Marcus Mariota: Titans: Mariota must accept offset language

I couldn’t think of a worse way to start off what should be a very long term relationship with Marcus Mariota.

We’ve detailed the reasons offset language is so unimportant.

As we inch closer to training camp, the Titans have yet to sign No. 2 overall pick Marcus Mariota to a contract. By digging in on offset language, the Titans are showing a lack of faith in Mariota’s ability to play out his rookie deal.

Titans interim president Steve Underwood made it clear in an interview with ESPN.com’s Paul Kuharsky on Tuesday how important keeping offset language in the contract is, and he reaffirmed those views a day later.

“My understanding is, that is all that is left”, Underwood said.

Underwood said that the Titans have always had offset language in their player contracts and that it’s important to continue to do so, particularly with high-round (read: high-dollar) draft picks such as Mariota.

The Titans’ philosophy seems to be built on two points. Though we don’t know the exact figures of what Mariota’s contract will be, No. 1 pick Jameis Winston will be making a combined $15 million in the final two years of his contract – a small figure for a quarterback. Maybe Mariota is counting on the Titans releasing him at some point, which will give him the opportunity to join the Eagles. The team’s previous three first-round picks – wide receiver Kendall Wright, guard Chance Warmack and tackle Taylor Lewan – all have offset language in their contracts.

The question is just what “near future” proves to be. Underwood said it’s equally important to get the team’s hopeful franchise quarterback signed and keep their principles and stand in tact. On the long inventory of things they need to change to alter course, it’s not a blip.

Getty Images With the beginning of training camp only a short while away, most each one National Football League team has their 2015 draft class signed and ready to go to work.

“If there is offset language, it allows the team to save money when releasing a player”.

The Titans are scheduled to report to camp July 30, and the first practice is July 31. We’ll see in a couple of weeks. One side will eventually have to fold, but, historically speaking, if this tiny detail matters a few years down the road, it means something else has gone wrong for Mariota and the Titans. He’s earned a number of state and national writing honors over the years.

John Glennon covers the Titans and Predators for The Tennessean. A native of Alexandria, Va., Glennon graduated with a BA in English from the University of Virginia.