it takes...

We'll see if theirs get them further than ours did.

I'm glad we didn't overpay for him, myself.

[Titanico]

Haynesworth became a force, only and only when his contract was about to expire. I do not like to assume, but that is not a good way to go for any player.

Then, we have to think about the stomp and his erratic behaviour as the pro player he is before those 2 years. I think that set the tone for Reindfelt and Fisher to not take him so seriously into consideration.

Now, I don't think that Bruce Matthews has a complaint on how the F.O. treated him before he retired. He was always the pro-player all teams dream to have.

[MrBean]

I am personally okay with how it went down.

He wasn't the team. He helped... a lot. But honestly, I don't think we will see as huge a dowturn in the defense as the doomsayers are expecting.

I will of course, eat crow and cry while doing it if I am wrong on that :)

[Count Telecky]

Titans make the playoffs again,then we know we made they chose wisely.

However, if Al has a monster year, the Titans defense struggles and they go nowhere, then they had chosen poorly.

I say at the end of the season we will be saying..

"You have chosen...wisely"
http://purgatorio1.com/wp-content/pics/GrailKnight.jpg

[wari0]

I am personally okay with how it went down.

He wasn't the team. He helped... a lot. But honestly, I don't think we will see as huge a dowturn in the defense as the doomsayers are expecting.

I will of course, eat crow and cry while doing it if I am wrong on that :)


i have a feeling our D will look alot like the one that was on the field while haynesworth was injured last year.. maybe im wrong but, i think it was still pretty good against the steelers

[devin]

So what you guys are saying is that 4 years and $36 mil wasn't enough? Albert left for money, he got his $100 mil. The Titans could've possibly upped the offer to $40 mil over the course of 4 years, but i don't have any issues with their final offer.

[mpd116]

I guess my problem with the whole situation is that all of the sudden it seems as if an enormous amount of people think albert is not replaceable. We are not talking about a guy that came right out of college and burnt up the NFL. (Like Chris Johnson has done). We are talking about a guy that reportedly had emotional issues (anger), as well as a questionable work ethic in the early part of his contract. Is there any real difference in him and the co-worker who kisses the bosses butt when they know a promotion is available? 8 or 9 months of good work does not erase years of mediocrity. Kyle Vandenbosch has worked his tail off the whole time he has been with the Titans. Give me the guy that is proud to be here and works hard anyday over somebody just trying to get paid.

[TitansGiantsBears]

I'm more upset the team couldn't come to terms with Albert LAST year when they were so close on the deal than I am about losing him to the Redskins for a deal I wouldn't want the Titans to match.

[Rolltide14TOMB]

Lowballed my arse....he was worth a certain amt to us and someone else valued him more or what 3 times more....that fatty was already weighing on me as it was with his big independable butt....Albert haynesworth will never help anyone win anything except a few regular season games