Larger Cap Means Less in Free Agency

With the salary cap jumping to $109 million (up from $102 mil), plenty of teams have enough cash available to keep their talent away from the free agent waters - by way of the franchise tag or re-signing.

The Rams and Eagles extended contracts to some of their top guns in the regular season, while the offseason has seen extensions given to LB Shaun Phillips (Chargers) and C Andre Gurode (Cowboys). More will follow before March 2 - the opening of free agency.

In addition, franchise tags have been handed out to DE Charles Grant (Saints), DE Dwight Freeney (Colts), CB Asante Samuel (Patriots) and LB Lance Briggs (Bears). The franchise tag probably won't be used anymore this offseason because most teams don't need to use it. The deadline for the tag is tomorrow.

In the early 1990s, when the league began negotiating the basic framework for its collective bargaining agreement, Oakland owner Al Davis blocked progress because he felt that each team should have as many as five franchise markers available to it. Only a decade and a half into the accord, it now seems that one franchise tag is one more than necessary for most clubs.

Among the reasons for the reduction: Most teams simply have become smarter in dealing with the salary cap and more adept at identifying their "nucleus" players and signing them to extensions before their contracts ever come close to expiring.

What all this means is less top-flight talent will be available in the free agency period, and the ones who are, like Eric Steinbach of the Bengals, will be snapped up quickly. Most of the top level free agents will be gone by the first week of free agency. A feeding frenzy by teams will occur.

The benefit of the new CBA agreement and how it's affected free agency is the mid-level players. A young guy like St. Louis WR Kevin Curtis for example. Curtis has been a valuable No. 3 receiver the past two seasons for the Rams.

Curtis is a free agent who wants to be a starter. He has the talent to be a solid No. 2 in the NFL and with all the money that most NFL teams have to re-signed their stars, Curtis will be in high demand come March 2.

What all this means to your favorite team is this: if the franchise has their eye on a particular player in free agency, they better make a move fast or be left out in the cold.


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