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Byard: I'm 'in a good place' with Titans after pay cut request

Cooper Neill / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Kevin Byard and the Tennessee Titans are back on firm ground after a shaky start to the offseason.

The safety skipped the team's voluntary activities after the front office asked him in March to take a pay cut. However, Byard believes the friction between the two sides is in the past.

"I think we're in a good place right now," Byard said on the "Bussin' With The Boys" podcast, per NFL.com's Eric Edholm.

He added: "When my agent reached out and had a conversation, it was very easy to be emotional because I'd be lying if I said I didn't feel a (certain) way about it. ... But at the same time, you can't be emotional in business."

Byard, who didn't take a pay cut, signed a five-year, $70.5-million contract in 2019. He's set to have a $19.6-million cap hit this season and a $17.8-million hit in 2024.

The Titans' request came after they appointed Ron Carthon as their general manager in January. Tennessee released offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, wide receiver Robert Woods, linebacker Zach Cunningham, and kicker Randy Bullock in February to clear $38 million in cap space.

Byard, a third-round pick in 2016, has started 105 games for the Titans. The Middle Tennessee product has recorded 627 tackles and 27 interceptions.

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