Since the advent of free agency in 1993, most NFL teams have approached it
cautiously.
They might stick a toe or two into the free-agent pool every year, signing
a couple of mid-level free agents to fill unexpected holes in the starting
lineup. And every once in awhile they might even take the plunge, signing a
big-name player in an attempt to put their team over the top.
So far, however, no team has made a living with wholesale signings of
unrestricted free agents. The NFL mantra has been: Draft well and keep the
players you have when they come up for free agency.
But if you watched the Super Bowl closely -- and what team in the
monkey-see, monkey-do NFL didn't? -- it was easy to see the growing
importance of free agency.
The Ravens and Giants milked the free-agent list as well as anyone in the
league last offseason. More important, they did it without spending
themselves into salary-cap hell by handing out mega-contracts to one or two
players.
|  | | Micheal Barrow was one of the best bargains of last offseason. |
Would-be contenders should take note. As the NFL races become more volatile
every year, the team that does the best job in free agency might be the team
that will improve the most in any given year. The Super Bowl teams, for
instance, were both 12-4 in 2000 after failing to make the playoffs the
previous season.
The Ravens' free-agent class included tight end Shannon Sharpe, quarterback
Trent Dilfer, defensive tackle Sam Adams, fullback Sam Gash and guard Kipp
Vickers, a valuable reserve. The only big-name player on the list was Sharpe,
and at 32 he no longer commanded big money.
The Giants' trip into free agency was even more fruitful. They rebuilt the
offensive line by landing center Dusty Zeigler, guard Glenn Parker and tackle
Lomas Brown, all respected veterans. The Giants also added linebacker Micheal
Barrow
and cornerback Dave Thomas to solidify their defense, with Barrow
perhaps the steal of free agency after he was released by the Panthers for
salary cap reasons.
By using a reasonable approach to free agency, both Super Bowl teams
plugged four or five holes in their lineup without breaking the bank. The
same could not be said for other teams. In the NFC alone, there were plenty
of examples of teams that didn't get much bang for their free-agent buck.
Redskins owner Daniel Snyder spent millions to sign cornerback Deion
Sanders, defensive end Bruce Smith, safety Mark Carrier and quarterback Jeff
George in hopes of turning a playoff team into a Super Bowl team. Instead,
the Redskins went in the other direction and missed the playoffs altogether.
The Buccaneers, one step away from the Super Bowl in 1999, signed Pro Bowl
offensive linemen Jeff Christy and Randall McDaniel in free agency and traded
for a big-money receiver in Keyshawn Johnson. Yet, they didn't go as far as
they did the year before.
The Bears signed defensive end Phillip Daniels and cornerback Thomas Smith
to huge deals in the first week of free agency, and both played well.
Unfortunately, the Bears didn't. They won only five games after winning six
in 1999.
And the Panthers, thinking they were a pass rush away from contention,
signed free-agent defensive end Chuck Smith for more than $5 million per
year. Due to injury, Smith played in two games and had five tackles. The
Panthers, not surprisingly, were one of the NFL's biggest flops.
Meanwhile, teams such as the Saints and Eagles played the free-agent game
almost as well as the Giants, making it no surprise that they went from
fifth place to the playoffs in one year.
New Orleans' huge free-agent class included quarterback Jeff Blake, wide
receiver Joe Horn, tight end Andrew Glover, defensive tackle Norman Hand and
linebacker Darrin Smith. All started on a team that was surprisingly good, in
part because it was surprisingly deep. Hand, in particular, played a huge
role in turning around the defense by plugging up the middle of the line.
The Eagles spent $5 million per year on tackle Jon Runyan to solidify their
offensive line, and they weren't disappointed. However, the acquisitions of
halfback/kick returner Brian Mitchell and linebacker Carlos Emmons were just
as important to Philadelphia's sudden success.
As the start to free-agency approaches, most experts think this is a down year
for big-name, big-ticket talent. The pool of impact players was further
thinned when Vikings halfback Robert Smith, expected to command a contract
worth up to $7 million per year, retired unexpectedly.
There'll still be plenty of players to choose from as most teams have 10 to
15 unrestricted free agents. Teams must name any franchise and transition
players by Feb. 22 and the free-agency period officially begins a week later.
As in past years, some teams will be active and others, handcuffed by the
salary cap, will sit on the sideline. Cap-strapped teams such as the Vikings,
Cowboys, 49ers and Packers will concentrate on signing their own free agents.
Others such as the Eagles, Cardinals, Bears and Falcons could become players
in free agency if they choose.
With free agency a few weeks away, here are some of the more interesting names
among NFC free agents:
Big-ticket Items
|  | | Brad Johnson threw 11 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last season. |
Redskins QB Brad Johnson: Johnson is the best available
quarterback, which is always an enviable position, and he's in his prime.
Some have already him ticketed for the Ravens, where he would reunite with
Brian Billick, his former coordinator at Minnesota.
49ers RB Charlie Garner: With Smith's retirement, only the Bengals'
Corey Dillon will get more money than Garner. After consecutive 1,000-yard
seasons, the 49ers would like to keep him, but they're in the final year of a
salary-cap purge and they can't afford him.
Rams DE Kevin Carter: He didn't play particularly well for
someone in his contract year, but Carter will be a superb two-way end for a
team that can make him happy financially. If the Rams apply the franchise tag
as expected, he'll go through another unhappy season in St. Louis.
Cardinals DE Simeon Rice: Arizona used a franchise tag to keep
the one-dimensional Rice last year, but he might be wearing out his welcome
in the desert. If he's healthy and happy, he's a premier pass-rusher.
Vikings LB Dwayne Rudd: Minnesota is in a salary-cap bind and
might struggle to keep the second-best player (behind safety Robert Griffith)
on its dismal defense. If the Vikings don't have to pay Smith, however, they
might actually spend some money on defense and keep Rudd.
Falcons CB Ray Buchanan: The cornerback tandem of Buchanan and
Ashley Ambrose, a big-ticket free agent last year, is one of Atlanta's few
strengths. Don't be surprised if Buchanan gets hit with a franchise tag.
Packers S Darren Sharper: He led the NFL in interceptions with nine
and finally learned how to tackle. The Packers consider him the key to their
defense and have already threatened to use a franchise tag on him.
Packers K Ryan Longwell: Longwell is the most accurate kicker in NFL
history (among those with 100 field goals made) and he's done it on the
frozen tundra. Imagine how good he'd be in a dome.
Safe Buys
|  | | Tiki Barber rushed for 1,006 yards and scored nine touchdowns last season. |
Giants RB Tiki Barber: The Giants want him after his breakthrough
season and they have the financial leeway to keep him.
Lions OG Jeff Hartings: He's a solid pro who will appeal to teams that
don't need 320-pound guards. He could also play center.
Packers OG Ross Verba: He showed consistent progress in his first
season at guard and, remember, he spent three seasons as the starter at left
tackle.
Cowboys LB Dexter Coakley: Dallas traditionally doesn't pay top
dollar for linebackers, which means this small but fast playmaker should be
available.
Falcons LB Henri Crockett: He started in the Super Bowl two years
ago.
Panthers S Mike Minter: Carolina will do almost anything to keep
him, which should tell you something.
Saints CB Alex Molden: A former first-round pick, he resurrected
his career last year.
Giants CB Jason Sehorn: New York wants desperately to keep him
despite his poor Super Bowl performance.
Bargain Rack
Cowboys WR James McKnight: He led Dallas in receiving but
should be expendable with Joey Galloway returning from knee surgery.
Giants TE Pete Mitchell: Although he's not an every-down tight
end, he can catch with the best of them.
Buccaneers OT Jerry Wunsch: He's not spectacular, but he's steady.
Besides, tackles are always in demand.
Vikings OG Corbin Lacina: If you like your guards big, Lacina fits the
description.
Panthers OG Matt Campbell: If not for a history of injuries, he'd be
in demand.
Panthers C Frank Garcia: Some team will have a need for a veteran
street-fighter to anchor their line.
Lions C Mike Compton: Stuck at center in Detroit, he'd probably be
better at guard.
Vikings DT Tony Williams: If you could pair him with a huge
tackle, he could be a very disruptive player.
Giants DT Christian Peter: He's being pushed out of a job
by rookie Cornelius Griffin, which says more about Griffin than it does about
Peter.
Eagles LB James Darling: Unable to crack Philadelphia's tough
linebacking corps, but he could start for many teams.
Cardinals S Tommy Bennett: A former starter, he's expendable due to
the development of Pat Tillman.
Bears CB Walt Harris: His once-floundering career is on an
upswing after last season.
Panthers K Joe Nedney: He was practically perfect as a replacement
for injured John Kasay last season. Redskins, are you listening?
Buyer Beware
Redskins WR Albert Connell: He's got speed and talent, but
when the team needed him to step up last year, he didn't.
Cowboys DT Leon Lett: He was so good the Cowboys put up
with him through several drug suspensions. However, his play fell off last
season.
Cardinals DT Mark Smith: He's got talent, but he's either
unhappy, hurt, or both.
Cardinals CB Aeneas Williams: He's still playing at a Pro Bowl
level after 10 seasons, but he's nearing the end of the line and he's even
hinted at retirement.
Rams CB Todd Lyght: The word out of St. Louis was that he lost a
step last season, although with that defense, who could tell?
Buccaneers CB Ronde Barber: He's been very solid, but he lacks
top speed and might struggle behind a
lesser front four.
Tom Oates of the Wisconsin State Journal writes a weekly NFC column every Thursday for ESPN.com. Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories
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ALSO SEE
AFC: Free agent buyer's guide
2001 NFC Free Agents
Rumor Central
Clayton: Free agent glossary
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