Inside Albert Haynesworth's Deal

Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth will become an unrestricted free agent in 2009 if any of the following happens in 2008:

- Haynesworth makes the Pro Bowl
- Plays 60% of the Titans' defensive snaps
- Plays 53% of the Titans' defensive snaps and they win 10 games
- Plays 53% of the Titans' defensive snaps and they finish in the Top 5 in total defense

All in all, it's not a lock that Haynesworth will freely depart Nashville after 2008. The Browns and Jets traded for Shaun Rogers and Kris Jenkins, and they could threaten Haynesworth's position as a Pro Bowl defensive tackle in the AFC.

Jim Wyatt notes that Haynesworth played in 53.5% of the defensive snaps a season ago, so any nagging injury could prevent him from reaching that benchmark. Even if Haynesworth does eclipse it, the ultra-competitive AFC South could keep the Titans from winning 10 games.

Haynesworth's departure could hinge on Titans quarterback Vince Young, who looked like an experienced veteran when Tennessee opened camp yesterday.

NFL News and Notes

New England Patriots cornerback Fernando Bryant is the best bet to replace departed Pro Bowler Asante Samuel. Patriots tight end Ben Watson's ankle is passing the eyeball test.

There doesn't appear to be a quick resolution to Buffalo Bills left tackle Jason Peters' holdout. Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny's dorm room is short on electronics.

Miami Dolphins second-round defensive end Phillip Merling agreed to a contract on Friday, leaving second-round quarterback Chad Henne as the team's only unsigned draft pick. Only 36 Dolphins remain from the 2007 roster.

Steve Serby of the New York Post thinks the New York Jets should "Go 4 It" and trade for Brett Favre. The presently retired quarterback isn't even on the Jets roster, and he's stated that he's not interested in going there, but he managed to overshadow Day One of the Vernon Gholston Era.

Cincinnati Bengals running back Kenny Irons failed his physical, which prompted the Bengals to waive the second-round pick from 2007. Bengals 2008 second-round wide receiver Jerome Simpson agreed to a contract.

Cleveland Browns nose tackle Shaun Rogers intercepted a Brady Quinn pass during team drills on Friday. What do Browns safety Gary Baxter and former Chicago Bears wide receiver Wendell Davis have in common? They're the only players to suffer two torn patella tendons on the same play.

6,625 Baltimore Ravens took in the first full-squad practice on Friday. Ravens linebackers Edgar Jones and Antwan Barnes are filling holding Terrell Suggs spot on the defense.

Pittsburgh Steelers top picks Rashard Mendenhall and Limas Sweed agreed to contracts on Friday. Mendenhall's contract is for five years and is worth a maximum of $12.55 million dollars.

For the first time in franchise history, the Houston Texans had winning quarterback play in 2007. Texans defensive end Rosevelt Colvin will play opposite Mario Williams on passing downs. Texans first-round tackle Duane Brown signed a five-year, $9.1M contract that could be worth up to $11.5 million.

Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Matt Jones is embarrassed over his arrest earlier this month for cocaine possession.

Jim Sorgi is temporarily "the guy" in Indianapolis. Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison looked good during the team's first training camp practice on Friday.

Denver Broncos guard Montrae Holland showed up overweight to training camp. Former Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer received a call from Jon Gruden after the Buccaneers dragged him in front of an arbitrator to get $3.5 million out of him. Denver Post columnist Woody Paige interviewed Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan, who hopefully had a splash guard.

Ten Kansas City Chiefs rookies are expected to play important roles this season. Lightning and a tornado siren shortened the Chiefs first afternoon practice.

San Diego Chargers linebacker Stephen Cooper had a rough off-season. When September rolls around, Chargers linebacker Matt Wilhelm or safety Eric Weddle will be wearing the helmet with the headset.

The Oakland Raiders (finally) released running back LaMont Jordan. Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha sought advice from Charles Woodson before deciding to report to training camp.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart is the starter, and that's not likely to change anytime soon, writes Kent Somers in the Arizona Republic. No progress has made in contract talks between the Cardinals and Kurt Warner.

Seattle Seahawks first-round defensive end Lawrence Jackson agreed to a 5-year, $11.25 million dollar contract on Friday. The Seahawks move from their present Kirkland, WA facilities, to a massive complex in Renton, WA, right on the shores of Lake Washington, will begin next Saturday. The Seahawks first practice at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center will be August 18.

St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson is officially a training camp holdout. Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch thinks Jackson has proved his point and should show up to training camp to show some good faith. Rams rookie wide receiver Keenan Burton put on a show on Friday.

Nobody is happier to be on the field than San Francisco 49ers linebacker Manny Lawson, who missed most of 2007 with a torn ACL. 49ers quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan is already the odd man out.

The Atlanta Falcons quarterback competition will be wide open. Falcons first-round tackle Sam Baker agreed to a five-year contract on Friday, while second-round linebacker Curtis Lofton signed a four-year deal.

Former Falcons head coach Bobby Petrino feels more at home in the collegiate world, as if anyone in Atlanta cares.

Carolina Panthers first-round tackle Jeff Otah agreed to a five-year contract on Friday night. Fellow first-rounder Jonathan Stewart remains the team's lone unsigned draft pick, but the two sides are reportedly very close to an agreement. For the first time in 23 years, Mike Rucker isn't playing football.

New Orleans Saints running back Reggie Bush expects to have a breakout season. Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey has felt like a "walk-on" since arriving in New Orleans.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers first-round cornerback Aqib Talib agreed to a five-year, $14 million dollar contract. The Brett Favre issue looms over the Buccaneers as they open training camp today. Buccaneers tackle Luke Petitgout might begin training camp on the PUP list.

Chicago Bears return specialist/wide receiver Devin Hester reported to camp after a two-day holdout, but has a bum hamstring that'll keep on the trainer's table. Bears rookie Kellen Davis is turning heads early in Bears camp, primarily with his blocking.

Detroit Lions defensive end Jared DeVries will be fighting to hang onto his starting job. Lions rookie linebacker Jordon Dizon regrets not divulging his arrest to the team.

Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette reports that the Packers offensive line is starting to gel. Packers general manager Ted Thompson is convinced quarterback Aaron Rodgers can be successful.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson isn't concerned about the talk linking Favre to the Vikings. Vikings defensive end Jared Allen was impressive in pass-rush drills on the first day of training camp.

The Dallas Cowboys waived wide receiver Terry Glenn. After starters Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton, the Cowboys are paper thin at wide receiver.

Sam Hurd (24 career receptions) is the most experienced of the rest of the wideouts, but keep an eye on former University of Washignton quarterback Isaiah Stanback and undrafted free agent Danny Amendola, who might be Wes Welker's clone.

Cowboys first-round running back Felix Jones and cornerback Mike Jenkins agreed to five-year contracts on Friday.

New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress isn't practicing, and Tom Rock of Newsday wonders if Burress' inactivity is contract-related. Giants rookie safety Kenny Phillips is eyeing a starting position.

Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard says he hired Drew Rosenhaus because he "didn't want this thing (his contract) to get overlooked". Lito 1, Eagles 0.

Washington Redskins safety Reed Doughty has had to overcome a myriad of obstacles to get to where he is, which is competing with Stuart Schweigart for a starting job. Both of the Redskins rookie wide receivers will miss today's intra-squad scrimmage with hamstring injuries.

Titans, Haynesworth Reach One-Year Deal

The Tennessee Titans and franchised defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth have reached a one-year deal that will get the All-Pro into training camp on time.

The deal stipulates that if Haynesworth reaches certain incentives, he'll become an unrestricted free agent in 2009. For Haynesworth to agree to the deal, the incentives are likely very minimal and should be easily attained.

Haynesworth is scheduled to earn $7.25 million dollars this season.

Titans Could Honor Haynesworth's Request

Tennessee Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt indicated on Monday that the team may be willing to honor franchised defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth's request that he not be franchised again in 2009 in exchange for the All-Pro defensive tackle signing the one-year tender and reporting to training camp on time.

Reinfeldt, who joined the Titans after years working in the Seattle Seahawks front office, has some familiarity with the franchise tag (Walter Jones played under the franchise tag from 2002-2004), as well as with agreements like the one Haynesworth is proposing. Reinfeldt was still with the Seahawks in 2005 when Shaun Alexander and the team reached a similar arrangement. Alexander was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player during a season where the Seahawks reached the Super Bowl.

The Titans have until July 15th to reach a long-term agreement with Haynesworth.

Albert Haynesworth Reaches Out

Franchised Tennessee Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth has a compromise for the Titans: He'll show up for training camp if the team agrees to not place the franchise tag on him in 2009.

"We have spoken several times in the past few weeks and our conversations have recently focused on an idea that I proposed in March which would require Albert to sign the tender but in return the Titans would agree not to use the franchise tag on him again next year," Haynesworth's agent Chad Speck wrote in an e-mail to The Tennessean.

By signing the one-year tender, Haynesworth would be guaranteed the $7.25 million dollar salary in 2008, but would have no guarantees beyond this season. By agreeing to report to training camp without a long-term deal, Haynesworth would be assuming the injury risk. In return, Haynesworth would be granted free agency in 2009.

As Speck notes, there is a precedent for this sort of deal. Shaun Alexander, Nate Clements, Asante Samuel and Lance Briggs reached similar agreements with their teams after being designated as a franchise player. Two of the four, Alexander and Briggs, re-signed with their original teams.

Titans Tag Haynesworth

As expected, the Tennessee Titans have placed the franchise tag on defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.

Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt is hopeful that the two sides can reach a long-term agreement. "This is a step in the process with Albert. This designation gives us more time to work on a long-term contract with him. He was a dominant player for us this past season and one of the key components to our success on defense.”

In six seasons, Haynesworth has started 60 of the 76 games he's played in and is coming off a career-high season for QB sacks (6.0). If a long-term contract can not be reached, he will make $7.25 million in guaranteed salary in 2008.