Rolle

Tennessee Titans cornerback Samari Rolle remained in the Denver area on Wednesday, conferring with his agents over lack of progress in discussions on a long-term contract, and sources close to the Pro Bowl defender said that he will not return to the team for Thursday's preseason game.

The Titans play at Detroit on Thursday night in the final preseason game for both teams.

"The thing people need to realize," said agent Peter Schaffer on Wednesday night, "is that this isn't a holdout. Samari is simply consulting with his representatives about his future, that's all. The team has certain things it can do, and which it has done. We are certainly aware of the ramifications."

Frustrated by his contract situation, Rolle left Nashville on Monday and was not at the Tuesday or Wednesday practice, with the Titans fining him $5,000 for each day he was absent. More important, club officials dispatched to Rolle the so-called five-day letter.

Because he is a player under contract, the Titans will gain the right to place Rolle on the "reserve/left camp" list if he does not report back to the team within five days. If the club invoked that option, Rolle would not be able to play for the entire 2001 season. It is the same maneuver the New England Patriots used to freeze AWOL wideout Terry Glenn for the whole year.

Schaffer said that Rolle has no timetable for returning to the Titans, but even most club officials feel he will be back before the five-day deadline.

Rolle, 25, signed a one-year qualifying offer worth $1.488 million as a restricted free agent earlier this spring, and is seeking a long-term contract, one that Titans officials promised him if he reported to camp on time. Rolle's other agent, Lamont Smith, said he attempted to begin negotiations in March, but was stymied at that point by the Titans' cap problems. General manager Floyd Reese reiterated Wednesday he will not negotiate until Rolle returns to the team and honors his existing contract.

A second-round choice in the 1998 draft, Rolle is regarded as one of the premier cover defenders in the league and the former Florida State star led the Titans in interceptions each of the past two seasons. He has started 31 of 32 games the last two seasons and has 11 interceptions in that stretch, including seven in 2000, when he was selected to the Pro Bowl game for the first time.

Rolle is eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring and almost certainly will be one of the most coveted players available if he hits the open market. Tennessee lost one standout cornerback to free agency this spring, when Denard Walker signed with Denver.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.