When the New England Patriots signed restricted free agent linebacker Mike Maslowski to an offer sheet on Thursday, and the New Orleans Saints followed by agreeing with cornerback Jason Craft on a deal, the first two shoes in the "other" free agent market fell.

And given the sudden interest in restricted free agents, players with three years of experience who have been tendered qualifying offers by their current teams, this typically untapped market might soon resemble a Thom McAnn store shortly after an earthquake.

Largely ignored in most springs, the restricted market is being scrutinzed closely by teams this year. It is more complicated navigating the restricted pool, since the current team by definition possesses a right of first refusal, but some personnel directors sense an opportunity this spring to add young, viable veterans by trolling its waters.

Maslowski signed a one-year deal for $900,000 that his current team, Kansas City, probably will not match. The front-loaded structure of the three-year, $3.525 million offer sheet Craft signed in New Orleans, with 62 percent of the total value of the contract paid out in the first year, all but precludes Jacksonville from matching it.

Now that the restricted market has officially opened for business, look for more offer sheets to be signed in coming days.

	Warrick Holdman was second on the Bears last season with 109 tackles.

"There are some intriguing guys there," said Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly, who will visit soon with some restricted players, including Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Kris Brown. "You're always taking a chance with (the restricted) players, but there might be a few players worth taking the gamble for, although you have to be very smart about it."

Indeed, the restricted market is a dicey proposition, one usually fraught with disappointment.

A restricted free agent's current team retains its right of first refusal by making a qualifying offer at one of three levels. The lowest level, ostensibly a one-year offer at $563,000, means that a club retains its right and is due compensation if the player signs elsewhere and the current team opts not to match the offer sheet. The current team is compensated with a draft pick commensurate to the round in which the player was originally selected.

If a player entered the league as an undrafted free agent and is tendered at the lowest level, the current team retains a right of first refusal but there is no compensation.

The middle level qualifying offer, for $1.227 million, carries compensation of a first-round pick. The highest tender, $1.637 million, has first- and third-round choices as compensation.

Let's say another team signed Pittsburgh weakside linebacker Joey Porter, who has the middle qualifying offer of $1.227 million, to an offer sheet. Pittsburgh would have seven days to either match the offer or allow Porter to move to the other franchise. If they did not match the deal, the Steelers would be compensated with a first-round draft choice.

All deals with restricted free agents must be completed by April 15 or their exclusive negotiation rights revert back to their current franchise.

Teams typically aren't active in signing restricted free agents because the original teams usually match the offer and, in essence, all you've done is negotiated the contract for them.

Over the past three seasons, just 10 restricted free agents switched teams. In the first three years of the current system, 1993-95, 21 restricted free agents changed clubs. It's notable that just 20 restricted players have switched franchises since then.

Four restricted players moved in 2001. That number could be exceeded this year, especially if the buzz surrounding some young veterans in that market is legitimate, and teams are sufficiently serious about becoming more active in that area. Based solely on the number of visits that several restricted free agents are making, the market is percolating more than in previous springs.

The possibility of pirating starting weakside linebacker Warrick Holdman away from Chicago -- and with no compensation due the Bears -- is a tempting one. Chicago made the lowest qualifying offer to Holdman, meaning the compensation price tag for him should be a fourth-rounder, the stanza he was drafted at in 1999. But because of a clerical error by the Bears, who still retain right of first refusal but with no compensation, teams are coming hard after Holdman.

And with good reason since, at age 26, the former Texas A&M standout already is an emerging player at a key position.

Craft and Maslowski are prime examples of players attractive in the restricted market. Basically role players with their current teams, the young veterans are projected to emerge as key contributors by the teams signing them to offer sheets. There are more players like them, and several starters as well, in this year's restricted pool.

Here is a look at 10 more restricted free agents who have drawn, or will draw, interest: