INDIANAPOLIS — All the talk has been about Albert Haynesworth, but with free agency less than a week away the Titans haven't re-signed quarterback Kerry Collins either.
General Manager Mike Reinfeldt expressed optimism Friday that a deal would be worked out, but said the Titans would probably be willing to match any offers Collins might receive if he hits the market Feb. 27.
Reinfeldt said he's scheduled to meet this weekend with the quarterback's agent, David Dunn, at the NFL Combine.
"I would think we would be willing to pay him whatever anybody else would be willing to pay him. So I think he would be more likely to come back,'' Reinfeldt said. "We would like Kerry Collins back. He did a heck of a job for us last year. It is hard to speak for him. But I think he is comfortable in Tennessee and likes his teammates, the coach, and the city.''
Reinfeldt acknowledged there's a possibility Collins might wait until another older veteran quarterback — Arizona's Kurt Warner — signs. That would give Collins a better gauge of his value. Warner, 37, and Collins, 36, had career-resurrecting seasons in 2008, with Collins going 12-3 in the regular season and Warner guiding the Cardinals to the Super Bowl.
There are indications Collins is seeking a multiyear contract in the $7 million- $8 million range, though those numbers are higher than what the Titans have in mind.
Said Titans Coach Jeff Fisher: "We have every intention of getting Kerry back under contract. Whether that happens by next Friday I don't know, but we'd certainly like to have it happen."
Reinfeldt and Fisher touched on a variety of other topics during their visit to the Combine on Friday:
>> Haynesworth. The Titans have contingency plans if they lose the two-time All-Pro but haven't given up hope of re-signing him, Fisher said.
"I think Albert, not if all things were equal, if they were close to equal, I think he would prefer to come back,'' Fisher said. "He has a great relationship with (defensive line coach) Jim Washburn. We do a lot of different things with him and there is no guarantee if he does go someplace else he would be given the opportunity to do the same things we do defensively.''
Haynesworth is looking to become the NFL's highest paid defensive player, with an average salary of around $12 million over six years. The Titans dangled a contract in the four-year, $36-million range, but are expected to sweeten that offer. Last month Haynesworth told The Tennessean he wouldn't give the Titans a "hometown discount."
Reinfeldt is scheduled to meet with Haynesworth's agent Chad Speck here this weekend.
Vince Young. While Fisher made it clear he wants Collins to return as the starter in 2009, he said Young made it clear he'd like to regain the job.
"I visited with Vince last week and we had a good conversation,'' Fisher said. "He's had a little distance between the season and he's anxious to come back.
"He wanted to know what he had to do to earn his starting job back and he is willing to do whatever it takes. He has a good frame of mind and is willing to compete.''
Young, the No. 3 pick in the 2006 draft, was benched after the 2008 opener. Before that he started 28 of 30 games in his first two NFL seasons.
Young, who spent a lot of last offseason attending classes at the University of Texas, plans to work out at Baptist Sports Park and be a part of the team's offseason conditioning program when it begins on March 26, Fisher said.
Asked what Young needs to do to win his starting job back, Fisher said: "Work to improve his fundamentals and do whatever any other player does.''
Play clock. Six weeks later, Fisher said he hasn't been able to get the playoff loss to the Ravens — and a blown call in that game — out of his mind.
Rules regarding the 40-second play clock have been discussed during the league's competition committee meetings here.
"You mean the 43-second play clock?'' Fisher, co-chairman of the committee, said with a smile. "Yeah, we discussed it.''
Replays showed the Ravens got away with snapping the ball late on a critical third down late in the game. They ended up with a first down and drove for the game-winning field goal.
"It was an unfortunate mistake that took place," Fisher said, "but the committee is not going to overreact to those one-time things that happen during the course of the year.''
Craig Hentrich. The Titans are still waiting to hear from punter Craig Hentrich, who is considering retirement, Reinfeldt said.
Veteran Josh Miller, who's some spent some time with the Titans, could be the replacement if Hentrich calls it a career.
Other players. The Titans are talking with other unrestricted free agents, including cornerback Chris Carr, receiver Brandon Jones, nickel back Vincent Fuller and quarterback Chris Simms.
"We've had good discussions,'' Reinfeldt said.
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