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The Tennessee Titans must allow Steve McNair to work out on their property as long as he has a contract with the team, an arbitrator ruled Wednesday.
Arbitrator John Feerick heard more than seven hours of testimony May 16 on charges that the Titans breached McNair's contract by barring him from working out at the team's headquarters. The union filed the grievance, arguing he should be allowed to work out on the property or be released.
General Counsel Richard Berthelsen called it a victory for the NFL Players Association and McNair, but he said it was unfortunate they had to go through this process.
"We've said since the beginning that this was a clear violation of his contract with the club," Berthelsen said.
The Titans originally told McNair on April 3 he wasn't allowed to work out on the property because they feared the liability of a $23.46 million salary cap hit if McNair got hurt. Negotiations to reduce that cap number have been nearly nonexistent.
The Titans had no immediate comment Wednesday.
Tennessee allowed McNair's agent, Bus Cook, to talk with the Baltimore Ravens during the NFL draft in April after the team drafted Vince Young of Texas with the No. 3 overall pick. Cook worked out a $12 million deal, but a trade fell through when the Titans called the Ravens' offer insignificant.
McNair is under contract for the 2006 season and due a salary of $9 million.
The 33-year-old McNair has won more games for the Titans than any other quarterback and helped lead the team to the playoffs in four of five seasons through 2003.
But releasing him would create some much-needed salary cap space for a team that doesn't have enough room to start signing its rookies. The team traditionally doesn't begin signing rookies until July.
After slashing payroll and fielding the NFL's youngest team last season, the Titans finished 4-12. McNair played in 14 games, but his quarterback rating was 18th in the league at 82.4.
Source: AP
Arbitrator John Feerick heard more than seven hours of testimony May 16 on charges that the Titans breached McNair's contract by barring him from working out at the team's headquarters. The union filed the grievance, arguing he should be allowed to work out on the property or be released.
General Counsel Richard Berthelsen called it a victory for the NFL Players Association and McNair, but he said it was unfortunate they had to go through this process.
"We've said since the beginning that this was a clear violation of his contract with the club," Berthelsen said.
The Titans originally told McNair on April 3 he wasn't allowed to work out on the property because they feared the liability of a $23.46 million salary cap hit if McNair got hurt. Negotiations to reduce that cap number have been nearly nonexistent.
The Titans had no immediate comment Wednesday.
Tennessee allowed McNair's agent, Bus Cook, to talk with the Baltimore Ravens during the NFL draft in April after the team drafted Vince Young of Texas with the No. 3 overall pick. Cook worked out a $12 million deal, but a trade fell through when the Titans called the Ravens' offer insignificant.
McNair is under contract for the 2006 season and due a salary of $9 million.
The 33-year-old McNair has won more games for the Titans than any other quarterback and helped lead the team to the playoffs in four of five seasons through 2003.
But releasing him would create some much-needed salary cap space for a team that doesn't have enough room to start signing its rookies. The team traditionally doesn't begin signing rookies until July.
After slashing payroll and fielding the NFL's youngest team last season, the Titans finished 4-12. McNair played in 14 games, but his quarterback rating was 18th in the league at 82.4.
Source: AP