PFW breaks down each team's plan of attack in free agency

Each team's capsule contains a list of players who are scheduled to become free agents on Feb. 28. Unrestricted free agents (UFAs) are players who have accrued four or more NFL seasons and are free to sign with any team unless given a franchise or transition tag. Restricted free agents (RFAs) are players with three accrued seasons. The player's current team has a right of first refusal on offers from other teams. If the team chooses to let a restricted free agent leave by opting not to match an offer, the team will receive draft-choice compensation from the player's new team.

Those who have been designated "franchise" players are required to be paid at least the average of the top five players at their position or a 20-percent raise, whichever is higher. "Transition" players require an offer of the average of the top 10 players at their position or a 20 percent raise, whichever is higher. In both cases, the original team has the right to match, and compensation for signing another team's franchise player is a pair of first-round picks.

Dallas Cowboys

	Cowboys' 2002 free agents
	UFAs: OLT Flozell Adams, TE Mike Lucky, DT Michael Myers, DT Brandon Noble, ORT Solomon Page, WR Darnay Scott, DE Peppi Zellner. RFAs: CB Mario Edwards, RB Michael Wiley.

Analysis: The team would like to re-sign OLT Flozell Adams (franchised last year) to a long-term deal at the right price. Dallas will not break the bank for him, and negotiations are reportedly in the earliest stages. Sources say head coach Bill Parcells already has met with Adams, who started every game for the team at left tackle the past four years and who would be considered one of the best linemen available on the open market. The next priority among its own free agents likely would be DT Brandon Noble. The team has exchanged contract proposals with Noble's agent, and they hope to re-sign him, preferably quickly. The cap situation -- between $7 million and $11 million under -- is relatively friendly, and it could allow the Cowboys to pursue help on the offensive line and possibly at running back, where Emmitt Smith isn't likely to be part of the picture unless they can significantly reduce his $9.8 million cap number for 2003. RB Stephen Davis, who will be released by the Redskins, is a possibility, but Davis' Dallas-based agent Steve Weinberg recently was decertified by the NFL, which could snag any immediate negotiations. More likely the team will go after a few Parcells-type, middle-of-the-road free agents instead of one or two big-name free agents. The Cowboys will likely allow TE Mike Lucky and DT Mike Myers test free agency before deciding whether to re-sign them. They aren't expected to make offers to ORT Solomon Page, WR Darnay Scott or DE Peppi Zellner.

New York Giants

	Giants' 2002 free agents
	UFAs: OL Barrett Brooks, TE Dan Campbell, QB Jason Garrett, WR Ike Hilliard, OLT Luke Petitgout, ORT Mike Rosenthal, CB Kato Serwanga, S Omar Stoutmire, OG Jason Whittle. RFAs: C-OG Chris Bober, CB Ralph Brown, WR Ron Dixon, DE Brian Frisch, LB Dhani Jones, LB Kevin Lewis, LB Brandon Short.

Analysis: With the Rams' Orlando Pace and the Seahawks' Walter Jones not likely to see the open market because they were franchised, there's a good chance that OLT Luke Petitgout will be the most coveted free agent at his position. Petitgout could ask for similar money to what the Colts' Tarik Glenn ($30 million, $10 million signing bonus) received last year. The Giants want to keep Petitgout, but the price might be too high. With two other offensive linemen -- OG Jason Whittle and ORT Mike Rosenthal -- to take care of, there is a limited amount of money to go around. Once the Giants are done signing their own free agents and either cutting or restructuring the contracts of CB Jason Sehorn, OL Dusty Zeigler and DT Kenny Holmes, the Giants will be about $2 million under the salary cap. GM Ernie Accorsi said the team would like to re-sign all of its key free agents, a group that also includes WR Ike Hilliard, S Omar Stoutmire and TE Dan Campbell. Hilliard has said repeatedly he wants to return, but the price the Giants offer might not be to his liking. Former college coach Steve Spurrier might be interested in Hilliard's services. Stoutmire might return, but the Giants want to upgrade the safety position. Campbell provides nice security at the position and likely will return unless he thinks he can challenge for a starting spot elsewhere. Linebacker is also an area the team would like to improve, so don't be surprised if the team does not tender a contract to at least one of its restricted linebackers. It has been reported that the Giants will cut CB Jason Sehorn. They already dumped Matt Allen, so they will need to find a new punter.

Philadelphia Eagles

	Eagles' 2002 free agents
	UFAs: LB Shawn Barber, OG Doug Brzezinski, S Rashard Cook, QB Koy Detmer, WR Dameane Douglas, DE Hugh Douglas, WR Antonio Freeman, LB Barry Gardner, P Lee Johnson, LB Levon Kirkland, P Sean Landeta, RB Dorsey Levens, RB Cecil Martin, RB-RS Brian Mitchell, TE Jeff Thomason. RFAs: None.

Analysis: With 16 unrestricted free agents on their own plate, the Eagles will be one of the busiest teams in free agency. The biggest name on the list is DE Hugh Douglas, who triggered his free agency by collecting more than 91z2 sacks last season. He will be courted heavily by a few teams looking for a pass rusher; the Jets, Giants and Chiefs are said to be interested. Douglas' age (he'll be 32 next season) likely will keep his market value down some, and sources say Douglas would probably take a three-year deal to stay -- provided the Eagles' offer does not insult him. The team has a solid cap situation, thanks to some clever front-office economics the past few years. It should be able to re-sign its priority free agents, including LB Shawn Barber, OG Doug Brzezinski and WR Antonio Freeman, who has spoken with head coach Andy Reid about returning for another season. For a team very close to another run at the Super Bowl, you'd think it would make re-signing veteran KR Brian Mitchell more of a priority. Apparently the club does not want to sign Mitchell for more than one season, while the league's No. 2 all-time total yardage leader would like a two- or three-year deal. He could go elsewhere, such as Tampa Bay. QB Koy Detmer likely will accept the veteran's minimum to return as Donovan McNabb's backup. TE Jeff Thomason and S Rashard Cook are likely to return; MLBs Barry Gardner and Levon Kirkland are doubtful to return, making that position a priority through free agency or the draft. RB Dorsey Levens is also doubtful to return with RB Correll Buckhalter at full strength.

Washington Redskins

	Redskins' 2002 free agents
	UFAs: DT Santana Dotson, DT Daryl Gardener, OG Tré Johnson, LB Eddie Mason, QB Shane Matthews, LB Kevin Mitchell, DT Carl Powell, WR Derrius Thompson, OG Kipp Vickers, QB Danny Wuerffel. RFAs: WR Chris Doering, S David Terrell.

Analysis: The big name on the list is DT Daryl Gardener, and the Redskins want to bring him back. Negotiations have begun, come to a halt, started back up and stalled once again. So it's unclear where the two sides stand. The issue essentially comes down to health. Gardener's back troubles, which did not crop up last year but historically have been a problem, leave the team with a dilemma: If the Redskins let him go and he does well, they lose; if they overpay to keep Gardener and he fails, they also lose. The team appears to be moving on without the services of WR Derrius Thompson, the team's starter last season across from Rod Gardner, who had a nice season with 53 catches for 773 yards and four touchdowns. All indications are that the team likely will use a high pick on a receiver and try to sign one through free agency. The cap situation is not dire, but it's not great. There is the potential to clear more space if veterans such as Champ Bailey, LaVar Arrington and Chris Samuels restructure their deals. Itinerant DT Carl Powell is likely to return at a reasonable price because he appears to have found a niche in Washington's rotation. Both quarterbacks -- Shane Matthews and Danny Wuerffel -- are likely gone. The team badly wants to upgrade at offensive guard, but it's not clear if either Tré Johnson or Kipp Vickers are in their plans. LB Keith Mitchell would leave for the chance to play right away somewhere else -- something he won't get here -- but LB Eddie Mason, a good special-teams player, can probably be had for a song.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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