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Because teams are managing their salary caps better, general managers are having a tougher time getting impact from free agency.
Maybe that's the reason it's more difficult for those worst-to-first type playoff runs. The NFL elite of 2002 are still among the NFL elite of 2003. Still, there were big scores in free agency -- linebacker Rosevelt Colvin from Chicago to New England, wide receiver Peerless Price from Buffalo to Atlanta, wide receiver David Boston from Arizona to San Diego, wide receiver Laveranues Coles from the Jets to the Redskins and quarterback Jake Plummer from Arizona to Denver.
Teams survive free agency losses or key injuries by having adequate replacements. Here are nine players who have to fill big shoes by key departures.
Right tackle Ian Allen, New York Giants: The Giants wanted to re-sign right tackle Mike Rosenthal, but his family didn't like living in New York, so he left for the Vikings. Allen, an undrafted free agent from 2001, draws the starting job on the completely revamped right side of the Giants offensive line. Allen was toasted regularly on pass rushes in his exhibition debut, but he seems to be working his timing better with rookie David Diehl instead of Tam Hopkins at right guard. Allen isn't guarding Kerry Collins' blindside, but if he doesn't do a good job, the Giants will have a tough time running to the right and Collins may be smashed in the face a bunch.
Wide receiver Bryan Gilmore, Arizona Cardinals: Actually, you could have listed Larry Foster, Anquan Boldin, Bryant Johnson, Jason McAddley or anyone here. The Cardinals don't have a replacement for David Boston, a 247-pound deep threat with 4.3 speed. No one knows how the Cardinals receiver situation will work out. They are the youngest in football. Boldin has the best relationship with quarterback Jeff Blake, but he's expected to start the season as the third receiver playing the slot. Gilmore has great speed, but had a bad foot injury last season. McAddley's fought injuries in training camp. Foster looks decent at flanker, but he doesn't have a lot of speed. Johnson is right now running backup at split end.
Defensive ends N.D. Kalu and Jerome McDougle, Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles defense counted on defensive end Hugh Douglas to get between 10-15 sacks a season. No one player can step up this season to do that, so they need backup Kalu and first-round choice Jerome McDougle to come close to those numbers between the two. The Eagles already had a setback by losing defensive end Jamaal Green, a promising fourth-rounder, for the season. Brandon Whiting and Derrick Burgess are the starting defensive ends, but they have fought some injuries, but each has six-sack histories.
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Linebacker Bryan Knight, Chicago Bears: Dick Jauron can't figure that Knight can fill the 10-plus sacks a season they had from outside linebacker Rosevelt Colvin. Colvin was a unique player, but the Bears weren't sure he was the complete linebacker. Well, Knight has to prove he's a complete linebacker for the Bears to survive Colvin's departure. Knight is in his second season and played 15 games as a backup. He was a fifth-round choice last season. This might be an omen, but Knight has battled knee problems this summer that have prevented him from completely being on the practice field to be that complete linebacker.
Wide receiver Santana Moss, New York Jets: Curtis Conway takes over the starting job for departed receiver Laveranues Coles, but the pressure falls more on Moss, a former first-round draft choice who can't shake injuries. Moss has only 32 catches in two years, but he's missed 12 games. Moss enters the season as the third receiver. He's had a great training camp, but the entire offense has to adjust to having Vinny Testaverde at quarterback instead of Chad Pennington. Moss has to stay healthy. If he does, he could get 16 yards a catch as the Jets third receiver. If he's hurt, though, the Jets may be wondering why they drafted him.
Wide receiver Josh Reed, Buffalo Bills: Reed is no Peerless Price. His style is different. Price is a downfield threat. Reed offers more skills on shorter, possessions routes. But Price's departure to Atlanta created a big void in the Bills passing offense. Reed needs to become a big threat because most of the coverage will focus on the other side of the field on Eric Moulds. If Moulds is double coverage and Reed is struggling to get open, then the passing offense won't be as explosive as last year. There is some thought that Reed may start the season as the third receiver because the coaching staff likes the route running of Bobby Shaw. They need a big season from Reed.
Free safety Dwight Smith, Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Smith was a valuable third cornerback for the Bucs, but when Super Bowl MVP Dexter Jackson left for Arizona in free agency, Smith was moved to free safety. Jackson was considered the best of many free safeties trying to work Monte Kiffin's system. He has range and play-making ability. So far, though, Smith has done so well filling in that it's been hard to notice Jackson has been missing. The free safety playing next to strong safety John Lynch, who doesn't have great speed but compensates with smarts and hard-hitting.
Linebacker David Thornton, Indianapolis Colts: Mike Peterson was considered the Colts best linebacker, but the Colts didn't feel as though he made enough big plays to offer him the six-year, $20 million deal he signed in Jacksonville. Peterson could be counted on for 150 tackles a season, but he didn't get any sacks in two of the past three years. Thornton's an interesting replacement. A fourth-round choice a year ago, Thornton was an instant hit as a special teams player, but he has great range and instincts for the position. The Colts are asking a lot of him by playing him on the weak side. They want him to be their best coverage linebacker and to be their leading tackle. Thornton has the confidence he can do that job.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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