Posted by ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky

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But Haynesworth, who's been designated as the Titans' franchise player, has missed all the offseason work his teammates have gone through together while awaiting developments.

Tuesday afternoon he spoke at a Shoe Carnival store in suburban Nashville while promoting Soles4Souls, a charity that distributes donated shoes to those in need in over 60 countries. Haynesworth traded an autograph for each pair of gently worn shoes given to the cause. (Judging by the early crowd, either his absence from team activities hasn't dented his popularity or people have a lot of shoes to unload. Or both.)

He's got a shaved head, which makes him look sleeker and has people telling him he looks like Shaq, but he said it's only because of a botched haircut that left him no choice.

Haynesworth hit on a variety of topics:

On his four-day-a-week workout regimen under the watch of Competitive Edge Sports: "I've been working out pretty hard. We've got CES from Atlanta, who train a lot of guys in the league, and they're awesome. The workouts are hard. It's just me by myself, so there isn't really any rest time. ...We've been working really hard. I've seen a change in my body from almost, like, the first week. I'm discovering muscles I didn't think I had. I feel different. I look better. It's great.

"... We're still doing things for football. We've got dummies and helmets, and I have to wear this big, heavy vest to go run in that's acting like my shoulder pads. So we're simulating on the field what they are doing, so I'm not too far behind if I am behind."

On having a big year and playing a full season: "It's very important. I haven't had one, really, since my first year. Last year I played OK enough to impress some people. I think this year will be even better. And the shape I'm in, the stuff I am doing -- I think it's going to really show on the field. I think I can definitely do way better than last year, because I thought last year, to myself, personally, I thought it was an average year."

On whether he can understand why, a year removed from the infamous Andre Gurode head-stomping incident, the Titans might still have some reservations about a long-term deal: "Sure, yeah, I can see that. That's no problem. But like I've said before, I'm always getting better every year. You look at my stats, I've gotten better every year and it's going to be no different this year."

On his conditioning: "I'm still trying to drop a few pounds. I've gained a lot of muscle, my chest has gotten bigger, my back's gotten bigger. I still want to get down. I'm starting to see some abs down here which is kind of funny -- I've never discovered those before. I've always had that keg. Now I'm about to have that six-pack hopefully. I haven't even weighed [myself]. They tell me not to worry about weight because you gain a lot more with muscle than with fat.

On his diet: "[I eat], like, six times a day -- small meals, stuff that you can fit in the palm of your hand. It's kind of driving me nuts, but you're not hungry. That's the good thing. As long as you're eating good, like, 90 percent of the time, you're fine. It's not like rice cakes or anything like that. You're still eating normal food. It's just nothing fried, of course. Try to do more color in your diet than white, like white bread or light salad. You want to have more color."

On envisioning playing elsewhere: "It's not always really about the money. If you got a contract on a team like Atlanta or Carolina or somebody like that and it wasn't too much different, I would pick here because this is my home. I've made it my home. My kids have grown up here. They were born here."

On the Titans holding all the leverage at this point: "I guess they do. It's fine. I'm still going to be here this season no matter what. And hopefully we can work out something to where I am here seven or eight more seasons after that."

To me, the most encouraging thing he said is that last year rates as average to him. When he was healthy last season, he was a game-changing force who made everyone else significantly better. If he improves on that, some guards are going to have trouble sleeping the week they're preparing to face Tennessee.

I don't expect a breakthrough to produce a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline. And I think the Titans would have a hard time giving up the option of franchising Haynesworth again in 2009. But there is plenty of time for Haynesworth's agent, Chad Speck, to explore that possibility and press for it from every angle.