Good article on Reinfelt

[TTP77]

http://www.nashvillecitypaper.com/content/sports/titans-quiet-man



Titans’ quiet man
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at 11:00pm
By Terry McCormick

Mike Reinfeldt isn’t one for the spotlight.

Even when he was an All-Pro safety for the Houston Oilers with 12 interceptions in 1979, there were other, far more flamboyant players on the roster alongside him during the fabled “Luv Ya Blue” era in Houston. Names like Earl Campbell, Elvin Bethea, Dan Pastorini and Billy “White Shoes” Johnson garnered far more attention than Reinfeldt.

Reinfeldt maintains that same low-key approach in his current position as the general manager for the Tennessee Titans. But while he may prefer to work behind the scenes, the impact of his efforts is visible in the shaping of the team’s roster and recent success.

“I think that’s kind of the nature of the job. I think you are kind of behind the scenes,” Reinfeldt said. “You’re a big-picture, behind-the-scenes guy and a lot of what you do is more in meetings and not necessarily out on the field, but meeting with people and talking with people.”

The fruits of Reinfeldt’s labors are readily evident in that both his first-round choices — safety Michael Griffin in 2007 and running back Chris Johnson last year — have already been Pro Bowl selections in their short NFL careers.

And while there have been draft disappointments as well (Chris Henry and Paul Williams being the most notable thus far), it appears that a number of players, especially from last year’s class, have a chance to be solid contributors over the next few seasons.

Naturally, Reinfeldt is quick to deflect the credit elsewhere for the Titans’ run of success, which has included 23 regular-season wins the past two years.

“I believe in delegating things,” he said. “We’ve got a lot of talented people here in all areas — whether it’s in the contracts, the college scouting or the equipment, the video. I think …you hire qualified people, make it clear what the goals are, give them the resources to accomplish that. I think so far that’s worked well with us.”

[TTP77]

Perhaps the major difference between Reinfeldt and Reese is their approach to the salary cap. Reese always kept the Titans tight against the cap, knowing someday a day of reckoning would come after a championship window of opportunity had closed. That happened in 2005.


Reese kept his well-paid “core group” around as long as the cap space was available (Jevon Kearse was the notable exception). The Titans made sure to keep the likes of Eddie George, Steve McNair and Keith Bulluck in place and built around them, often filling in the pieces with rookies and role players, some of whom were cast off from other teams.

Reinfeldt, on the other hand, even with an increasing salary cap, is far less likely to dole out superstar money to a few players. Just ask Albert Haynesworth, who got more in guaranteed money ($41 million) from the Redskins than the Titans’ whole package of $34 million that was on the table.

“I don’t know if it goes back to him having been involved in the cap and involved in being a negotiations guy and having to deal with numbers, and being involved with finance and math and applying that to the football side,” Dawson said. “Also, I think playing safety, you have to be able to process things. He played so many years in the league, and he got to see the whole picture, not just looking at one thing. I think that’s just how his mind works.”

Whatever it is, Reinfeldt believes that a team can consistently live within its salary cap means and be a playoff contender as well.

“I think you have to manage the cap carefully. I think you have to manage this year and future years,” Reinfeldt said. “I think you look toward building your team through the draft, and if you do those things right, and if you have an experienced, really qualified coaching staff, you can have the type of team that can make a serious playoff run every year. I think it’s been shown that it’s possible in the NFL, and that’s what we’d like to have here.”

Another difference is that Reinfeldt appears much more content to do his work behind the scenes, and hand-in-hand with Fisher, who after more than 14 years as head coach, is the face of the franchise.

It’s a relationship that works for both men and for the Titans organization.

[Mike McFan]

Good article.:thumbsup

[ms_zonian]

Nice read! Thanks for posting!

[PBV]

Great read! Terry McCormick for the win!

I love this part:
“I think we have a really good relationship. I think there’s a lot of mutual respect and good communication. There’s input by both sides,” he said. “We meet, we talk, and we kind of work through things. It’s amazing that if you take the time to work through things, you kind of all arrive at the same decision.”

So true.

[barnybyrd]

good read

[PBV]

Only 13 players have had 12 or more interceptions in one season. Reinfeldt is tied for 5th all-time. What an awesome accomplishment.

[tyrant28]

i tell you one thing, i am very glad that we have him as general manager. he sure knows what he is doing, and its starting to show.

[pookha]

good read though i have been wondering how his daughter is doing.