Extra concern for free agents

photo In this May 18, 2010, file photo, Tennessee Titans defensive end Jason Babin looks on during NFL football practice in Nashville, Tenn. Babin rolled the dice when he signed a one-year deal with Tennessee. With the collective bargaining agreement expiring March 3, he and other would-be free agents face the very real possibility of the NFL's labor problems stretching so deep this year that they wind up ordered back to their old teams at the bargain basement price of 120 percent of their last salary for the season. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey, File)

NASHVILLE -- Jason Babin won the gamble he took by signing a one-year deal with the Tennessee Titans. The defensive end racked up a career-high 12 1/2 sacks and earned his first Pro Bowl berth.

Still, all his hard work may not pay off in a multimillion-dollar deal.

NFL labor strife will likely mean Babin won't be wined and dined on an owner's private jet during free agency.

With the collective bargaining agreement expiring March 3, Babin and other would-be free agents face the very real possibility that they get ordered back to their old teams at the bargain-basement price of 120 percent of their last salary. Play another season, risk serious injury. And wait.

"That's really scary to me," Babin said. "That definitely wouldn't be good timing. Hey, there's so many guys in a similar situation as myself with contracts expiring, it would be unfair practice and I think a lot would have a huge problem with it."

Babin has lots of company in facing this nightmare scenario.

More than 700 NFL players have contracts expiring with the labor deal. That group includes players such as Indianapolis running back Joseph Addai finishing his fourth season in the league and Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch, who missed out on free agency in 2010 when rules for the final year of the CBA allowed Tennessee to keep him with a one-year deal.

How many years a player needs to reach free agency is something that could change in a new labor deal.

There are veterans such as Titans quarterback Kerry Collins, who might to decide to retire after 16 NFL seasons. Tennessee fullback Ahmard Hall signed his first league deal as a free agent in 2006, and the former Marine is ready to capitalize on blocking for a 1,000-yard rusher in each of his five pro seasons.

Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway was a Pro Bowl alternate this season and with his five years' experience could find himself not eligible for free agency. He doesn't know what's happening this offseason with his family wanting to know where they'll live next.

"For me, of course you're anxious because you want to know what's going to happen," Greenway said recently, "but at the same time ... you can't do too much about it. Just going to stay patient."

Then there's Babin.

The Titans are his fifth NFL team in seven seasons. A first-round Houston Texans pick out of Western Michigan in 2004, the 6-foot-3, 260-pound Babin didn't fit in as the outside rushing linebacker they wanted. He had just 13 sacks in three seasons with the Texans before being traded to Seattle in September 2007.

He played four games before the Seahawks released him a year later. Kansas City signed him as a free agent in November 2008, and Babin landed in Philadelphia in August 2009 and played in 12 games with 2 1/2 sacks. Babin signed an offer for $1 million with Tennessee on March 19, and the Eagles declined to match it.

For the kid who once dragged a tire down the streets of Paw Paw, Mich., trying to prepare himself for the NFL, the Titans defense proved perfect for Babin as he turned in the best year of his professional career. He had 58 tackles, those 12 1/2 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Babin is back home in Texas with his family and said he tries not to worry about what he has little control over.

"There's so many moving parts to this and so many people that will be affected by it, it would be atrocious on the owner's side of things to forgo the season," he said. "They would be looked on by the public as monsters. I don't think they want that."

The NFL and the NFL Players Association met for a few hours Wednesday, then canceled Thursday's session.

Teammates elected Babin as an assistant player representative during the season, so he stays in touch updating fellow players.

"It's in everybody's minds," he said.

Babin said he has been planning a long time for whatever happens in 2011 in case the NFL suffers its first stoppage in play since 1987. He has a side business running a hunting ranch in Texas. He's much more worried about younger players.

"Those guys in their second or third year that don't have much saved or don't have much direction if things do go south," he said. "That's who I think is really in the most jeopardy and most concern in my mind.

"Everyone's been talking about it. It's obvious the owners have been preparing for it for three years secretly, so they think it's a real possibility to at least prepare for it. I'm glad now I'm kind of on the inside to see the truth of what's really going on. It's something that happens every ... 25 years it seems like. It's the NFL timetable."

Babin wanted to return to the Titans with a new contract, but his defensive line coach, Jim Washburn, is now with Philadelphia, and Mike Munchak has replaced Jeff Fisher as head coach. Babin doesn't know what defense will be run until Munchak hires a new coordinator and line coach. He just monitors the situation closely with friends texting him updates every time something new happens in Nashville.

He's staying busy living life as a father and husband, as he usually does each offseason. It's just that this offseason brings a new twist.

"There's definitely a wait and see," Babin said.

Upcoming Events