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By Vinnie Iyer - SportingNews
Hitting the market
The top available unrestricted free agents (listed with their 2004 teams):
1. Shaun Alexander, RB, Seahawks
2. Plaxico Burress, WR, Steelers
3. Pat Williams, DT, Bills
4. Kendrell Bell, ILB, Steelers
5. Donovin Darius, SS, Jaguars
6. Jerry Porter, WR, Raiders
7. Gary Baxter, CB/S, Ravens
8. Derrick Burgess, DE, Eagles
9. Jeremiah Trotter, MLB, Eagles
10. Fred Smoot, CB, Redskins
11. Ed Hartwell, ILB, Ravens
12. Bubba Franks, TE, Packers
13. Jermane Mayberry, G, Eagles
14. Reggie Hayward, DE, Broncos
15. Mark Fields, OLB, Panthers
16. Jason Ferguson, DT, Jets
17. Ken Lucas, CB, Seahawks
18. Andre Dyson, CB, Titans
19. Chike Okeafor, DE, Seahawks
20. Drew Bledsoe, QB, Bills
21. Ben Hamilton, G/C, Broncos
22. LaMont Jordan, RB, Jets
23. Casey Rabach, C, Ravens
24. Anthony Becht, TE, Jets
25. Tony Williams, DT, Bengals
A game of tag
Players who were given franchise tags, which means they remain property of their teams and are very unlikely to change teams:
John Abraham, DE, Jets
Drew Brees, QB, Chargers
Darren Howard, DE, Saints
Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals
Orlando Pace, OT, Rams
Corey Simon, DT, Eagles
Players who were expected to get franchise tags entering the week:
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks
Edgerrin James, RB, Colts
Julian Peterson, OLB, 49ers
Charles Woodson, CB, Raiders
Making sense of teams' dollars
A look at all 32 teams' salary cap status, based on a projected 2005 cap of $85 million:
Arizona: Has money to be a major free-agent player.
Atlanta: Waiting to decide how to prorate Michael Vick's bonus.
Baltimore: In its best cap shape since 1996.
Buffalo: Positioned well to re-sign key players, pursue other veterans.
Carolina: Releasing Muhsin Muhammad would free $10.2 million.
Chicago: Has ample cap room and could create more if needed.
Cincinnati: Already budgeted all but $2 million of its cap space.
Cleveland: Dumping Jeff Garcia will put the Browns $9.5 million under the cap.
Dallas: Plenty of ammo ($20 million) for the free-agent market.
Denver: Scrambling to find the money to actively pursue free agents.
Detroit: $23 million in cap space, but lots of players to re-sign.
Green Bay: Little room to maneuver on the market.
Houston: Has about $5 million in space but won't be active in the market.
Indianapolis: $20 million cap cushion will disappear quickly.
Jacksonville: Plans to put its sizeable cap surplus to good use.
Kansas City: Should rectify its cap deficit relatively painlessly.
Miami: Cuts will put it under the cap but won't leave spending money.
Minnesota: Has as much cap space as any team in the league.
New England: After bloated contracts are trimmed, Pats will have room to maneuver.
New Orleans: Expected to be $4 million under but could easily free more cash.
N.Y. Giants: Should have more cap flexibility than in recent years.
N.Y. Jets: Anticipated $9 million in cap space when the free-agent period begins.
Oakland: In fine shape; will have more space if Rich Gannon's deal is adjusted.
Philadelphia: Will have about $8 million available for free agents.
Pittsburgh: Continues to sit right up against the cap.
St. Louis: Will have room to make a couple of moderate to large free-agent strikes.
San Diego: After tagging Drew Brees, will have $13 million to spend.
San Francisco: Poised to be a stronger market force with $20 million available.
Seattle: With plenty of players to re-sign, its available $22 million will go fast.
Tampa Bay: Needs to restructure contracts, make cuts to combat $14 million cap hole.
Tennessee: With a $27 million cap deficit, cuts are imminent.
Washington : Could make a few waves with $4 million in cap room.
Hitting the market
The top available unrestricted free agents (listed with their 2004 teams):
1. Shaun Alexander, RB, Seahawks
2. Plaxico Burress, WR, Steelers
3. Pat Williams, DT, Bills
4. Kendrell Bell, ILB, Steelers
5. Donovin Darius, SS, Jaguars
6. Jerry Porter, WR, Raiders
7. Gary Baxter, CB/S, Ravens
8. Derrick Burgess, DE, Eagles
9. Jeremiah Trotter, MLB, Eagles
10. Fred Smoot, CB, Redskins
11. Ed Hartwell, ILB, Ravens
12. Bubba Franks, TE, Packers
13. Jermane Mayberry, G, Eagles
14. Reggie Hayward, DE, Broncos
15. Mark Fields, OLB, Panthers
16. Jason Ferguson, DT, Jets
17. Ken Lucas, CB, Seahawks
18. Andre Dyson, CB, Titans
19. Chike Okeafor, DE, Seahawks
20. Drew Bledsoe, QB, Bills
21. Ben Hamilton, G/C, Broncos
22. LaMont Jordan, RB, Jets
23. Casey Rabach, C, Ravens
24. Anthony Becht, TE, Jets
25. Tony Williams, DT, Bengals
A game of tag
Players who were given franchise tags, which means they remain property of their teams and are very unlikely to change teams:
John Abraham, DE, Jets
Drew Brees, QB, Chargers
Darren Howard, DE, Saints
Rudi Johnson, RB, Bengals
Orlando Pace, OT, Rams
Corey Simon, DT, Eagles
Players who were expected to get franchise tags entering the week:
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks
Edgerrin James, RB, Colts
Julian Peterson, OLB, 49ers
Charles Woodson, CB, Raiders
Making sense of teams' dollars
A look at all 32 teams' salary cap status, based on a projected 2005 cap of $85 million:
Arizona: Has money to be a major free-agent player.
Atlanta: Waiting to decide how to prorate Michael Vick's bonus.
Baltimore: In its best cap shape since 1996.
Buffalo: Positioned well to re-sign key players, pursue other veterans.
Carolina: Releasing Muhsin Muhammad would free $10.2 million.
Chicago: Has ample cap room and could create more if needed.
Cincinnati: Already budgeted all but $2 million of its cap space.
Cleveland: Dumping Jeff Garcia will put the Browns $9.5 million under the cap.
Dallas: Plenty of ammo ($20 million) for the free-agent market.
Denver: Scrambling to find the money to actively pursue free agents.
Detroit: $23 million in cap space, but lots of players to re-sign.
Green Bay: Little room to maneuver on the market.
Houston: Has about $5 million in space but won't be active in the market.
Indianapolis: $20 million cap cushion will disappear quickly.
Jacksonville: Plans to put its sizeable cap surplus to good use.
Kansas City: Should rectify its cap deficit relatively painlessly.
Miami: Cuts will put it under the cap but won't leave spending money.
Minnesota: Has as much cap space as any team in the league.
New England: After bloated contracts are trimmed, Pats will have room to maneuver.
New Orleans: Expected to be $4 million under but could easily free more cash.
N.Y. Giants: Should have more cap flexibility than in recent years.
N.Y. Jets: Anticipated $9 million in cap space when the free-agent period begins.
Oakland: In fine shape; will have more space if Rich Gannon's deal is adjusted.
Philadelphia: Will have about $8 million available for free agents.
Pittsburgh: Continues to sit right up against the cap.
St. Louis: Will have room to make a couple of moderate to large free-agent strikes.
San Diego: After tagging Drew Brees, will have $13 million to spend.
San Francisco: Poised to be a stronger market force with $20 million available.
Seattle: With plenty of players to re-sign, its available $22 million will go fast.
Tampa Bay: Needs to restructure contracts, make cuts to combat $14 million cap hole.
Tennessee: With a $27 million cap deficit, cuts are imminent.
Washington : Could make a few waves with $4 million in cap room.
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