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White-hot rumor mill Comeback will be the calling from knock on door
Posted: Wednesday June 28, 2000 05:30 PM
By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com ATLANTA -- After coming up 1 yard short of the end zone in Super Bowl XXXIV, the Tennessee Titans reportedly are making a mad rush for the Promised Land. Or at least for some one who can lead them there. Literally. Reggie White, the NFL's all-time sacks leader (193), retired following the 1998 season. "The Minister of Defense" apparently is having second thoughts. White's agent, Jimmy Sexton, told The Tennessean recently that he and Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher have discussed how the former All-Pro defensive end would be used in the Titans' defensive scheme. "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," Fisher said. However, the Green Bay Packers retain White's rights; he is on the team's Reserve/Retired list. The Packers -- who say they do not want White -- reportedly have given White permission to talk with other NFL teams, but Sexton says there have been no contract negotiation with the Titans. The Carolina Panthers also are reportedly interested in pursuing White, but the Jacksonville Jaguars have taken themselves out of the picture. "They called us," said Michael Huyghue, the Jaguars senior vice president of football operations. "We just talked and they said Reggie would be interested in Jacksonville." Jacksonville, though, is not interested in Reggie. "It was just talk," Huyghue said.
Tennessee's interest in White, 38, was piqued by the one-year suspension of defensive tackle Josh Evans for violation of the league's substance-abuse policy. A recent CNNSI.com poll of Internet users showed that 79 percent (4,276 votes) feel White should tend to his ministry instead of returning to the NFL flock (21 percent; 1,105 votes). A Chattanooga, Tenn., native, White played at the University of Tennessee before beginning his professional career with the USFL's Memphis Showboats. He joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1985 before signing with the Packers as a free agent in '93. An ordained minister, White said that God told him to sign with Green Bay following a frenzied free-agent tour of suitors. He was a defensive cog of the Packers team that won Super Bowl XXXI in 1997.
In '98, White's final season of an illustrious 14-year NFL career, he recorded 16 sacks and was selected The Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year. White, who had planned to retire following the '97 season, came back to the Packers for one last season and served as an off-field teacher for young defensive linemen Vonnie Holliday and Keith McKenzie. The Packers' '98 season -- and White's career -- ended Jan. 3, 1999, when San Francisco rallied for a 30-27 victory in the playoffs. "Losing this game hurts," White said. "But realizing I'm getting ready to go my way hurts even more. It's not going to be easy to leave these guys." Prior to Super Bowl XXXIII, White, who was due to make $3.9 million in 1999, teased fans with the fact he was "intrigued" about the idea of returning to play under Ray Rhodes.
"When Ray got the job, if anyone else had gotten the job I wouldn't have been intrigued," White said. "I've really been praying about it and thinking about it. Right now I'm retired." White, who played in a record 11 Pro Bowls, remained retired for the '99 season -- and Rhodes, after one 8-8 season, was fired as the Packers coach after failing to make the playoffs. "I'm not over it [playing] yet," White said June 12 during a visit at the Packers' minicamp. "This is what you miss -- being with the guys and having fun with them with locker-room stuff. You always miss that. "I would hope in the next couple of years I would have a chance to get back involved with the team," he said. "We'll have to see how that process goes. Probably a part-time role. But I'd love to be involved with the team." Now, apparently, becoming involved with the Packers will take a back seat to contemplating a return to the NFL with the Titans. After he played in the Pro Bowl following the '98 season, White admitted, "There's always a crack in my door when God talks." Tennessee -- or even Carolina -- anxiously wait to see if White answers.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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