Take it or leave the team!

Eddie George is mulling over the Tennessee Titans offer: take a pay cut or risk being released by the salary cap-strapped team. The veteran running back met Friday in Denver with his agent, Lamont Smith to discuss the situation. Smith said he will be discussing a handful of business ventures with George, the team's leading career rusher with 10,009 yards. George, who turns 31 in September, has a contract that would pay him $4.25 million for the 2004 season. But the Titans want him to sign a new deal closer to $1.5 million to create space to sign their top rookies. A decision is expected within a few days because the Titans open training camp July 31. General manager Floyd Reese, who did not immediately return a telephone message seeking comment Friday, has said he had enough room to sign all but a couple of his draft picks. The Titans asked George to rework his contract in February, and he declined, prompting team officials to pay him a scheduled $1 million bonus. The 1995 Heisman Trophy winner was their first-round pick in 1996, and he is a four-time Pro Bowler. George also became the 17th back in NFL history to top 10,000 yards last season, and his 10,009 yards ranks seventh among all backs through their first eight seasons. George had only two 100-yard games in 2003, and his 3.3-yard average per carry was the second-lowest of his career. But he has started 112 straight games from the start of his career, behind only Walter Payton (170) and Ricky Watters (114).

posted by Anonymous @ 10:36 AM

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