George still up in the air.

[Durango53]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans finished their final minicamp Thursday with Eddie George's future with the team still unsettled.

Coach Jeff Fisher is confident the team's career rushing leader will be on the roster when the Titans open training camp July 30.


"I think everyone expects it to be resolved by then," Fisher said.


The Titans have wanted to rework George's contract since February, but he declined and was paid a $1 million bonus in March. He agreed to talk after a meeting in June with Fisher and general manager Floyd Reese.

I think the longer this goes on the more they will have to keep Eddie because it will be harder to find a good RB to take his spot. I dont think they could find one right now...

[Tarminder]

I've read some articles about eddie on yahoo sports....and alot of people actually want him back, derek mason, air mcnair, and kenney have all publicy said that seeing eddie leave would be a disaster to this team.....i expect eddie to take a pay cut and this might be his last year in titan land unless he averages over 4.2 yards a carry.

[>TC<]

I just heard that by this afternoon, George and the Titans will sever ties. Negociations have broken down.


TC

[cxlx]

Good, cuz George deserve better. Hes the all time leading rusher for the Titans. If they Titans dont want him, some other team will. Good for you George. :) :thumbsup:

[TXRangers]

They released him yesterday.

It is said he is going to visit the Bucs, Eagles and Cowboys.

Man I hope my Eagles make him a offer he can't refuse. That is our missing link, we got the QB, we obtained a WR to go along with our young WR's, and we just need that bruiser RB that George is to balance the team out.

Not to mention the punishing D we always have.

Look out if we grab him. Eagles might take that next step.....I guy can wish can't he!!!!

Tex :fro:

[Panzram]

Titans release all-time leading rusher Eddie George
By LUCAS L. JOHNSON II, Associated Press Writer
July 22, 2004

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) -- After eight years and more than 10,000 yards rushing, Eddie George is without a job after being released by the Tennessee Titans as a salary cap casualty.

The team granted George's request Wednesday, releasing him in time to catch on with another squad for training camp.

``The best thing for Eddie George would be for him to finish his career here,'' general manager Floyd Reese said at a news conference. ``For a number of reasons, we were unable to get that done.''

George, who turns 31 in September, rejected the Titans' latest offer and asked for his release Monday.

The Titans wanted George back, but at a reduced salary. The team's final offer was $1.5 million in base salary -- considerably less than the $4.25 million he expected to make this season.

George, who has never missed a start in his career, was popular with Titans fans, but his production slipped in recent years. In 2000, he ran for 1,509 yards, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Last season, his average fell to 3.3 yards as he rushed for 1,031 yards.

The Titans' offense has also changed, and now emphasizes the passing of Steve McNair, the NFL's co-MVP in 2003.

Reese said there was a disagreement over a $1 million roster bonus the Titans paid George in March. The team considered that part of his salary for this year, but George considered it part of the previous deal.

George's agent, Lamont Smith, told The Associated Press on Wednesday night that the Titans did not consider the deals given to Deuce Staley by Pittsburgh or Charlie Garner by Tampa Bay.

Staley, 29, signed a five-year, $14 million contract with the Steelers that included a $4 million signing bonus. Garner, 32, inked a six-year, $20 million deal with the Buccaneers that also included a $4 million signing bonus.

With the 2005 and 2006 seasons unresolved in the Titans' offer, George also doubted he would be able to achieve some of the incentives.

``They can try to spin it however they want to,'' Smith said. ``The bottom line is they let a player go that gave his heart and soul to that team for the last eight years, and they didn't make a real effort to retain him.''

Reese said the team would prefer to sign free agent running back Antowain Smith, who reportedly visited the Titans on Tuesday. Smith, who has averaged 3.9 yards per carry during his seven-year career in New England and Buffalo, has won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.

``How do we replace (George)? Well, we're going to have to replace him with more than one guy,'' Reese said. ``It's going to be impossible to find one guy to do all the things Eddie did.''

Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he also expects the Titans' remaining backs, veteran Robert Holcombe and second-year player Chris Brown, to play a greater role in the offense.

``I think George gave this organization his heart and his soul, and I'll be forever grateful for that,'' Fisher said.

McNair said he'll miss his teammate and friend.

``He was a great asset to my success through the eight years that we were together because of his dedication and his toughness,'' McNair said. ``He's one of my guys that I looked up to. It's a very sad day for me.''

Brown said he learned a lot from George and he'll miss him, but he's ready for the added responsibility.

``It's sad to see him go, but everyone had to do what they had to do,'' Brown said. ``I welcome the opportunity if they now expect things out of me. I'm going to go out there and get the job done.''

Speculation on George's future with Tennessee began last season over whether the Titans, in deep salary cap trouble, could afford to keep the running back. Tennessee tried to free up salary cap space in February by reworking George's deal, which runs through 2006, but he declined.

George has said he wants to play for a team with a chance to win the Super Bowl, mentioning Tampa Bay, Dallas and his hometown of Philadelphia.

He is just the second NFL running back to rush for 10,000 yards while never missing a start, joining Jim Brown. Only Walter Payton (170) has started more consecutive regular-season games than George's 128.

Last December, George became the 17th running back to top 10,000 yards. He has 64 touchdowns for the franchise that drafted the 1995 Heisman Trophy winner out of Ohio State in April 1996.

``I could draft running backs for the next 30 years and I may never draft another Eddie George,'' Reese said.

[Durango53]

I see him signing with the Boys... Bill likes to have a solid running back and Eddie would give them that. And he would get the ball quite a bit.

If he signs with the eagles he would have to share the ball with T.O. and T.O. wouldnt like that....

[PissedPrincess]

The Pats should really make a run at him.

[Durango53]

The Pats should really make a run at him.
You are joking right?!?!?! :notme:

;)

[PissedPrincess]

Not at all. The Titans just signed Antwoin Smith. George would be a very useful 3rd down part time back.

[Durango53]

No way George would sign to be a 3rd down back.

He is still a 1000 yard guy. I dont think he missed a game last year.

The Titans saying he is old and done is a ploy to get him to cut is money down he wanted.

[Durango53]

Eddie George has never missed a start I just read...

He plays hurt and is still a number one guy in my book....

[Thedatch]

we have corey dillon. eddy george, seeing as he didnt want to take a paycut, still believes he is capable of playing fulltime. why would he sign for the pats as a 3rd down back? it wouldnt make sense. also, we've got kevin faulke right? or did we let him go. either way, i dont think george is willing to play part time

[PissedPrincess]

I didn't realize he still thinks he is a FT'er. He isn't.

[Thedatch]

i think he and antowain smith match up well together. just over 1k rushing, tough guys, not superfast, just strong.

[cxlx]

The Pats should really make a run at him.

Ya know, I was thinking the samething, and I bet you knew I was thinking that samething. ;)

I would LOVE to have Geroge on the Pats. Tough and hard working. But I do believe he would demand more money than the Pats are willing to spend. I think hes looking at Duece Staley numbers. Like $2-$3 mil a year.

[Durango53]

I didn't realize he still thinks he is a FT'er. He isn't.
Why do you say that?

He has never missed a game. He got over 1000 yards last year, and avg 3.3 yards per carry...

[Durango53]

source close to the negotiations revealed Thursday that the Cowboys and George have agreed in principle to a one-year, incentive-laden deal worth about $2 million, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports. George was on his way to Dallas Thursday and a deal could be announced as early as Friday. The agreement is contingent on George, who has a history of foot problems, passing a physical. This obviously muddies the picture with rookie Julius Jones, who is currently No. 1 on the depth chart, should George pass the physical and sign with the Cowboys.

[Thedatch]

heard this in sportcenter last night. looks like george is gonna be with parcells, which seems like a perfect fit. parcells wont have many problems with this guy i think.

[Durango53]

No george is a team player and that is what the Tuna likes...

[Thedatch]

eddie george has signed a deal with bill parcells and the cowboys, as we had talked about before. this means their running back pick in the draft will get less of a chance to start this year. we'll see how this works out.