I’m going to try not to be too critical of Mike Reinfeldt and Jeff Fisher about free agency, which I consider to have four categories.
1. Identifying which of your own players you try to keep.
2. Identifying which of your players that can be replaced by someone as good.
3. Identifying which players on the market can help you, at an affordable price.
4. Identifying the players you don’t want.
Since Reinfeldt joined the Titans, I give him and Fisher high marks in all four areas, which was not always the case when Floyd Reese was the GM.
I was extremely critical of some of Reinfeldt’s early moves as GM. After only a few weeks on the job, he let the team’s leading rusher and leading receiver both walk in free agency. I was upset, but it turns out Reinfeldt and Fisher were right. Travis Henry didn’t do much (at least not on the field) in Denver and Drew Bennett didn’t do much in St. Louis.
Justin Gage was signed and became the Titans’ leading receiver, and at a fraction of the cost it would have taken to re-sign Bennett. LenDale White took over the rushing workload and had an 1,100-yard season. Drew who? Travis who?
The following year, Reinfeldt let Antwan Odom, Travis LaBoy, Jacob Bell, Ben Hartsock, Randy Starks and Ben Troupe walk.
They were replaced, and in some cases upgraded, by Jevon Kearse, Jacob Ford, Jake Scott, Alge Crumpler, Jason Jones and Bo Scaife.
So if Fisher and Reinfeldt let a few guys go this week, my first reaction may be one of concern, but I’ll try to remember that they know what they’re doing.
If I believe in Fisher and Reinfeldt, then I’ll try not to be too upset with some of their personnel moves and remember that “In Fisher and Reinfeldt I trust!”
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