Adams on George: 'I don't think he'll be with us'
May 26, 2004
SportsLine.com wire reports
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Eddie George may be in his last week with the Tennessee Titans.
Bud Adams, the team's owner, said at the NFL meetings in Jacksonville that George could be a salary cap casualty on June 1.
"The closer we get to June 1st, you know, I don't think he'll be with us," Adams told The Tennessean. "I'll be watching someone else for the Titans. That's not what we intended, but it looks like that's the way it's going to be."
The 30-year-old running back is battling NFL salary cap economics. George would count $7.3 million against the cap this year with a $4.25 million salary.
Teams have an incentive to release veteran players on June 1 or later because they can spread the salary cap hit over two years instead of having it all count this season.
George previously said he didn't "want to wait until July or August to find something out" from the Titans, the only franchise he has ever played for.
Titans general manager Floyd Reese wanted to rework George's contract in February to reduce his cap figure, but George and agent Lamont Smith refused.
Given a $1 million roster bonus in March, George has been waiting for a new offer.
Smith also represents Titans cornerback Samari Rolle and wide receiver Derrick Mason.
"But Lamont doesn't seem to want to talk," Adams said. "We asked him to help us get under the cap. We asked him to do some things with Eddie, Samari and Derrick Mason, but we didn't get anything done with the three of them because I guess he thought he had us over the barrel."
George, a four-time Pro Bowler, is the 17th running back in NFL history to top 10,000 yards. His 10,009 yards ranks seventh among all backs through their first eight seasons.
But the 1995 Heisman Trophy winner had only two 100-yard games in 2003, and his 3.3-yard average per carry was the second-lowest of his career.
AP NEWS
The Associated Press News Service
Copyright 2004, The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved
http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/7361966