Titans trade linebacker to Colts, cut 10

A team that slashed at least $27 million this offseason to get below the NFL salary cap chose youth over veterans Saturday in their final roster cuts and traded away linebacker Rocky Calmus to AFC South rival Indianapolis for an undisclosed draft pick.

Coach Jeff Fisher had warned the Titans’ roster decisions would be influenced by the team’s need to create enough room under the cap to fill a practice squad and leave the flexibility in case of injuries.

“We have been put in the position to keep some younger players with potential as opposed to not afforded the luxury of keeping veteran backups,” he said. “However, we do feel the players we have kept give us with their potential the best chance of winning.”

The Titans waived veteran quarterback Chris Redman and safety Arturo Freeman along with Jarrett Payton, the son of the late Walter Payton. They waived 10 to reach 53 with a one-game exemption for left tackle Brad Hopkins who is suspended for the opener Sept. 11 at Pittsburgh.

The trade of Calmus wasn’t unexpected because the third-round pick in 2002 out of Oklahoma lost his starting job at middle linebacker in 2004 when injuries limited him to four games. Brad Kassell took over the job and never gave it back.

Fisher said Calmus had a good training camp. But the Titans have youth with Robert Reynolds, a fifth-round pick in 2004, and Cody Spencer.

“We took advantage of need, and it’s an unusual need because you don’t typically make a trade in your division,” Fisher said.

The Titans kept only two quarterbacks — Steve McNair and backup Billy Volek — for a second straight year.

They added veteran Doug Johnson almost immediately after the final cuts in 2004, but Fisher left open the possibility the Titans might stick with two quarterbacks at least for their opener Sept. 11 at Pittsburgh.

They might bounce between two and three this season, a risk that’s easier considering how healthy McNair has been this preseason. Fisher said they want to identify a quarterback they can develop on the practice squad and he also told Redman they may bring him back.

“As far as having one on the active roster, we have some work yet to do,” Fisher said.

The Titans signed Redman on Aug. 22, and the former third-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens played briefly in the final two exhibitions. Freeman was claimed off waivers from Green Bay on Aug. 15.

Payton, who spent 2004 on the Titans’ practice squad, lost out to fifth-round draft pick Damien Nash despite having a better carry per average per rush than the rookie. He led NFL Europe with seven touchdowns earlier this year but remains eligible for the practice squad.

The Titans kept four tight ends with undrafted rookie Gregg Guenther earning a roster spot.

The 6-foot-8 Guenther was signed July 25 and spent his last year at Southern California playing basketball instead of football, but he is familiar with coordinator Norm Chow’s offense. He led the Titans with 14 catches for 120 yards in the preseason.

“He’s done a real nice job throughout camp, understands what to do and how to do it and made a lot of plays for us,” Fisher said. “We just feel like the tight end is a bigger part of our offense right now.”

Also waived were running back Larry Croom, safety Marcus Randall, safety Normal LeJeune, defensive tackle Marcus White and fullback Robert Douglas.

They also waived two players who hadn’t been cleared of injuries from NFL Europe in safety Sam Massey and running back Joe Smith.