Clash of the Titans
Imagine being an NFL veteran entering his 12th career year at Quarterback (which many would argue is the most important position on the field) who just 2 seasons ago shared MVP honors in 2003 with the Colts’ Peyton Manning. Your play on the field and your tough-guy image off of it have been driving forces for the success of your franchise since ‘98 whose recent history boasts being 1 yard short of sending the Super Bowl into overtime for the first time in its history.
Despite your likeness being a guaranteed candidate to reside not only in a picture frame in the franchise’s front office as an inspirational figurehead within the organization, but a bust immortalizing you in the NFL Hall of Fame, while you are at the team’s facilities preparing to pour your heart and soul for a 12th time to bring a second coming for the Tennessee Titans, they ask you to cease working out at their facility because they’re afraid of the $9 million salary cap number that you represent.
Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to the recent events surrounding Titan legend, QB Steve McNair, who filed a grievance with the organization who has contractually bound him to remain physically fit in order to perform the duties of a featured NFL passer while also preventing him from doing the same in such a matter that eliminates the team’s liability should he suffer injury participating in activities outside of the Titans’ complex. (Think Cleveland Browns’ TE Kellan Winslow WITHOUT the irresponsibility of an Evil Kinevil impersonation on a motorcycle)
This on top of implications of trading/releasing and driving him to the Baltimore Ravens after years of distinguished service – How much disrespect can an NFL hero and loyal Tennessee fans take? (That’s right, folks . . . I just dropped the “D”–bomb).
In all fairness, one can’t COMPLETELY blame the Titans organization for getting into this situation. A trendy practice in contract negotiation with players on the back end of their careers as McNair is being a 33-year-old as of February is to offer up players 5 or 6-year contracts when it is expected they’ll last only 2 or 3 years more in the league. To increase the contract’s value without spending any money, teams will balloon the salary numbers for the years the player isn’t expected to see action . . . like say $9 million which represents close to a 10th of the team’s salary cap on its own.
While no one could have predicted the Titans’ logical hypothesis on McNair’s longevity to actually be wrong considering the quarterback’s reckless style of play, we CAN blame them for the way they handled the interim where they neglected to renegotiate properly and the after math where they exiled a king from his palace. OK . . . so that is a little over-dramatic – unless you happen to be a Titan fan.
Regardless of the arbiter’s ruling, it is the Titans who have a tough decision to make. Pay Steve McNair and keep him in Tennessee to mentor 1st round draft pick, Vince Young, and help evolve him into the future of this franchise or get rid of McNair by way of trade or waivers to increase cap space to pay the next generation of players to preclude hold-outs that would keep these rookies attending training camps which are crucial to their development. Should the franchise decide the later option, a Titan will fall from the illustrious ranks of the roster list while Tennessee will fall every time they visit or host Baltimore at the hands of an NFL Titan.