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The clock is ticking inexorably toward the Thursday deadline for designating pending free agents as "franchise" or "transition" players and, while there are plenty of negotiations quietly taking place, the smart money is that very few contracts get completed.
That could mean a record number of "franchise" tags next week. And if that is the case, then look for the acrimony level to rise around the league, as the tagged players vent frustrations at being kept off the unrestricted market.
In fact, two teams have already used markers to limit the mobility of high profile pending free agents, and the players involved are less than thrilled. The St. Louis Rams used a "franchise" tag on left offensive tackle Orlando Pace earlier this week and the Cincinnati Bengals applied a "transition" tag to linebacker Takeo Spikes.
|  | | The Bucs could keep Jackson from becoming a free agent by "tagging" him. |
"I made it pretty clear to them that, after five years of losing with this team, I would prefer to move on," Spikes said. "I understand they're doing what they think they have to do. But it doesn't make the situation any better. In fact, it's just worse now."
Those sentiments echo the ones that typically emanate from those free agents designated "franchise" or "transition" free agents. There was a time when the markers were a matter of prestige and, frankly, that was part of the initial intent when the current collective bargaining agreement was hammered out in 1993.
Over the years, however, the tags have become a scourge, sort of a scarlet letter for those to whom they are attached. Using a designation on a player permits a team to protect his rights, but the level of animus created usually becomes a major headache for both sides. There are very few examples, in fact, of amiable negotiations between teams and "franchise" players.
In truth, coaching staffs despise having to use the "franchise" or "transition" tags as well, because the designated players characteristically boycott all the offseason workouts, since they essentially don't have a contract. As loyal a player as linebacker Keith Brooking has been to the Atlanta Falcons, for instance, his agent has already apprised club officials that his client will be a no-show this spring if he is tagged a "franchise" player, as anticipated. Pace has likewise indicated he will be a stranger in St. Louis until a long-term deal is completed.
Said one prominent agent: "Obviously, I've got a vested interest in having teams not use the 'franchise' tag. But the teams that do, well, they're going into a hornet's nest. The thing is never pretty. If I was working the other side and had a key player I couldn't get signed, yeah, I'd use the 'franchise' tag, because it's a weapon at my disposal. But I would also be realistic and understand it's going to be a long, long spring."
From an informal survey of general managers around the league, it looks like there could be 11-12 players slapped with "franchise" or "transition" tags next week. Veterans like Baltimore cornerback Chris McAlister, New England safety Tebucky Jones, Arizona wide receiver David Boston, Dallas offensive tackle Flozell Adams, Minnesota tight end Jim Kleinsasser and Jacksonville safety Donovin Darius are all but certain to be tagged. The Falcons are publicly wavering now about Brooking, but he's apt to be a "franchise" player, too, if he doesn't get a long-term deal.
Seattle may have to choose between offensive tackle Walter Jones and linebacker Anthony Simmons. Carolina has discussed the possibility of using a tag on punter Todd Sauerbrun. And the Bucs might keep Super Bowl most valuable player Dexter Jackson with a tag.
Why the preponderance of safeties in the aforementioned group? Because the "franchise" designation for a safety costs a team just $3.043 million. Next to the "franchise" number for kickers and punters, that's the lowest for any position, and players like Jones and Darius are bargains at that price.
Around the league
One prime young player who almost certainly won't be designated as a "franchise" free agent, and who will attract plenty of attention, is weak-side linebacker Mike Peterson of the Colts. The club has nearly 40 percent of its cap tied up in three players -- quarterback Peyton Manning, wide receiver Marvin Harrison and tailback Edgerrin James -- and it seems prohibitive to put a marker on Peterson, an athletic playmaker who, at age 26, is only going to get better. It could be a tough sacrifice for coach Tony Dungy, even in a game where such tradeoffs are inevitable, especially since he is trying to rebuild the Indianapolis defense around young players with speed. A former second-round pick (1999), Peterson is the kind of free agent every team should want: a guy who has been a starter, is entering his prime, and still has a significant upside.
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| Holmes |
File this in the it-was-just-a-matter-of-time department: Chiefs tailback Priest Holmes, one of the best bang-for-the-back free agent additions in NFL history, is quietly seeking an upgraded new contract. And who can blame the guy? He has certainly outplayed the five-year, $8.45 million deal he signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2001. That deal included a signing bonus of $2 million. Put him on the market now and Holmes might triple that amount. His current contract has three seasons remaining, with salaries of $1.95 million (2003), $2.15 million (2004) and $2.35 million (2005). In addition, there are roster bonuses of $250,000 this year, $300,000 for '04 and $350,000 in '05, along with annual workout bonuses of $50,000. Only in the final year of the contract, though, does Holmes' cap number rise to above the $3 million level.
If this is going to be the final season of Jim Hanifan's long and celebrated career, as some have suggested, the St. Louis Rams aren't making things easy for the legendary offensive line coach. Right now, only one of the eight top offensive linemen from the 2002 roster is under contract, Pro Bowl right guard Adam Timmerman. Little wonder Hanifan is scouring videotape and looking at free agent possibilities from other teams. Left tackle Orlando Pace has been designated a "franchise" free agent. Right tackle John St. Clair is a restricted free agent. Center Andy McCollum and left guard Tom Nutten are both pending unrestricted free agents, as are backups Tim Irwin, Grant Williams and Frank Garcia. As noted above, it could be a long, long summer waiting for a deal with Pace to be completed. Hanifan, who is going into the final year of his contract, could still be shuffling bodies well into training camp. One experiment that has already ended even before it began, though, is the move of Timmerman to right tackle. Coach Mike Martz had toyed with the idea of the switch but has decided against it now.
Last time we checked, the free-agent period didn't begin until Feb. 28, but the league is well into "Tampering Time" already. Some agents are privately boasting about how many franchises have contacted them about unrestricted free-agent clients. The illegal tactic goes on, of course, every spring. A team will phone an agent on some guise and, suddenly, the two are discussing the market for a player and where it might be headed. This year, though, agents have been shameless in already identifying teams in whom their clients may be interested. Let's see, by last count, agent Leigh Steinberg had mentioned at least three clubs for whom Kordell Stewart might consider playing. Only problem is, Pittsburgh hasn't yet released the onetime starting quarterback, a move that is coming in the next week or so. The media is partly to blame as well. Ever know an agent, who is attempting to create as big a market as he can for his pending free agent client, to acknowledge that a player wouldn't be interested in a certain franchise? From what we hear, some NFL Players Association officials this week phoned a few agents to remind them that the recruiting period doesn't begin until the end of the month and to ease up on some of the shameless huckstering that has taken place.
There figures to be plenty of roster paring by the end of the month, in part because a lot of players have seven-figure roster or option bonuses that come due on March 1, and teams are loathe to pay that money for guys who no longer fit into their plans or are simply too expensive. The Cowboys have indicated already they won't fork over a $4.8 million option bonus to weak-side linebacker Kevin Hardy, will allow him to go into free agency, and then try to sign him to a more palatable deal. Another player to watch between now and the end of the month is Green Bay cornerback Tyrone Williams, due a $4 million roster bonus on March 1, and likely to be cut if he doesn't rework his contract before that. Another cornerback who might come onto the market is Ashley Ambrose of Atlanta, but not because of a roster or option bonus. The Falcons are a little more cap-strapped than it might appear and Ambrose, whose 2002 performance was down from the solid effort of 2001, has a base salary of $4.575 million and a cap value of $6.125 million. Given the way Ray Buchanan played in '02, the Falcons don't want to part with Ambrose, but might not have a choice.
Most college scouts agree that the 2003 draft figures to continue a trend of being deep at the defensive tackle position. The last two drafts produced 10 first-round defensive tackles and scouts feel there are a dozen prospects in 2003 who should contribute for teams as rookies. But don't ask the scouts to rate the defensive tackles because, it seems, everyone has assessed the pool differently. There is a consensus top five group, but no one seems to have them in the same order. One tackle who seems to be sliding a bit is William Joseph of Miami. A riser: Dewayne Robertson of Kentucky, an underclass entry, but a guy who this week ran in the 4.7s for his personal trainer while weighing in the 315-pound range.
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| Blake |
Baltimore Ravens officials keep contending publicly that re-signing quarterback Jeff Blake is a priority, one exacerbated by the offseason back surgery that Chris Redman underwent about five weeks ago. But sources indicated this week to ESPN.com that the alleged level of interest in keeping Blake hasn't been matched yet by the Ravens in dollars. There is a chance now, with no deal in the foreseeable future, that Blake will actually hit the free-agent market where he will draw some interest, especially having resurrected his career as a starter in 2002.
Add left offensive tackle Tarik Glenn to the growing list of Indianapolis players who have completed so-called "simple" contract restructurings to aid the Colts on the 2003 salary cap. ESPN.com has learned that Glenn has agreed to cut his base salary from $1.4 million to the minimum of $655,000, with the team guaranteeing the difference, essentially in a signing bonus. The move saves the Colts $596,000 on the 2003 cap and adds just $149,000 each to Glenn's cap values for 2004-2007. Glenn joins fellow tackle Adam Meadows, tight end Marcus Pollard, cornerback Walt Harris and kicker Mike Vanderjagt in agreeing to a "simple" restructuring. Look for defensive end Chad Bratzke, who has a whopping cap value of $7.734 million for '03, to be the next player to complete such a deal. Do not expect, however, wide receiver Marvin Harrison to agree to a restructuring. The league record holder for catches in a season, Harrison has a cap number of $7.709 million for 2003, and helped the Colts last year with a "simple" restructuring. But with just this season and 2004 remaining on his contract, Harrison would prefer a new extension to a reworking his current deal.
A couple months ago, we noted in the "Tip Sheet" that longtime NFL personnel director Ken Herock had created a burgeoning cottage business by preparing young players for the interviews that take place at the combine. Herock has had over 75 clients this year and actually had to turn away some players because of time constraints. But now Herock is considering offering his service, which deals only with off-field preparation for the draft, to the college level. His plan would be to address the seniors or draft-eligible players on campus, essentially to present the same program that he does for individuals, and reach players even earlier in the process.
The Washington Redskins plan to make a big run at New York Jets pending guard Randy Thomas. As noted here last week, Thomas is going to draw interest from five or six other teams as well. For a guard, a position that is typically treated with short shrift in free agency, Thomas figures to be one of the most coveted players in the talent pool. ESPN.com has learned that Jets officials plan to make one more run at Thomas, possibly over the weekend, to see if a contract extension can be reached.
There has been much speculation the New England Patriots will use both their first-round choices in April on defensive tackles, but don't bet on it. The rationale is that, by landing two tackles, New England could switch young star Richard Seymour to end. But teams who have played against Seymour insist his quickness is better utilized inside at tackle. "He'd be just another guy (at end)," said one AFC pro personnel director. "He's got great quickness for a tackle but that doesn't necessarily project to end. I mean, why screw with a guy who is going to be in the Pro Bowl for 10 years at tackle, right? I don't see it happening."
Maybe the fourth time will be a charm for much-traveled tailback John Avery, the first-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins in 1998, who is back in the NFL after a three-season hiatus. The former University of Mississippi scatback, who topped the CFL in both rushing and kickoff return average in 2002 while leading the Edmonton Eskimos to a berth in the Grey Cup championship game, on Thursday signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings. It's a good deal for both sides, since it gets Avery back into the league for another shot at fulfilling his vast potential, and costs Minnesota just the $375,000 minimum base salary. "The guy still has some 'quicks,' did well in the workout and we're at no real (financial) risk, so why not?" said one Minnesota coach. Avery, 27, will return kickoffs for the Vikings, who averaged just 20.6 yards per runback in 2002. With his weight up to about 200 pounds, Avery, who played at about 185 pounds in his first NFL incarnation, is much sturdier now. He carried 229 times for 1,448 yards and 9 touchdowns for Edmonton in '02, and his 6.3-yard average also led the league. Avery caught 45 passes for 387 yards and two scores and returned 26 kickoffs for a 25.4-yard average. He also drew interest from the Chicago Bears. Avery was the 29th player chosen overall in the '98 draft, played in 16 games for the Dolphins and rushed for 503 yards. He was traded to Denver just two games into the 1999 season, appeared in six games, and had seven kickoff returns for an average of 19.6 yards. He was released the following summer by the Broncos, was subsequently cut by the Dallas Cowboys in 2000, and played for the Chicago franchise of the XFL in 2001.
Most of the league yawned this week when the Cleveland Browns signed tight end Steve Heiden to a two-year deal to keep him off the unrestricted free-agent market. But the Browns feel Heiden, acquired from San Diego last summer for a seventh-round draft choice, fits well into their offensive style, and that he will be improved this year because he will benefit from a full training camp with the team. Obviously, judging from the contract the Browns awarded Heiden, they wanted him back. It's not a blockbuster, but Cleveland did invest a $375,000 signing bonus, hardly chump change when one considers Heiden caught just 17 balls in 2002. The base salaries for the contract are $575,000 for 2003 and $625,000 in 2004, and there is also a $50,000 workout bonus in the second year of the deal. The contract has a fairly impressive incentives package, too.
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| Manning |
Right now, it's just idle thinking, but the Colts could eventually be in a real pickle with quarterback Peyton Manning and his contract situation. Manning is due a base salary of $11.3 million in 2003, the final season of his current contract, and he carries a cap value in excess of $15 million. The Colts have said they would like to negotiate an extension, one that would provide the team significant cap relief, but talks haven't gotten serious to this point. And Manning pointed out during Super Bowl week that he has to get some tough questions answered -- the team's alleged flirtation with Los Angeles, plans for revamping the roster, the futures of general manager Bill Polian and offensive coordinator Tom Moore -- before he begins to think hard about re-upping. But let's say Manning doesn't sign a new deal and the Colts are forced to designate him a "franchise" player for 2004. That would actually drop his cap number, to about $13.6 million, since Indianapolis would have to pay him 20 percent more than his '03 base salary. And let's further say that Manning refuses altogether to sign a long-term deal and forces the Colts to use the "franchise" tag every year from 2004 through 2008. Yeah, we know it probably won't happen, folks. But if it did -- and even applying the "franchise" tag in 2004 would create a disincentive for Manning to do a long-term contract -- his salary would be $28.116 million for the '08 season. And between 2004-2008, the base salaries would total more than $100 million, an average of $20 million plus.
Punts: Circle the date Feb. 26, because that's the day when Dallas coach Bill Parcells will convene his first offseason meeting with Cowboys players. The returning veterans could be in for some culture shock that day … It looks like the Rams will pay quarterback Kurt Warner the $6 million option bonus due him at the end of the month, but then attempt to restructure his contract. Make no mistake, St. Louis coaches and team officials remain very high on youngster Marc Bulger … Chicago general manager Jerry Angelo is doing a terrific job of offering mixed views on how he will use the fourth overall choice in the draft. The consensus is that Chicago must draft a young quarterback with that selection. From what we hear, though, the Bears might wait until the second round to grab a quarterback. They are looking hard at the possibility of grabbing a defense tackle with the first go-round … The rehabilitation period for Jevon Kearse following this week's foot surgery figures to be more like 3-5 months and not the 6-10 weeks first predicted … Any team looking for an assistant secondary coach might want to think about former NFL safety Martin Bayless, one of the league's brainiest defenders during his playing days. Bayless recently interviewed for the job of assistant secondary coach at Kansas City, but that post is expected to go to another former NFL defensive back, James Hasty. But the classy Bayless still has the itch to coach, just wants a ground-floor opportunity, and some team could benefit in the long run from hiring him.
The last words: "I'm a creative guy. Hey, I'll take some of the parking money. We can sell more Cokes in the stadium." -- Kansas City tailback Priest Holmes on how to fund the new contract he has requested.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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