After eight years and more than 10,000 yards rushing, Eddie George is without a job after being released by the Tennessee Titans as a salary cap casualty.
The team granted George's request Wednesday, releasing him in time to catch on with another squad for training camp.
"The best thing for Eddie George would be for him to finish his career here," general manager Floyd Reese said at a news conference. "For a number of reasons, we were unable to get that done."
George, who turns 31 in September, rejected the Titans' latest offer and asked for his release Monday.
The Titans wanted George back, but at a reduced salary. The team's final offer was $1.5 million in base salary — considerably less than the $4.25 million he expected to make this season.
George, who has never missed a start in his career, was popular with Titans fans, but his production slipped in recent years. In 2000, he ran for 1,509 yards, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Last season, his average fell to 3.3 yards as he rushed for 1,031 yards.
The Titans' offense has also changed, and now emphasizes the passing of Steve McNair, the NFL's co-MVP in 2003.
Reese said there was a disagreement over a $1 million roster bonus the Titans paid George in March. The team considered that part of his salary for this year, but George considered it part of the previous deal.
George's agent, Lamont Smith, told The Associated Press on Wednesday night that the Titans did not consider the deals given to Deuce Staley by Pittsburgh or Charlie Garner by Tampa Bay.
Staley, 29, signed a five-year, $14 million contract with the Steelers that included a $4 million signing bonus. Garner, 32, inked a six-year, $20 million deal with the Buccaneers that also included a $4 million signing bonus.
With the 2005 and 2006 seasons unresolved in the Titans' offer, George also doubted he would be able to achieve some of the incentives.
"They can try to spin it however they want to," Smith said. "The bottom line is they let a player go that gave his heart and soul to that team for the last eight years, and they didn't make a real effort to retain him."
Reese said the team would prefer to sign free agent running back Antowain Smith, who reportedly visited the Titans on Tuesday. Smith, who has averaged 3.9 yards per carry during his seven-year career in New England and Buffalo, has won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.
"How do we replace (George)? Well, we're going to have to replace him with more than one guy," Reese said. "It's going to be impossible to find one guy to do all the things Eddie did."
Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he also expects the Titans' remaining backs, veteran Robert Holcombe and second-year player Chris Brown, to play a greater role in the offense.
"I think George gave this organization his heart and his soul, and I'll be forever grateful for that," Fisher said.
McNair said he'll miss his teammate and friend.
"He was a great asset to my success through the eight years that we were together because of his dedication and his toughness," McNair said. "He's one of my guys that I looked up to. It's a very sad day for me."
Brown said he learned a lot from George and he'll miss him, but he's ready for the added responsibility.
"It's sad to see him go, but everyone had to do what they had to do," Brown said. "I welcome the opportunity if they now expect things out of me. I'm going to go out there and get the job done."
Speculation on George's future with Tennessee began last season over whether the Titans, in deep salary cap trouble, could afford to keep the running back. Tennessee tried to free up salary cap space in February by reworking George's deal, which runs through 2006, but he declined.
George has said he wants to play for a team with a chance to win the Super Bowl, mentioning Tampa Bay, Dallas and his hometown of Philadelphia.
He is just the second NFL running back to rush for 10,000 yards while never missing a start, joining Jim Brown. Only Walter Payton (170) has started more consecutive regular-season games than George's 128.
Last December, George became the 17th running back to top 10,000 yards. He has 64 touchdowns for the franchise that drafted the 1995 Heisman Trophy winner out of Ohio State in April 1996.
"I could draft running backs for the next 30 years and I may never draft another Eddie George," Reese said.
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The team granted George's request Wednesday, releasing him in time to catch on with another squad for training camp.
"The best thing for Eddie George would be for him to finish his career here," general manager Floyd Reese said at a news conference. "For a number of reasons, we were unable to get that done."
George, who turns 31 in September, rejected the Titans' latest offer and asked for his release Monday.
The Titans wanted George back, but at a reduced salary. The team's final offer was $1.5 million in base salary — considerably less than the $4.25 million he expected to make this season.
George, who has never missed a start in his career, was popular with Titans fans, but his production slipped in recent years. In 2000, he ran for 1,509 yards, averaging 3.7 yards per carry. Last season, his average fell to 3.3 yards as he rushed for 1,031 yards.
The Titans' offense has also changed, and now emphasizes the passing of Steve McNair, the NFL's co-MVP in 2003.
Reese said there was a disagreement over a $1 million roster bonus the Titans paid George in March. The team considered that part of his salary for this year, but George considered it part of the previous deal.
George's agent, Lamont Smith, told The Associated Press on Wednesday night that the Titans did not consider the deals given to Deuce Staley by Pittsburgh or Charlie Garner by Tampa Bay.
Staley, 29, signed a five-year, $14 million contract with the Steelers that included a $4 million signing bonus. Garner, 32, inked a six-year, $20 million deal with the Buccaneers that also included a $4 million signing bonus.
With the 2005 and 2006 seasons unresolved in the Titans' offer, George also doubted he would be able to achieve some of the incentives.
"They can try to spin it however they want to," Smith said. "The bottom line is they let a player go that gave his heart and soul to that team for the last eight years, and they didn't make a real effort to retain him."
Reese said the team would prefer to sign free agent running back Antowain Smith, who reportedly visited the Titans on Tuesday. Smith, who has averaged 3.9 yards per carry during his seven-year career in New England and Buffalo, has won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.
"How do we replace (George)? Well, we're going to have to replace him with more than one guy," Reese said. "It's going to be impossible to find one guy to do all the things Eddie did."
Titans coach Jeff Fisher said he also expects the Titans' remaining backs, veteran Robert Holcombe and second-year player Chris Brown, to play a greater role in the offense.
"I think George gave this organization his heart and his soul, and I'll be forever grateful for that," Fisher said.
McNair said he'll miss his teammate and friend.
"He was a great asset to my success through the eight years that we were together because of his dedication and his toughness," McNair said. "He's one of my guys that I looked up to. It's a very sad day for me."
Brown said he learned a lot from George and he'll miss him, but he's ready for the added responsibility.
"It's sad to see him go, but everyone had to do what they had to do," Brown said. "I welcome the opportunity if they now expect things out of me. I'm going to go out there and get the job done."
Speculation on George's future with Tennessee began last season over whether the Titans, in deep salary cap trouble, could afford to keep the running back. Tennessee tried to free up salary cap space in February by reworking George's deal, which runs through 2006, but he declined.
George has said he wants to play for a team with a chance to win the Super Bowl, mentioning Tampa Bay, Dallas and his hometown of Philadelphia.
He is just the second NFL running back to rush for 10,000 yards while never missing a start, joining Jim Brown. Only Walter Payton (170) has started more consecutive regular-season games than George's 128.
Last December, George became the 17th running back to top 10,000 yards. He has 64 touchdowns for the franchise that drafted the 1995 Heisman Trophy winner out of Ohio State in April 1996.
"I could draft running backs for the next 30 years and I may never draft another Eddie George," Reese said.
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