Anderson to rejoin Titans; Nickey added, Echols, Elling waiv

[Slingblade]

NASHVILLE, TN, Sept. 14, 2004 -- The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms on a contract with Gary Anderson, the NFL’s all-time leading scorer and the team’s kicker for all but one game during 2003.

Anderson rejoins the Titans for his 23rd NFL season in a similar manner to his signing last season, when kicker Joe Nedney was placed on injured reserve after one game with a knee injury. Nedney was placed on injured reserve last week with a hamstring injury.

With 123 points in 2003, Anderson recorded the fourth-best total of his career as well as the fourth-best total in franchise history. He made 27 of 31 field goals (.871) and all 42 of his extra point attempts to increase his NFL record to 2,346 career points. He capped the season with a memorable 46-yard field goal to give the Titans a 20-17 Wild Card Playoff win at Baltimore.

Anderson also holds league records for career field goals (521) and field goal attempts (650). He is third all-time in NFL games played with 338, which stands just two shy of George Blanda’s record 340 and one game behind Vikings kicker Morten Andersen, who played in his 339th game this past Sunday.

To clear a spot on the team’s 53-man roster, the team waived kicker Aaron Elling, who made one of two field goal attempts and handled emergency punting duties in the team’s season opener at Miami.

OTHER ROSTER MOVES: The team agreed to terms with safety Donnie Nickey, a fifth-round draft choice in 2003. Nickey, who played in 12 games as a rookie and recorded seven special teams tackles, will rejoin the Titans after being waived last week.

The team waived third-year cornerback Mike Echols.

Additionally, the team released tackle Isaac Herring from the practice squad, replacing him with guard Marico Portis, who served much of 2003 on the practice squad and was most recently with the team during 2004 training camp.