dont see titans in this article.....
Teams show plenty of interest in Bolts' Turner
By: MIKE SULLIVAN - Staff Writer
SAN DIEGO ---- Chargers restricted free agent Michael Turner was a hot name over at the NFL meetings in Phoenix this week.
Teams looking for a starting running back are assessing whether to make a run at trading for Turner or filling their needs in the late-April NFL draft.
"There was a lot of activity," Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said. "Very interesting. We'll see what all the talk means.
"There's legitimate interest on a few teams' part. A couple others are asking."
Smith declined to discuss specifics in terms of interested teams or what offers he has fielded. But it's known that the Green Bay Packers are highly interested in Turner. The Buffalo Bills also have interest.
Green Bay recently lost Ahman Green to Houston via free agency and Buffalo traded Willis McGahee to Baltimore.
Four weeks ago, the Chargers placed the highest possible tender on Turner, guaranteeing him a $2.35 million salary for 2007 if he remains with the Chargers. The tender allows the Chargers to match any offer sheet that Turner receives from another team. It also means any team that signs Turner to a free-agent deal must give up a first- and third-round draft pick to the Chargers.
The high price has scared teams away from signing Turner to an offer sheet, so movement involving Turner will likely come only via trade.
Just last week, Houston traded for Atlanta quarterback Matt Schaub, a restricted free agent who also received the high tender. The Texans gave up two second-round picks, switched positions in the first round with the Falcons and signed Schaub to a six-year, $48-million contract.
Logic dictates any team interested in trading for Turner would also want to negotiate a long-term deal.
Turner's agent, Bus Cook, didn't return a phone message on Thursday.
Smith said there's no urgency on the part of the Chargers to make a deal involving Turner. Smith likes having Turner (502 yards in 2006) as an insurance policy in case of a serious injury to NFL MVP LaDainian Tomlinson.
"I don't have a timetable," Smith said. "Some of the teams might. They want to know if they have a back. I'm OK. I either have the running back or I have some draft picks."
Buffalo has the 12th overall selection of the draft and Green Bay has the 16th. Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson is expected to be chosen within the top five picks. California's Marshawn Lynch is expected to be scooped up by either the Bills or Packers, pending the teams' moves prior to the draft.
