The Washington Redskins will release starting left defensive end Marco Coleman next Monday, the first day that NFL teams can officially gain salary cap relief by making post-June 1 roster moves, agent Jack Reale told ESPN.com on Friday night.

	Coleman

Reale said he spoke with Redskins vice president of football operations Joe Mendes on Thursday and was apprised of the team's decision, after the two sides could not reach an agreement on a contract restructuring that would reduce Coleman's compensation and his impact on Washington's 2002 salary cap.

A team source also confirmed that Coleman will be released.

"The issue is settled," Reale said. "We never really got close to getting anything done and so there is no sense in continuing these discussions. They will release Marco on Monday and they said they wanted to keep the lines of communication open because they'd like to try to re-sign him (to a less-expensive contract). But I very much doubt that will happen."

Indeed, the 10-year veteran is expected to generate considerable interest once released into the free-agent market, even in a year when most veterans' expectations have been dashed. Among the several anticipated suitors for Coleman, 32, could be the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars, Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings.

The Eagles, who always seem to add a key player from the post-June 1 market, still have more than $9 million in available salary cap funds. Coleman is close friends with Eagles cornerback Troy Vincent, a one-time teammate with the Dolphins.

Teams cannot contact released veterans until their names officially appear on the league transaction wire Monday afternoon.

In addition to still being a productive player on the field, Coleman has long been viewed as a strong presence in the locker room, and that certainly will enhance his attractiveness to teams also seeking veteran leadership.

"Obviously, there's nothing we can do for now," Reale said. "So we'll just wait until Monday and see if the phone rings. Marco is in great shape, he wants to play three more years, and he wants to play for a team that has legitimate Super Bowl potential."

Coleman, who played the past three seasons for the Redskins, was scheduled to have a base salary of $3 million for 2002 and is due a $500,000 signing bonus on Wednesday. The Redskins will save the combined $3.5 million but must still count $1.294 million against their '02 salary cap for this season's prorated share of a past signing bonus. In 2003, Washington will be charged $3.88 million for Coleman's contract, even though he will no longer be with the club.

Washington officials had proposed that Coleman reduce his compensation to $750,000 for 2002, the league minimum base salary for a 10-year veteran. A Redskins source said the franchise "might miss (Coleman's) leadership even more" than his abilities on the playing field. The Redskins last month signed versatile defensive lineman Renaldo Wynn, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars, as an unrestricted free agent, and he will replace Coleman at left end.

The contract which will be terminated on Monday was to have run through the 2005 season and would have paid Coleman future base salaries of $4.5 million (2003), $5.5 million (2004) and $6.5 million (2005).

Reale said he approached Washington officials earlier this spring and proposed a three-year contract worth about $10 million, a deal that might have permitted the Redskins to retain the defensive end, but the suggestion was rebuffed at the time.

Coleman appeared in and started 12 games in 2001, missing four contests with an elbow injury. He registered 55 tackles, 4½ sacks and three forced fumbles, but the injury meant he was not as effective as he had been in 2000. That season, Coleman had a career-best 12 sacks, added 62 tackles and made his first Pro Bowl appearance.

For his career, the former Georgia Tech star has appeared in 155 games and has posted 592 tackles, 56½ sacks, 19 forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He was chosen by the Dolphins in the first round of the 1992 draft, played four seasons in Miami and then signed with San Diego as a "transition" free agent in 1996. He moved to the 'Skins in 1999 as an unrestricted free agent.

Reale also spoke to Mendes on Thursday about possible interest in re-signing offensive guard Matt Campbell, released by the Houston Texans earlier in the week. Campbell was with the Redskins in 2001 and started five games. He was selected by Houston in the expansion stocking draft in February but then released this week.

Washington has some interest in Campbell and has been seeking a guard for several weeks, but the Redskins will wait to evaluate other players who might enter the market this month. A seven-year veteran, Campbell visited with Seattle officials on Friday and likely will meet with representatives of the Jaguars next week.

Len Pasquarelli is a senior writer for ESPN.com.