| | ESPN.com news services
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Reggie White, who retired from the Green Bay Packers after the 1998 season as the NFL's all-time sacks leader, has had preliminary talks with the Tennessee Titans about restarting his illustrious career, The Tennessean reported Tuesday.
|  | | Reggie White is the NFL's all-time sacks leader with 192½. |
The Packers still have White on their reserve/retired list, but they have granted his agent, Memphis-based Jimmy Sexton, permission to explore other options for White in the league, Sexton confirmed Tuesday.
According to Sexton, preliminary conversations with the Titans have taken place. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers also appear to be in the mix.
"It's my understanding that Reggie's rights are still held by the Green Bay Packers," said Titans coach Jeff Fisher, who was White's defensive coordinator
with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1989 and 1990. "If Reggie does want to come back and play another year or two, I'm sure whether it's at Green Bay, or
another place, if Green Bay were to relinquish his rights, he could help improve any defense."
Titans president Jeff Diamond said he could not comment, and White could not be located for comment Tuesday.
Two other principal figures in any deal between White and the Titans -- Packers vice president and general manager Ron Wolf and Titans general manager Floyd Reese -- are on vacation and could not be reached.
White, 38, played for the Eagles from 1985-92 before signing with the Packers in 1993. Nicknamed "The Minister of Defense," White was
still a singular force in his final season in Green Bay, recording an NFC-best 16 sacks and earning Defensive Player of the Year honors. He ranks at the
top of the league's career sack list with 192½.
An outspoken presence in and out of the locker room, White has been in the headlines for more than his play, which earned him 16 consecutive Pro Bowl selections. In a speech to the Wisconsin General Assembly in March 1998, White denounced homosexuality and portrayed several racial groups in a way many critics saw as stereotyping.
Talks between Sexton and the Titans could pick up next week when Reese returns to work.
However, the Titans will have to be cautious because of the league's tampering rules, which prohibit discussion about a player attached to another club.
The agreement Sexton has reached with the Packers clearly has been kept very quiet. Two high-ranking Packers officials -- Reggie McKenzie, director of
pro personnel, and Andrew Brandt, director of player finance/football operations -- indicated they knew nothing about the situation. Both said they
believe White would need to be formally released by Green Bay in order to have the freedom to talk to other teams.
As a situational pass-rushing specialist, White certainly would provide leadership and expertise for Jevon Kearse, last season's Defensive Rookie of the Year, and the Titans' young crop of defensive linemen.
The possibility of White's return was fueled Tuesday when the NFL upheld the suspension of Titans defensive tackle Josh Evans for the 2000 season for a repeat violation of the league's substance abuse policy.
The loss of Evans also has triggered speculation the Titans might pursue Arizona defensive tackle Eric Swann, who is expected to be released by the Cardinals this month.
Swann has expressed a preference to play in his home state of North Carolina with the Panthers.
If the Titans do negotiate a deal with White, the team would have to construct a creative, salary-cap friendly deal and perhaps make a roster move. The
Titans have yet to sign any of their 10 draft picks and are already tight against the salary cap.
If White, who lives in the Green Bay area and is building a home in Charlotte, N.C., were to resume his career after a year off, it wouldn't be the first time
he's changed his mind about retiring. On April 22, 1998, he announced his career was over. Just days later, he decided he would play another season.
Then, after the Packers lost a playoff game on Jan. 3, 1999, White told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "God told me: 'This is your last year.' God's favor has
been on me this season, but I know it's time now to do what he has called me to do."
White said that calling meant more time devoted to his family and his ministry, but he also left open the possibility of a return, saying that God could call him to play again.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. | |
 |
