***NFL Cuts thread (Post Cuts Here)***

I heard Brady Smith DE Falcons

 

McNair and Henry remain Titans.

In a move that all but assures Steve McNair will be back with the Tennessee Titans in 2006, the team has declined to pay the prohibitive $50 million option bonus built into his contract, but paid the quarterback a $1 million non-exercise fee that boosts his compensation for the coming season to $10 million.

The maneuver, confirmed by league sources, means that the perennially cap-strapped Titans gained considerable relief for 2006 on McNair's contract. But it also voids the final three years of the contract and makes the 2006 season the final year on the deal.

Without a subsequent extension to the contract, McNair will be eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring.

McNair, 33, has a 2006 base salary of $9 million. Under terms of his deal, his base salaries would have been $11 million for 2007, $13 million for 2008 and $15 million for 2009. But those salaries would only have taken effect had the Titans paid the $50 million bonus to trigger the options on those three seasons, and they were never going to do that.

In fact, the staggering option bonus was built into the contract to force the two sides to the negotiating table after the 2005 campaign, which it has done. Although agreement on a new contract for McNair is not imminent, and general manager Floyd Reese indicated recently that the process could be a long one, the two sides will continue discussions.

Despite not paying the $50 million option bonus, the Titans are still carrying a cap charge of about $14 million for McNair, but seem able to fit that under their cap structure.

The team's first-round pick in the 1995 draft, McNair played well at times last season, didn't suffer from the kind of debilitating injuries of the past few seasons, and seemed re-energized by the potential of the offense installed by new coordinator Norm Chow. In 14 appearances, all starts, McNair completed 292 of 476 passes for 3,161 yards, with 16 touchdown passes and 11 interceptions as a rebuilding Titans team sputtered to a 4-12 record.

There has been much speculation in the offseason that Tennessee will use its first-round choice in this year's draft to select McNair's eventual successor, but that they want their longtime starter for at least a few more seasons to help groom his replacement. McNair has missed 12 starts the last three seasons because of injuries and that remains a matter of some concern.

In another cap-related matter, agent Hadley Engelhard confirmed to ESPN.com that tailback Travis Henry has restructured his contract to provide the Titans some cap relief. Henry, 27, missed four games in 2005 because of a violation of the NFL substance abuse policy. In 10 games, but just one start, Henry carried 88 times for 335 yards.

 

FOXSports.com has learned the a trio of Pro Bowlers in the Cowboys' La'Roi Glover and Chiefs' Will Shields and special teamer Gary Stills have each been told they have been released. Several other players are expected to be released today as the teams attempt to get under the $94.5 million salary cap for the new league year.

Many cuts are due to the fact that the union and league were unable to agree to a new CBA and thus increase this year's salary cap number above what was previously projected.
After the NFL owners today voted to reject the union's latest proposal, NFL Players Association chief Gene Upshaw told FOXSports.com, "We're too far apart. There won't be an extension. They (the owners) are unanimous so there's nothing to talk about. We'll go to the uncapped year."

Several players have called FOXSports.com today to voice concern over not having enough information as to why they are stalemated. While the players may agree with Upshaw's stance, several have claimed they simply do not feel in the loop, including several player reps. Upshaw's executive committee has been kept in the fold with regards to the dealings.

The player reps and Upshaw are not slated to meet on the current state of negotiations until next week. Until then, Bloody Thursday will continue.