With McNair hurting, veteran's presence helps

Originally Published: December 18, 2003

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By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
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Facing a crisis at quarterback, the Tennessee Titans maneuvered for days through the permutations of the salary cap and reached a contract agreement with veteran Neil O'Donnell late Wednesday night.

The contract was approved by the NFL on Thursday. O'Donnell practiced Thursday and is expected to dress for Sunday's game at Houston.

The contract with O'Donnell, 37, alleviates to some extent the emergency the Titans faced at the position, given the condition of Steve McNair's left ankle and the season-ending spleen injury suffered by backup Billy Volek last week.

McNair, slowed by a cracked bone spur in his ankle, tried dropping back on his own at practice Thursday before having to stop. He remains a game-time decision, according to coach Jeff Fisher. Coaches are preparing the game plan, however, as if McNair will start. The most valuable player candidate missed Sunday's victory over the Buffalo Bills.

Third-string quarterback Jason Gesser, a rookie who has not played in a regular-season game, took all the snaps with the first unit during Wednesday's practice. O'Donnell's contract, the 14-year veteran, should offer some relief at practice Thursday and could be the No. 2 quarterback against the Texans.

"I am here to try to win a championship," O'Donnell said Wednesday, unloading his equipment at the team's training complex. "That's what it is all about when all is said and done. If that is accomplished, everybody is happy."

O'Donnell had to set aside some hard feelings in agreeing to rejoin the Titans, where he was the primary backup to McNair the past four seasons. Tennessee released O'Donnell in February because of cap considerations. Then, as he began visiting with other teams, Titans officials assured O'Donnell he would be re-signed later in the summer, when cap room became available.

The club did re-sign O'Donnell in June but, in the following month, released him again, deciding to go with the less expensive Volek as McNair's primary backup. O'Donnell has auditioned for at least three teams since the start of the 2003 season but none offered him a contract. He has remained in Nashville and worked out regularly there at a YMCA.

One coach said Wednesday night he was confident that O'Donnell still knew the offense, and was in good enough shape physically that he could play Sunday if needed.

The hangup with O'Donnell's contract, believed to be for the NFL minimum of $755,000 for a player of his tenure, was rooted in some complicated cap rules. Because the Titans are only $73,000 under the spending limit, there was a chance they might not be able to sign O'Donnell until next week. But starting right offensive tackle Fred Miller agreed to slightly restructure his contract to clear some immediate cap room.

Meanwhile, the Titans probably will place Volek on injured reserve to carve out a roster spot for O'Donnell.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.