Reggie White May Play for Titans

<br>NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) â€” Reggie White, the NFL's career sacks leader, reportedly is interested in coming out of retirement to play for the AFC champion Tennessee Titans. <br><br>There have been

Wednesday, June 21st 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) â€” Reggie White, the NFL's career sacks leader, reportedly is interested in coming out of retirement to play for the AFC champion Tennessee Titans.

There have been no firm negotiations between White and the Titans. But White and coach Jeff Fisher have held preliminary discussions on how he would be used by Tennessee, White's manager, Jimmy Sexton, said in The Tennessean on Wednesday.

The Packers still hold contractual rights to White, but Sexton said Green Bay granted him permission to explore other NFL options. The Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers also appear to be in the mix.

League rules prohibit such discussions about a player still attached to another club.

Fisher was White's defensive coordinator with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1989 and 1990. The 38-year-old White was born in Chattanooga and played for the University of Tennessee.

``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.''

Titans president Jeff Diamond would not comment. Neither White nor Green Bay general Manager Ron Wolf was available.

The possibility of White's return was fueled Tuesday when the NFL upheld the suspension of Titans defensive tackle Josh Evans for the 2000 season for a repeat violation of the league's substance abuse policy.

The loss of Evans also has triggered speculation the Titans might seek Arizona defensive tackle Eric Swann, who is expected to be released by the Cardinals this month.

Swann has expressed a preference to play in his home state of North Carolina with the Panthers.

White began his pro career with the Memphis Showboats of the U.S. Football League. During his 14 years with the Philadelphia Eagles and the Packers, White amassed a league-record 192 1/2 sacks.

The Titans are only $54,000 under the NFL salary cap, but will get back Evans' $900,000 base salary as a result of his suspension.

The salary cap still could be a problem because the team is negotiating a contract extension with running back Eddie George.

John Thornton filled Evans' spot during the recent minicamp. A second-round pick in 1999, Thornton started three games as a rookie and had 33 tackles and 4 1/2 sacks.