Free agency is the equivalent of Christmas to many NFL franchises. Looking to improve their rosters with top-notch talent, desperate teams are more than willing to throw plenty of dollars in the direction of players that on paper, instantly make their squads better.
For instance, if recent reports are true, the Washington Redskins may be on the verge of making Albert Haynesworth a $100 million man once free agency starts on Friday. As far as I know, Kerry Collins won’t be offered a similar deal but as a result of the price-tag of Arizona’s Kurt Warner increasing, another team may feel inclined to spend a little extra to take KC away from Nashville.
Yep folks…free agency hasn’t even officially begun and already, the Tennessee Titans are faced with some important decisions to make in the immediate future.
I’m a huge fan of Albert Haynesworth. He possesses the formidable combination of the brute size and strength to stuff the run and the cat-like quickness needed to chase after helpless opposing quarterbacks. In a nutshell, he’s arguably the game’s most dominant defensive player.
However, as much as I’d love to see Albert sign a hefty new contract to remain a Titan for the remainder of his career, there is no way that the Titans are going to match the rumored $100 million deal with an average of $15 or $16 million per season that the Redskins may offer. Extending that type of money to one player just isn’t the Tennessee Titan way of doing things.
It would be tough to stomach Haynesworth’s potential departure if a team is able to snag him with a deal at or around the 4-year, $36 million offer that he rejected from the Titans. However, I’d have no regrets if Albert were to leave for the literally and figuratively greener pastures courtesy of a contract reaching the triple-digit stratosphere.
Meanwhile, if Kerry Collins is serious about being paid Kurt Warner-type money, then he must be doing cartwheels upon hearing about Warner’s new contract possibly exceeding the $10 million per season mark.
With Vince Young sitting on the bench, the Titans already have a fair amount of resources tied into the quarterback position. However, despite the prospect of paying two signal-callers starter-level salaries, I have a hard time picturing Collins playing in another NFL city next year.
It may be costly, but I’m still cautiously optimistic that the Titans will reward Collins with a somewhat lucrative ($8-10 million per) two-year contract.
What do you guys think? Should the Titans break the bank to retain Haynesworth? Is Kerry Collins worth $10 million per year?
Total Titans 
February 25, 2009 at 10:03 AM |
Simple answers: No and No.
February 25, 2009 at 10:17 AM |
No body is worth $100,000,000. Replace Haynesworth with some fresh guys or a free agent with a bit of experience. Think about it: if Albert gets hurt then he’s collecting all that money and we’re stuck with none. He certainly can get hurt, and I’d rather stick with Tony Brown and VandenBosch at a bargain price. Let the sorry-ass ‘Skins blow their whole wad on him and then revel in the fact that they won’t win their division for another 5-10 years.
Collins? Man he’s worth 3-4 million tops. There might be somebody out there willing to pay more, but if the contract were to include a performance incentive, say an extra mil for 10 wins or something for a division title, etc. would probably fit. I mean if he is good enough to start like he says, then he should be good enough to agree to some production based bonuses.
February 25, 2009 at 7:57 PM |
First of all I don’t think the Redskins will put up that kind of money to get Haynesworth, but if they do I say let him go. I would say 40 to 50 million is reasonable, but never 100 million.
Also, there is no way Collins should get paid that much. Warner put up amazing numbers while Collins just got us through. I am actually a fan of going back to VY. Give him a year to play well, and if he doesn’t its time to bring in another QB.
P.S. Drex after the combine I am a huge fan of Nicks. I know I said Heyward-Bey would be the better selection, but I don’t think that anymore. I actually have Nicks now rated as my #2 reciever behind Crabtree. I don’t know what I was thinking when I said he could fall to us in the second round.
February 25, 2009 at 9:29 PM |
Glad to see you’ve come around on Nicks, Brad 🙂
As for Heyward-Bey, chances are that he won’t even be available once the Titans are on the clock, thanks to his ridiculous forty-time at the combine.
With his size and speed combination, I wouldn’t be shocked if Heyward-Bey is the second receiver taken behind Crabtree.
February 25, 2009 at 10:45 PM |
The Titans are not going to mortgage its future for Haynesworth, and they are not going to break the bank to sign Collins, who was the 23rd-rated passer in 2008 and who wants to be paid the same as Kurt Warner, last season’s 3rd-rated passer, a three-time Super Bowl starting QB and future Hall-of-Famer.
February 25, 2009 at 11:31 PM |
Good bye and good luck to the both of them at those prices. Resign Chris Simms, let him battle with VY for the starting job and maybe draft a qb in the late rounds (Ingle Martin will end up available again if he isn’t already). I wouldn’t mind taking a chance on Dwayne Robertson. He has expressed interest in playing for TN and under the tutelage of Mr. Washburn could turn into what he was supposed to be.
February 26, 2009 at 11:02 AM |
I cannot imagine we will pay Collins more than 5-6M/yr.
I also believe we won’t go over 12M/yr for Al.
February 26, 2009 at 1:10 PM |
I’m a big fan of Quan Cosby…maybe in the 3rd/4th round! Anyway, I agree w/ Dave. If KC won’t sign a 2-yr. deal in the 5 mil range, ciao! Pay Simms and ;let him duke it out! And as for Kool-Aid, for $100 mil he’ll look great in maroon, yellow, and white!No way! either take what was offered and win or go to DC and play 3rd/4th string to the rest of the NFC East. DSimple: Play in TN and possibly win a championship, perhaps a few more pro bowls, and maybe the HOF. Go to DC and you’ll get none of that. You aren’t gonna catch McNabb, you aren’t going to get to Manning, but maybe you get some gimme’s form Romo. But pro bowls will be scarce and forget competing for a ring.