NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans have had lots of talks with teams about trades. Just don't expect any of the Titans to say whether one might involve trying to bring back defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.
The Titans held a news conference Tuesday with general manager Mike Reinfeldt and four of their scouts to preview the NFL Draft starting Thursday night. Reinfeldt refused to comment when asked about the potential of trading for the defensive tackle who spurned an offer to stick with the team that drafted him in 2002 to sign with Washington.
"He's under contract to another team, so I can't talk about him," Reinfeldt said.
Haynesworth has been absent from the Redskins' offseason workouts, unhappy with a switch to a 3-4 defense under new coach Mike Shanahan. He missed a minicamp last weekend, and the Redskins swapped draft picks Tuesday with St. Louis for defensive lineman Adam Carriker.
Asked if a trade was imminent, the general manager again declined to talk about a player under contract elsewhere. Asked if his relationship with Redskins general manager Bruce Allen is getting closer, Reinfeldt smiled and said he's known Allen for a long time and they continue to be friends.
One final try was made. Reinfeldt was asked about the possibility of trading for a player not specifically named Haynesworth before the draft.
"You want me to guarantee we're going to make a trade before the draft? I can't guarantee that. We'll have a number of discussions over the next couple of days. We'll see how it goes," Reinfeldt said.
Washington has only four draft picks, while Tennessee is stocked with nine though with nothing in the second round after trading that away last year to draft tight end Jared Cook. The Titans currently have the 16th pick overall, but they have better trade bait in the third round with two selections.
The Titans ranked fifth and seventh in the NFL in fewest yards allowed defensively during Haynesworth's final two seasons with Tennessee in 2007 and 2008. They slumped to 28th in that category, and only one team gave up more yards passing than Tennessee in 2009 without Haynesworth.
Tennessee offered a deal of $34 million to keep Haynesworth, but the tackle instead signed a seven-year, $100 million contract with Washington with $41 million in guaranteed money on the opening day of free agency in 2009. With a recent payment of more than $20 million to Haynesworth, his deal now is much cheaper for any team wanting to trade for him.
