Close Menu
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • Home
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Advertisement
    • Contact Us
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Advertise With Us
    • Home
      • COVID-19 Resource Center
        • Dr. Henry Louis Gates’ PSA Radio
      • Featured
    • News
      • State
      • Local
      • National/International News
      • Global
      • Business
        • Commentary
        • Finance
        • Local Business
      • Investigative Stories
        • Affordable Housing
        • DCS Investigation
        • Gentrification
    • Editorial
      • National Politics
      • Local News
      • Local Editorial
      • Political Editorial
      • Editorial Cartoons
      • Cycle of Shame
    • Community
      • History
      • Tennessee
        • Chattanooga
        • Clarksville
        • Knoxville
        • Memphis
      • Public Notices
      • Women
        • Let’s Talk with Ms. June
    • Education
      • College
        • American Baptist College
        • Belmont University
        • Fisk
        • HBCU
        • Meharry
        • MTSU
        • University of Tennessee
        • TSU
        • Vanderbilt
      • Elementary
      • High School
    • Lifestyle
      • Art
      • Auto
      • Tribune Travel
      • Entertainment
        • 5 Questions With
        • Books
        • Events
        • Film Review
        • Local Entertainment
      • Family
      • Food
        • Drinks
      • Health & Wellness
      • Home & Garden
      • Featured Books
    • Religion
      • National Religion
      • Local Religion
      • Obituaries
        • National Obituaries
        • Local Obituaries
      • Faith Commentary
    • Sports
      • MLB
        • Sounds
      • NBA
      • NCAA
      • NFL
        • Predators
        • Titans
      • NHL
      • Other Sports
      • Golf
      • Professional Sports
      • Sports Commentary
      • Metro Sports
    • Media
      • Video
      • Photo Galleries
      • Take 10
      • Trending With The Tribune
    • Classified
    • Obituaries
      • Local Obituaries
      • National Obituaries
    The Tennessee TribuneThe Tennessee Tribune
    Sports Commentary

    Kevin Byard at a Crossroads

    Ron WynnBy Ron WynnMarch 23, 2023No Comments3 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Pinterest Tumblr Reddit Email
    Kevin Byard
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    Pro sports is always more about business than anything else, despite all the rhetoric you hear about the importance of winning and championships.

    Sure, teams want to win, and both players and owners delight in titles, but  the bottom line is  always about money. That is especially true in the National Football League. Despite being the nation’s most successful and lucrative pro sports league, it is also one that does not guarantee player contracts. While no one can credibly claim pro football players are underpaid, the NFL operates a curious system that combines a salary cap with a structure that overpays quarterbacks and slots other players by position no matter how well or valuable they may be.

    That can result in some awkward situations if clubs want to make moves but owe players large salaries on existing contracts.

    That’s the case with the Tennessee Titans and star free safety Kevin Byard.

    The Middle Tennessee grad has been among the top free safeties in the league since he joined the Titans seven years ago.

    He’s made All-Pro and Pro Bowl squads, had 27 career interceptions, and seldom played at less than a  star level.

    Byard signed a five year deal for $70 million that is now in its final season. He is owed $19 million plus. 

    But the Titans have asked him to renegotiate and take a pay cut. New general manager Ran Carthon is determined to reshape the roster, and has already cut several veterans, signing less expensive players as replacements in several instances.

    But Byard is refusing to take a pay cut, rightly saying he was one of the few Titans whose play wasn’t sub-par despite the team’s losing record. 

    Byard has been exemplary on and off the field, and no one disputes that. But his is among the highest salaries on the team, and his fate remains uncertain. Some NFL insiders are openly speculating if Byard maintains his stance the Titans may cut him.

    That would be a shame, just as it would be a shame to see Derrick Henry traded.

    But the hard truth is the Titans need to make major changes, and Carthon is prepared to make them. An  equally hard truth is Byard didn’t do anything to deserve a pay cut, and is entitled to what his contract stipulates. 

    How this ultimately works out will be one of the big stories in the NFL, and it will also say a lot about the future of the Titans.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Ron Wynn

    Related Posts

    Fisk makes more athletic history

    March 13, 2025

    Rooney rule under scrutiny

    February 12, 2025

    Carthon made scapegoat for Titans disaster

    January 16, 2025

    Titans need major overhaul

    December 11, 2024

    Americans take gold in both men’s, women’s basketball

    August 14, 2024

    Biles returns another huge Olympic story

    July 18, 2024

    Comments are closed.

    Business

    Charlotte Knight Griffin Takes Office as TBA President-Elect

    June 30, 2025

    EXCLUSIVE OP-ED: President Joe Biden Commemorating Juneteenth

    June 19, 2025

    FUNdraising Good Times Report from Neighborhoods USA Conference in Jacksonville

    June 4, 2025
    1 2 3 … 384 Next
    Education
    Education

    Austin Peay’s MPH program receives $27K for childhood literacy initiative. Community LIFT Project to be implemented at Head Start centers this fall

    By Ethan SteinquestJune 30, 2025

    CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s Master of Public Health program is on a…

    TSU, State, reach agreement to reallocate $96M to school

    June 26, 2025

    TSU student lands prestigious internship at Harvard Medical School

    June 25, 2025

    FAMU stakeholders file lawsuit to prevent Marva Johnson’s confirmation as the university’s 13th President

    June 21, 2025
    The Tennessee Tribune
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
    • About Us
    • Digital Subscription
    • Store
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact
    © 2025 The Tennessee Tribune - Site Designed by No Regret Media.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

    Our Spring Sale Has Started

    You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/