Free Agency officially underway

Free agency officially opened at 11 p.m., Central Time, Thursday night.

The Tennessee Titans have tendered seven restricted free agents with one-year contract offers:

• K Rob Bironas, 2nd round compensation
• FB Casey Cramer, 7th round compensation
• S Vincent Fuller, 4th round compensation
• CB Reynaldo Hill, 7th round compensation
• OL Daniel Loper, 5th round compensation
• TE Bo Scaife, 2nd round compensation
• T David Stewart, 1st round compensation

Restricted free agents are eligible to sign contract sheets with other teams and the Titans would have one week to match the offer or receive a 2008 draft pick as compensation for loosing the player.

WR Gage will remain with Titans, Team releases Givens

The Tennessee Titans and wide receiver Justin Gage have agreed to a multi-year contract.

The team’s lead receiver for the 2007 season with 750 yards, Gage was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on February 29.

“Justin is a player who made the most of an opportunity and we expect him to be a significant contributor to our offensive success,” said Mike Reinfeldt, Titans General Manager. “He can play outside or inside, has the ability to make tough catches and should continue to grow as a receiver as he and Vince play together more.”

2007 was Gage’s first season with the Titans and fifth season in the NFL.

He was originally drafted by the Chicago Bears in 2003, where he stayed until being picked up the Titans as an unrestricted free agent in March 2007.

In 65 career games, Gage has produced 119 receptions for 1,658 yards and six touchdowns, two of which were with the Titans.

Gage played in all 16 games with the Titans and totaled eight starts. Of his 55 receptions, 45 of them, or 81.8%, resulted in first downs.

Also Wednesday, the Titans released wide received David Givens.

Titans designate Haynesworth ‘Franchise player’

The Tennessee Titans designated defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth a “franchise player” Wednesday, restricting his status when unrestricted free agency opens on February 29.

“This is a step in the process with Albert,” said Titans General Manager Mike Reinfeld. “This designation gives us more time to work on a long-term contract with him. He was a dominant player for us this past season and one of the key components to our success on defense.”

The designation means while other teams have the ability to sign Haynesworth, the Titans would have the option to match the contract terms or be compensated with two first-round draft choices.

Multi-year deals must be made by July 15. After that, only one-year deals can be signed by NFL teams and players.

NFL teams have until 3 p.m. Thursday to designate players as their “franchise players.”