NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Titans tight end Bo Scaife wants the security of a long-term deal. He insists not receiving that contract isn't the reason why he stayed away from the team's offseason program until this week.
Scaife arrived Monday and participated in Tuesday's voluntary organized team activity. Tagged as the team's franchise player in 2009, he missed unrestricted free agency because of the league's labor deal. He signed the team's one-year tender for $4.9 million in March, but he had been working out on his own in Colorado.
"I've really just been doing my own thing," Scaife said. "I've got a little girl and taking care of her and just preparing myself to have the best season of my career. You know when it's a good time when you feel it, and I just felt it."
Update on CJ2K
Titans RB Chris Johnson hasn't attended voluntary workouts because of a contract dispute, and coach Jeff Fisher said Tuesday that the team would like to talk with him soon. **More ...**
So he wasn't unhappy not being given a long-term contract yet? Just stayed away trying to make his feelings known?
Scaife said that might have been a little part of it.
"I love the Titans. I love my teammates. I love coach (Jeff) Fisher and the rest of the coaching staff," Scaife said. "Upstairs, they'll take care of that, but downstairs I have no problem with anyone down here or any one of my teammates."
The five-year NFL veteran is a key piece of the Titans' offense, especially for the 2010 season. He's the oldest of the tight ends on the roster after Alge Crumpler signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent. Scaife ranked third on the team last season with 45 catches for 440 yards in 14 games.
Scaife now is expected to help lead Jared Cook, who's entering his second NFL season, and Craig Stevens, who's entering his third.
"He's very important to our offense," Fisher said of Scaife. "Both the younger guys are stepping up, and he's going to play. He's an experienced guy who has a good feel and has been very productive for us."
The Titans took a chance on Scaife, drafting him in the sixth round in 2005 despite him having torn both anterior cruciate ligaments. Scaife led the team with a career-high 58 catches for 561 yards in 2008, and that earned him the $4.46 million franchise tag in 2009. He has played in 76 games through his first five seasons.
Scaife said he knows he's being well paid even with his one-year deal for the upcoming season and is leaving the work to his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.
"It's a blessing just to have what I do have," Scaife said. "I'm never one of those guys to be upset. I'm not a holdout guy, never going to be a holdout guy. Every little piece that I get I'm blessed to have because I know a lot of people don't have that. So I'm glad what the Titans are giving me right now, and hopefully we'll figure something out one of these days."
Vince Young played with Scaife in college at Texas and knows the trainer that worked with the tight end. But Young said it's good to have Scaife back for the offense to get in sync.
"As a leader of the team, I was happy to see him here working out with the rest of the guys," Young said.
Fisher hadn't had a chance to talk with Scaife yet, but the coach said he believed the team had taken care of the tight end over the past two years.
"Guys do different things for different reasons," Fisher said. "You know it's good. It looks like he's been working out. He's in shape, picked the offense up fine. As long as he continues to participate in the offseason program, things will be fine."
This leaves just two Titans -- running back Chris Johnson and middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch -- still not participating in the offseason program or the voluntary workouts. Fisher said Tuesday that the Titans would like to meet with Johnson before the next practices in June, and Tulloch has yet to sign his one-year tender.
Scaife said he talks with Johnson and Tulloch all the time and that he's sure both have their reasons for not being with the team.
"I want them to come back," Scaife said. "They need to be back with their teammates, but I'm not going to knock anything they do."
Notes: The Titans waived KR/WR Mark Jones, OL Kenny Alfred and RB Dominique Lindsay. Jones had been healing from neck surgery, and the team drafted two new returners in Damian Williams and Marc Mariani. ... Auburn coach Gene Chizik watched practice Tuesday. Fisher's son, Trent, will be a walk-on at Auburn this fall. Fisher said Chizik was passing through town and stopped by to see the team.
Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press
