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Cold reality Executives, coaches, players feel sting of salary capPosted: Saturday March 02, 2002 6:44 PM
As I spend the weekend in Indianapolis meeting with many club executives, coaches, and agents there is a definite undertone of reality about the economic state of affairs in the league about free agency. There are plenty of coaches saddened by the fact that many of their starters have been dumped for cap reasons. That's very hard for coaches to understand when they spend their time evaluating the performance on the field. General managers throw their hands up in the air and ask me, "What am I supposed to do?" And the agents are all tiptoeing around looking for any team with a little cash and in search of veteran players. One successful agent said "That's like looking for a tech stock that's positioned to make you tons of money, it ain't happening in the next two months."
Buyer's market at quarterbackThere will be a few deals, but the market seems set for quarterbacks. There are numerous free agents available because of cap terminations and that's not good for the unemployed. With Jeff Blake, Elvis Grbac and Rob Johnson now on the market, teams have options. If any of these signal-callers think they can do better than the Jim Miller deal in Chicago, they need to take a reality pill. Miller's new deal averages a modest $2.4 million per year. In this environment if an agent finds that deal, my advice take the money and run. That is the ceiling if the unemployed are fortunate enough to find a team even that interested.
Suspicions about Collins, BledsoeI spent some time with a few New York Giants coaches and asked them what they thought of the apparent $100 million proposal Kerry Collins' agent submitted to the club. They all shook their heads and said "I didn't see him at the Pro Bowl, did you?" The next question circulating in Indy is where will Bledsoe surface and at his salary, the answer is maybe nowhere. The Patriots will have to lower their asking price to no more than a second-round pick, the agent is going to have to be willing to restructure the contract and that still may not be enough to move him. Obviously, the Texans could pick up one of these guys but not at a big-time starter's salary so you just have to wonder where the money is? Answer with only 14 teams with any decent cap space, it's slim pickings.
Not much money for linebackersThe linebacker market set up quickly this year. Bill Romanowski brought the first deal in and the modest signing bonus of $1.3 million on a seven-year deal was followed by Jessie Armstead's $1.25 million bonus in Washington. Recently terminated backers Marvin Jones, Donnie Edwards, Kevin Hardy and Stephen Boyd have to realize what the most optimistic deal will look like in this market. According to two pro personnel directors, Earl Holmes will make more, London Fletcher might make more and James Farrior shouldn't make more than Armstead even though he's younger and had a career year. "It's the economics of the times, nothing personal" as one director said. Rumblings and grumblingsGiants coaches believe recently cut safety Sam Garnes will land up across the Hudson River with the Jets. ... Recently released Colts defensive tackle Christian Peter will find his way back to the Giants. ... Bucs cornerback Donnie Abraham could be involved in a trade with the Jets for offensive lineman Kerry Jenkins. ... Finally, look for the Chiefs to shift their interest from free- agent offensive tackle Willie Roaf to former Ram Ryan Tucker. He's cheaper and he played for Dick Vermeil, just like Peter played for the Giant coaches before, Abraham played for Herm Edwards and Jenkins was coached by Bucs line coach Bill Muir. No guarantees any of these whisperings will happen, but when the coaches and front-office types know the players it has a good chance.
Pat Kirwan, who spent 12 years as a pro football coach, scout and personnel administrator, is an NFL analyst for CNN/Sports Illustrated and CNNSI.com.
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