A messy breakup in Nashville

Okay, so what do we do to the guy who basically built the Titans, the only guy left who came over from the former Houston Oilers, the guy who has thrown his health away to entertain us Titan fans every week for years? We leave him dangling in the wind just to tease our rival Baltimore Ravens.

While I appreciate the Titans playing hardball with the Ravens since they can?t even get a fourth-round pick in return for former league MVP Steve McNair, we owe him more than this.

First off, he was banned from the training facilities due to the contract negotiation breakdown. Seeing he counts $23 million toward the cap this year, the Titans were stuck given the fact had he been injured on Titan property they could have been liable for his large contract. However, having a trainer meet him at the door to tell him he was no longer welcome in the house he built was the wrong way to handle the situation. This entire scenario has been like a messy divorce.

Make no mistake, McNair will be a Raven this year and he will be the starter. He will also be on a run-first team, an offense reminiscent of the Titays? hey-day, where Eddie George carried the load leaving McNair to pick apart defenses tuned to the run. McNair has quarterbacked a pass-first team with no offensive line the past few years, leading to a decline in his numbers. We should also remember he will be reunited with his favorite target, Derrick Mason, when he gets to Baltimore. As bad as I hate to say it, the Ravens will be a perfect fit.

However, it is unfortunate his storied career in Nashville has to end under such bad circumstances. Even the original plan to hold McNair until a release date this summer is falling apart, as the injury to Michael Waddell will make the Titans turn to free agency to shore up the hole in the secondary left by the knee injury he sustained playing with his son at home.

To dip into the free agent market, they will have to free up the McNair money soon, seeing you don?t use draft picks as starting corners and safeties in the NFL. Tops on the list is Ty Law, followed by Ahmed Plummer. Both are free agents who would fit nicely in the Titan secondary, but both will come with price tags.

Folks should also remember the Titans will need money to sign their draft picks, the top of which are Vince Young and the steal of the draft, second-round pick and USC running back LenDale White.

Speaking of White, his arrival in camp this summer will likely not be good news for at least one member of the Titan backfield. Right now you have a stable of Chris Brown, Travis Henry, Jarret Peyton and Troy Flemng ? and this isn?t even counting rookies Damien Nash of Missouri and Quinton Ganther of Utah. The Titans will hold five backs maximum, maybe just four if they want an extra receiver, so this means two or three of the above list has to go.

Frankly, I have more expectations for the rookie White than any of the aforementioned players. Therefore, I wouldn?t be surprised to see the lower drafted rookies and perhaps one of the more veteran backs leaving Nashville at some point during camp this year. The salary cap is a savage thing. Every year, it plays no favorites. Sometimes it?ll even cut you if you?re at the top of your game.