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Saturday, 07/02/05
Jaguars are top suitor for Buffalo RB Henry
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer
At least for the time being, the Bills have a little more bargaining power in trade talks regarding running back Travis Henry. They can thank another running back — Jacksonville's Fred Taylor — for that.
Taylor raised more questions about his availability for this season when he admitted his left knee injury from last season was worse than initially thought. In the coming weeks, the Jaguars will know a lot more about Taylor's immediate future.
The Titans, meanwhile, probably have no choice but to sit back and wait. They remain interested in trading for Henry, but the Bills now know there's another team that might need him more — and might be willing to give up the third-round pick they want.
"In a month it certainly could impact things," Titans General Manager Floyd Reese said. "It sounds like (Taylor) just started (testing his knee) and they are going to wait and see where he ends up.
"I think in Buffalo's situation, they can certainly wait and see what happens there, too. They have a fall back, which would be us, and now it is a matter of getting something else."
The Titans and Bills have been involved in trade talks since the draft. So far, Reese hasn't been willing to part with a third-rounder for Henry, though the teams have discussed a scenario where the Titans would give up a fourth-rounder that would turn into a third if Henry reached certain numbers in his contract. But the Bills want a straight third.
"Time is on their side and there is no pressure on them, unless the coach just decides he wants him out of there," Reese said. "They can just sit and wait and I don't know how long they are going to be willing to wait."
Another player being shopped in the trade market is Seattle running back Shaun Alexander, but he's looking for a contract that would probably include a signing bonus in the $15-$18 million range.
For the Titans to land Henry, they'd need to work out a long-term contract as part of the trade. Henry currently has just one year remaining on his deal with the Bills.
Luv ya blue: Keep those Columbia blue jerseys close to the front of the closet this fall.
The Titans will wear them again in 2005 — three times to be exact.
Titans owner Bud Adams personally selected the team's preseason game against the Packers (Sept. 1), and the regular season home games against the Raiders (Oct. 30) and Texans (Dec. 11) as the three games.
The NFL is allowing teams to wear the alternate jerseys three times this season. The Titans first wore their Columbia blue jerseys in 2003, and then wore them again last year as well.
The Titans have typically worn dark blue jerseys at home and white jerseys on the road, but the NFL began allowing teams to wear alternate jerseys in 2003. The old Houston Oilers used to wear light blue uniforms.
Another pick?: The NFL's supplemental draft is scheduled for July 14, and there's at least one player the Titans have an eye on.
The Titans already have a pretty good idea about Southern California defensive tackle Manuel Wright because of offensive coordinator Norm Chow's days with him. Another player who the Titans might like more, however, is UNLV cornerback Charles Ealy, who recently lost his college eligibility.
"He has a workout on (July) 8th, so we'll for sure send somebody out to see him," Reese said.
No. 3 QB: Reese said the Titans probably won't add another quarterback to the mix any time soon, although the team is looking for someone behind Steve McNair and Billy Volek.
A year ago, the Titans signed veteran Doug Johnson, but he's now with the Browns. The team still has four undrafted quarterbacks on the roster, but through the June camps none made a great impression.
"It is one of those deals where you have to wait for someone to become available," Reese said. "I am going to guess we'll probably wait for a veteran" to be released later on.
Tickets: Single-game tickets for this season will go on sale next Saturday at 10 a.m. Fans have the opportunity to buy tickets online at ticketmaster.com, on the telephone at 615-255-9600, or at the Coliseum box office that day.
The Titans have sold out every home game since moving into the Coliseum in 1999. This offseason, there was a 98 percent renewal rate for season ticket holders. •
Jim Wyatt covers the Titans for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 259-8015 or jwyatt@tennessean.com
Jaguars are top suitor for Buffalo RB Henry
By JIM WYATT
Staff Writer
At least for the time being, the Bills have a little more bargaining power in trade talks regarding running back Travis Henry. They can thank another running back — Jacksonville's Fred Taylor — for that.
Taylor raised more questions about his availability for this season when he admitted his left knee injury from last season was worse than initially thought. In the coming weeks, the Jaguars will know a lot more about Taylor's immediate future.
The Titans, meanwhile, probably have no choice but to sit back and wait. They remain interested in trading for Henry, but the Bills now know there's another team that might need him more — and might be willing to give up the third-round pick they want.
"In a month it certainly could impact things," Titans General Manager Floyd Reese said. "It sounds like (Taylor) just started (testing his knee) and they are going to wait and see where he ends up.
"I think in Buffalo's situation, they can certainly wait and see what happens there, too. They have a fall back, which would be us, and now it is a matter of getting something else."
The Titans and Bills have been involved in trade talks since the draft. So far, Reese hasn't been willing to part with a third-rounder for Henry, though the teams have discussed a scenario where the Titans would give up a fourth-rounder that would turn into a third if Henry reached certain numbers in his contract. But the Bills want a straight third.
"Time is on their side and there is no pressure on them, unless the coach just decides he wants him out of there," Reese said. "They can just sit and wait and I don't know how long they are going to be willing to wait."
Another player being shopped in the trade market is Seattle running back Shaun Alexander, but he's looking for a contract that would probably include a signing bonus in the $15-$18 million range.
For the Titans to land Henry, they'd need to work out a long-term contract as part of the trade. Henry currently has just one year remaining on his deal with the Bills.
Luv ya blue: Keep those Columbia blue jerseys close to the front of the closet this fall.
The Titans will wear them again in 2005 — three times to be exact.
Titans owner Bud Adams personally selected the team's preseason game against the Packers (Sept. 1), and the regular season home games against the Raiders (Oct. 30) and Texans (Dec. 11) as the three games.
The NFL is allowing teams to wear the alternate jerseys three times this season. The Titans first wore their Columbia blue jerseys in 2003, and then wore them again last year as well.
The Titans have typically worn dark blue jerseys at home and white jerseys on the road, but the NFL began allowing teams to wear alternate jerseys in 2003. The old Houston Oilers used to wear light blue uniforms.
Another pick?: The NFL's supplemental draft is scheduled for July 14, and there's at least one player the Titans have an eye on.
The Titans already have a pretty good idea about Southern California defensive tackle Manuel Wright because of offensive coordinator Norm Chow's days with him. Another player who the Titans might like more, however, is UNLV cornerback Charles Ealy, who recently lost his college eligibility.
"He has a workout on (July) 8th, so we'll for sure send somebody out to see him," Reese said.
No. 3 QB: Reese said the Titans probably won't add another quarterback to the mix any time soon, although the team is looking for someone behind Steve McNair and Billy Volek.
A year ago, the Titans signed veteran Doug Johnson, but he's now with the Browns. The team still has four undrafted quarterbacks on the roster, but through the June camps none made a great impression.
"It is one of those deals where you have to wait for someone to become available," Reese said. "I am going to guess we'll probably wait for a veteran" to be released later on.
Tickets: Single-game tickets for this season will go on sale next Saturday at 10 a.m. Fans have the opportunity to buy tickets online at ticketmaster.com, on the telephone at 615-255-9600, or at the Coliseum box office that day.
The Titans have sold out every home game since moving into the Coliseum in 1999. This offseason, there was a 98 percent renewal rate for season ticket holders. •
Jim Wyatt covers the Titans for The Tennessean. He can be reached at 259-8015 or jwyatt@tennessean.com