[EmpireWF]

Breaking news according to ESPNews is Steve McNair being "asked to leave Titans facilities." What does this mean?

Are they cutting him? Trading him?

[Lefty Noob]

This is one of the dumbest things I've ever heard. He was told that he "was not welcome" at the training facilities until his contract situation was resolved. Not welcome? The guy's working on a new deal to help out your team, and while that's going on, he still wants to train and get ready to play for you during the upcoming season? And you refuse to let him? What the hell?

If this is indeed going down the way it looks to be going down, then I sure hope McNair gets to play for another team this season, and the Titans brass should be ashamed for how they're handling this situation.

[rmjvol]

One thing I head was that it revolves around the possibility of him getting injured while on Titans property. They made it sound like the Titans are stuck with him & his salary cap hit if he were to get injured while at the Titans facilities.

Statement from McNair's agent said McNair was pretty hot over the issue. Imagine that

[Lefty Noob]

I think the bridge has officially been burned. So what winds up happening to McNair now, I wonder.

[MJHMarc]

I can see where they are coming from (even though I completely disagree). Rumors are that the Titans are projected to pick Leinhart in the draft. If they get a young gun, why do they need an old stud?

[cjg11582]

NFL management might be the most arrogant, self-serving contigency of people I have ever seen or heard. Why does the general fan base always side with management in every conflict they have with players?

[Lefty Noob]

Why does the general fan base always side with management in every conflict they have with players?

Seems like most people are siding with McNair in this one, cjg11582. He's been a class guy who year in and year out has given everything he has to the Oilers/Titans franchise, and it really stinks to see him essentially kicked to the curb like this. Didn't he even renegotiate once this offseason? What else do they want from the man?

[cjg11582]

Well fans do have their threshhold. It defies all practical reasoning to side with the Titans front office on this one. But generally speaking, if a player wants more money or has high expectations for a contract negotiation, he is referred to as "greedy" or "selfish". Yet the owners get away with highway robbery on a regualr basis. They are all billionaires, or damn close to being billionaires; and the fan base has antipathy for the players? What about the people who consistently raise ticket prices every year? Who dismantle dynasties and release legendary franchise players to save an extra dollar? That is all good and well, but I have a difficult time excepting that the owners (billionaires) get a free pass in the public eye and the players (millionaires) do not.
As to players being spoiled, most of the owners in The NFL inherit the team, or inherit a vast amount of wealth to buy a team. Its not like the owners came from humble upbringings. Essentially they are elder aris Hilton's without the slutty persona. They inherited their money and the players were genetically pre-disposed to become athletes.
Just a case in point, Jeremy Schapp was doing a report after the labor negotiation was settled and Taglibue announced his retirement. I believe his exact phrasing was, "How Taglibue got all of these independent minded owners to come together, I will never know". What a euphemism. So when the owners look to better their personal situation, they are "independent minded", yet when the players look to do the same, they are greedy, selfish, rich, spoiled athletes with no perspective. The hypocrisy astounds me.

[Aaron]

I have been a Titan fan for a long time. I pretty much thought that Steve Mcnair has been through for a while. He really hasnt made anything happen since 2003 and its going on 2006. I dont understand how people cant see that. The only way the Titans are going to get better is to get rid of him. I love what hes done for the team in his good years but a 24 million dollar penalty to keep him. COME ON? How many injuries has the guy had? He more than likely will get hurt this season. Then everyone would be saying Ooooh weee I wish they would have released him. Its business folks. Lets look at how he plays the game and not what he does at charity events. He doesnt run the ball anymore and thats what made him!!!!! I dont mean any harm just looking out for my Titans.

[Lefty Noob]

Hi, Aaron, and welcome to GoTeamsGo. Thanks for joining us here to talk a little Titans football. Nobody's going to jump on you here for stating your opinion - that's not what we're about here. If we disagree, we do so respectfully. So allow me to do just that

I don't think the issue here is whether or not the team winds up cutting ties with him. Ultimately, I think we all knew that they were going to anyway. It's the WAY that it's being done that bothers me. Kicking him out of the training facilities? Not a good way to repay his many years of service, and the many games we won for your franchise. Definitely though, business wise and in terms of wins and losses, it makes more sense for Tennessee to go with Volek instead of McNair.

[Aaron]

I understand where your coming from I do. Can you honestly believe that though? The media will take something that wasnt even nothing and turn it around to make someone look bad. In this case its on the GM. Look at how the media does our soldiers. Has anyone actually seen or heard Steve Mcnair on Tv saying that that was true that they told him to leave before practice? If it is true its cause if he gets hurt on the practice field then the Titans are really screwed. As fragile as he is now I would have done the same thing. He has won alot of ball games yes and I love Steve Mcnair. Hes just not whats best for the team anymore. Two seasons now he hasnt done much at all and you cant blame the recievers either due to the tapes I have of his throws. Theres always a time when you have to make a change. I really dont see the Titans cutting him though. If they do then I will be surprised. In my opinion he needs to be let go. I started seeing Steve mess up really bad this last two seasons. Two seasons ago Volek came in and did a GREAT job. Let the man play and win us some games before he loses his motivation for our team. I dont feel bad for Steve at all. Its just like a job that I have or anyone has. If your not performing then you just have to be replaced and its time we rebuild our Titans.

[Lefty Noob]

Now the players' union is getting involved. Today, the NFLPA filed a grievance against the Titans on McNair's behalf, claiming the team is in breach of contract.

"He has a contract and he wants to comply with that contract, especially that part that says he must remain in excellent physical condition and give the best of his ability to the club," NFLPA counsel Richard Berthelsen told the AP on Monday. "And they're trying to keep him from fulfilling that function for the sole reason they want him to renegotiate his contract so they have a better deal with him."

The article goes on to state that the NFL's collective bargaining agreement requires that players participate in their team's offseason conditioning programs and maintain good physical condition. Berthelsen claims that under these terms, McNair has a "right to be on club property to prepare for the preseason and the regular season and to meet his contractual obligations to become and to remain in excellent physical condition... if they're depriving him of that, they're breaching his contract and breaching the CBA."

So what happens if the Titans are found to be in the wrong. Does McNair become a free agent? Isn't that what they basically want anyway? Could they be forced to pay his deal in full, or offer compensation?

[EmpireWF]

It's ridiculous. Why don't the Titans want him as apart of their workouts? I assume the guy is healthy.

I guess this means they really don't want Vince Young afterall.

[Lefty Noob]

McNair's agent came out yesterday and said that the team has "instructed him to work out somewhere else other than their facility." So they want him in shape - just not at their training center. I guess I can see a team wanting to make sure that a player they really don't want anymore doesn't cost them $23.46 million by getting hurt on team property, but I still don't like it after all he's done for them over the years.