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June 1 isn't what it used to be.
| |  | | Despite his toe injury, Deion Sanders will have plenty of suitors if the Cowboys choose to release him. |
Back in the old days of free agency -- you know, two years ago -- most teams released at least one "name" player after that date for
salary-cap relief.
If a player is waived on or after June 1, according to the rules of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement, the remaining portion of
his signing bonus can be divided over two seasons instead of one. That allows teams to clear salary-cap room, with most franchises using the
money toward signing their draft picks.
In the past, there was usually a player whose release would spark a bidding war among teams with cap room remaining. Last year, Vinny Testaverde fielded several appealing offers before becoming an All-Pro
quarterback with the New York Jets.
But this year, there is only one potential cap victim who would make teams salivate: Dallas cornerback Deion Sanders.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has to decide whether it's worth signing Sanders to a contract extension when it's not certain when he will be
ready to play. Sanders recently underwent surgery for a sprained big toe -- a serious injury despite how it sounds -- and will be out for
another three or four months.
Sanders has missed playing time because of injury every season since joining the Cowboys in 1995. But as Jones knows, Sanders is one
of the few players in the NFL capable of winning a game solely on individual talent.
Jones also is well aware that plenty of teams, including the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, would love to sign Sanders in hopes he can play by midseason.
While there were no big moves June 1, a few could be coming soon.
The Broncos are expected to release -- and then probably re-sign -- defensive end Neil Smith -- possibly as early as this week -- to clear $2.7 million in cap room. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said the Broncos would like to sign Smith to a contract
with a lower salary.
Here are some other players who might be looking for work:
Desmond Howard (wide receiver/kick returner, Oakland): A breakthrough 1996 season on special teams -- and the Raiders' promise to use him as a wide receiver -- landed Howard a four-year, $6 million contract to leave Green Bay for Oakland. But not only has Howard failed to make an impact at receiver, but his poor judgments on returns frequently cost the Raiders in 1998.
Marcus Jones (defensive tackle, Tampa Bay): After three seasons,
Jones has not lived up to the expectations that come with being a first-round pick. But there is still a chance Jones will stick with the Buccaneers because no team wants to give up on a defensive lineman with potential.
James McKnight (wide receiver, Seattle): Last season, former
Seahawks coach Dennis Erickson hoped McKnight would develop into a quality complement for Joey Galloway. Instead, McKnight dropped so many passes that marginal receivers Mike Pritchard and Brian Blades
became more appealing targets.
Thomas Randolph (cornerback, Cincinnati): Bengals secondary coach
Ray Horton was on vacation last year when Cincinnati signed Randolph to a three-year, $5.7 million contract to leave the New York Giants.
Upon his return, Horton told one of his confidants the 5-foot-9 Randolph wasn't going to help his unit. Horton was right. Randolph couldn't even start for one of the NFL's worst secondaries.
Jets think sky's the limit
At a recent minicamp, Jets coach Bill Parcells swore his team "will not be seduced by expectations."
We'll see.
The Jets, a legitimate contender to win Super Bowl XXXIV, have become even more boastful since Broncos quarterback John Elway retired last month. In fact, some members of the Jets are acting like the Jets
already have passed Denver as the AFC's top dog.
"We're no longer hunting," Testaverde said. "We're the hunted."
We'll see.
Joe Pa talks about Collins
Penn State coach Joe Paterno believes the NFL career of one of his former quarterbacks -- Kerry Collins -- went downhill in Carolina after front-office guru Bill Polian left to become president of the Indianapolis Colts in 1998. Polian made Collins the Panthers' inaugural first-round pick in 1995.
"I'm not so sure he was happy in that area," Paterno told the New York Post. "There may have been some friction between Bill Polian,
who believed very strongly in him, and maybe some other people in the organization. Once Bill left, it seemed some of his problems started."
But Collins, who is now with the New York Giants, admits there were other problems in Carolina.
"Alcohol was playing too much of a part of my life," Collins said. "That's the bottom line."
Around the league
AFC WEST: Former Denver wide receiver Justin Armour was one of
only five players selected in February's expansion draft who is no longer with the Cleveland Browns. Armour, a disappointment in Denver last season after a promising training camp, was waived last week. The Browns still have 32 of their 37 expansion picks, but Cleveland will
have to cut 10 more players before the start of training camp. Cleveland can take 90 players into training camp, 10 more than the established clubs . . . Kansas City is hoping middle linebacker Mike Maslowski's dominating play overseas will carry into next season. Maslowski, who played collegiately at Wisconsin-La Crosse and was signed by Kansas City in January, has 60 tackles and three interceptions this spring for Barcelona in NFL Europe. Maslowski can
assure himself of an NFL roster spot if he does well with long snapping because the Chiefs are lukewarm on re-signing veteran
offensive lineman Ralph Tamm.
AFC CENTRAL: With a lack of talent at wide receiver, Baltimore coach Brian Billick is considering making a run at Cincinnati's Carl Pickens and San Francisco's Terrell Owens. Both players were given
franchise tags by their respective teams, which makes signing them a costly proposition (first-round draft picks in 2000 and 2001) for the
Ravens. Baltimore also has little hope of making a trade to obtain either player. Owens is negotiating a contract extension in San
Francisco, while Bengals owner Mike Brown is still angry at Ravens owner Art Modell for firing his legendary father, Paul, as head coach
of the Cleveland Browns in 1963. A more likely alternative is the re-signing of Michael Jackson, who was waived in the offseason after a poor 1998 campaign. "He's lost a step but that doesn't mean he can't be productive,"
Billick said.
AFC EAST: The ownership situation of the Jets won't immediately affect coach Bill Parcells. Jets owner Leon Hess, who died
earlier this month, wrote in his will that the team should be sold because none of his heirs have an interest in running it. Parcells,
though, was told by Hess' son, John, that no changes would be made during the 1999 season, which could be the Tuna's last hurrah before
retirement. When asked about his plans beyond next season, Parcells said, "Just write whatever you want. I have nothing to say about it. ... There's obviously going to be some change here. I'll just have to see what that is and what the new ownership wants to do."
NFC WEST: Atlanta running back Jamal Anderson was the NFC's top
rusher in 1998, but that hasn't inflated his ego. While still upset about being mentioned in trade talks with New England in April, Anderson wants to sign a contract extension with the Falcons. But Anderson, a potential free agent in 2000 who is seeking a deal that will put him on par salary-wise with Denver's Terrell Davis and Detroit's Barry Sanders, understands if the Falcons decide not to show him the money. "Anything is possible now," Anderson told the
Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Believe me: If (Wayne) Gretzky got traded, anything is possible for the rest of us mortals."
San Francisco quarterback Steve Young is happy with the offseason
work of new general manager Bill Walsh and his staff. So far, Walsh has done a nice job getting San Francisco's salary-cap problems under
control. Young said the front office was basically nonexistent last fall with Carmen Policy and Dwight Clark heading to Cleveland. "You
like to think that the team isn't affected by that," Young told reporters. "But it's hard not to be aware of it and wonder what's
happening."
NFC CENTRAL: New Packers coach Ray Rhodes said one of his top priorities is making sure quarterback Brett Favre doesn't get clobbered like he did at times last year. "What we need to do is make sure we protect Brett," Packers offensive line coach Larry Beightol said. "We're going to put a heavy emphasis on that area. Heck, even
in (minicamps) we've been working on some blitz pickups, which I really like. We don't ever want to see our quarterback run. I don't want to ever see Favre going downfield. Even as tough as he is, I don't want one of those linebackers taking a shot at him. We won't
have much of a chance to win like that."
NFC EAST: The jobs of Washington Redskins coach Norv Turner and general manager Charley Casserly are officially safe through next
season now that the NFL has approved Daniel Snyder as the team's new owner. In April, Snyder promised to retain Turner and Casserly if his
$800 million ownership bid was accepted. The legacy of Jack Kent Cooke might not fare as well. Snyder said he would consider selling the
naming rights of Washington's stadium, which was named after the longtime Redskins owner in 1997. One thing that will not change is the
team's nickname despite continuing protest from Native American groups. "I do not think it's offensive," Snyder said. "I think it's a
tradition."
Alex Marvez is a reporter for the Denver Rocky Mountain News.
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