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New CBA In Peril “Bloody” Offseason Looms

Years ago when the the NFL began flagging players for excessive celebrations, a joke arose that the acromyn stood for the “No Fun League.”

This afternoon, talks to extend the league’s collective bargaining agreement stalled, threatening to take all the fun away from the offseason bazaar known as free agency. The owners and players union have until 4 pm tomorrow to find common ground or a cap of roughly $95 to $96 million will be imposed for the business year that begins Friday, March 3rd.

A host of other business parameters would change: 2007 would be uncapped. The time frame for amortizing signing bonuses would shrink from seven years to four. Conversely, players would have to play six years before qualifying for unrestricted free agency. The threshold is currently four years. Union chief Gene Upshaw warned that if the players ever tasted an uncapped NFL world they would never return to the present system.

The immediate shocks to the league system would be severe. ESPN’s Len Pasquarelly quotes one league official on the extensive cuts that could come Thursday as teams scrambled to get under the cap:

People are going to be stunned — not just by the quantity of players who are cut by Thursday, but by the quality, too. It’s going to be ugly. There’s going to be blood in the streets and, compared to past years, it’s going to be from some bluebloods, guys who can still play.”

Commissioner Paul Tagliabue has called an emergency meeting for Thursday morning in New York City. Given the late time frame, it’s not clear what contract-saving actions could take place there.

Questions abound after days of encouraging news:

1. Is Upshaw engaging in the most intense form of brinksmanship? One sticking point is the percentage of total league revenue to be apportioned to the players; the owners are apparently offering 56.2%. The players are asking for 60%.

2. How many unresolved issues are within the owners’ camp? Rumors persist that one of, if not the largest remaining issue involves how owners split their revenues.

3. How would this new system affect Dallas? The Cowboys are under the cap, but may choose to terminate large contracts or those which require payment of large roster bonuses in the near future.

Dallas would not be alone in cutting such veterans. Rumors from Atlanta had the Falcons, who are also under the cap, contemplating cutting RB Warrick Dunn. The Chiefs, who are over the cap, might have to part with Pro Bowl guard Will Shields.

Locally, a new system would take much of the fun out of March. One official predicted a “nuclear winter” for free agent signings, as teams faced uncertainties about structuring contracts under a new system.

If the cap disappeared, the rapid turnover viewed in the ’90s could evaporate and the game could return to its 1980s form, when two rich franchises, the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins, claimed six of the ten titles. Both operated at a loss, with Niners owner Ed DeBartolo and Redskins owner Jack Kent Cooke dipping into their outside businesses to give their franchises operating budgets that far exceeded other teams’. It was also a decade for NFC dominance, with smaller market AFC teams serving as Super Bowl fodder for the big kids from the older, richer conference.

The landscape has changed, with the wave of new stadiums leveling some of the revenue disparities that existed then. For most fans, however, a return to that system would be no fun at all.

Update: The DMN’s notes that Dallas could have a lot of cap room entering 2006, as much as $14 million without touching the contracts of Larry Allen and LaRoi Glover, thought both players could have their deals renegotiated or be cut. Both have cap numbers in excess of $7 million.

Here’s the line about the new landscape that has to give you pause: without a new deal there would be no draft in 2008. That has to give front offices pause too. Not only could better teams claim talent that usually cycled to weak teams, but without slotting the costs of rookies would explode.

That would take football closer to Major League Baseball. The current CBA mandates minimum payrolls. In the new world, cheap teams like the Cardinals could cut player salaries to the bone, and pocket handsome profits from the guaranteed TV money.

And that’s an area yet to be discussed. The NFL just signed a huge new extension with the major networks. If competitive balance was thrown out of whack and the overall value of the package was diminished, how long before the networks ask for givebacks?

Tuesday NFL Tidbits

– The Texans are considering swapping picks with the Jets. Newsday claims a proposed deal could have Houston move from 1 to 4, gaining DE John Abraham in the process. The Jets could then select USC QB Matt Leinart.

The move makes some sense from a points perspective. The top pick is worth 3000 points on a draft value chart. The fourth pick is worth 1800 points. The 1200 point difference is equivalent to the 12th pick in the first round.

Abraham was taken 13th overall in 2000.

The article also claims that Leinart is the hot QB, with the Jets, Saints and Titans all having serious interest in the 2004 Heisman winner.

– The Boston Herald mentions Cleveland, Dallas and Miami as possible landing spots for Patriots OLB Willie McGinnest. Not surprisingly, those three teams run 3-4 defenses and are coached by members of the Bill Parcells/Bill Belichick coaching fraternity. McGinnest has stated his desire to stay with New England.

If Dallas were to acquire McGinnest, it would be a case of better late than never; Jerry Jones tried desperately to trade up in the 1994 draft and select McGinnest, who Jones saw as a replacement for Charles Haley. Jones had a deal worked out with the Rams that would have sent WR Alvin Harper to St. Louis for the 5th overall pick. Parcells scuttled his plans by selecting McGinnest with the 4th pick.

– New England feels confident it can re-sign K Adam Vinatieri if a new CBA is worked out this week.

– The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that free agency will be delayed one to two weeks so teams can reassess their salary caps after the expected CBA extension is ratified this week.

–

Wonderlic Not Wonderful to Vince Young — So What?

What’s in a number?

Perhaps millions of dollars. Perhaps nothing.

The press is working itself into a lather over Vince Young’s supposedly low IQ. Word leaked Sunday that the Texas sensation scored a woeful six on the 12-minute, 50 question Wonderlic Personnel Exam administered at the draft combine. See sample questions here.

Next came word that his initial test was misgraded and that he scored a 16 on a second test.

While personnel chiefs and media types tie their minds into knots trying to interpret Vince’s grades, we should know that Wonderlic scores are not accurate predictors of future performance.

Dan Marino scored a 14 on his Wonderlic. It didn’t keep him from the Hall of Fame. Conversely, Rick Mirer scored a 31. His intelligence didn’t help his on-field performance.

What’s more, low scores have not stopped NFL teams from drafting a player high. Jeff George scored a 10 on his Wonderlic and was still taken first overall because his workouts were so phenomenal.

The Wonderlic is a general standardized test. It is given to applicants for business positions, goverment jobs and schools. Its supporters will likely say that the Wonderlic shows a players’ innate capacity to master a thick NFL playbook. Perhaps. But football is about more than memorizing formations. It draws on other types of intelligence beyond the verbal variety. Performance on the field relies on the mesh of logical reads and rapid cognitive decisions, of the type described by author Malcolm Gladwell in this ESPN interview. Young was so effective in his college career because he was able to operate on the border of instinct, without ever slipping into chaos.

All the hullaballoo makes me wonder if the Wonderlic is the defective player here and not Vince Young. Look over this chart of past QB scores and you’ll see very little correlation between test scores and quarterbacking skill. Perhaps what the NFL needs is a better test, one that grades snap decisions, rather than deliberate, logical ones.

Ask Drew Henson. The Cowboys backup scored a 42 on his test. As one poster so aptly put it, “all it got him was a working vacation in NFL Europe.”

Wonderlic Scores for Cowboys QBs Past and Present:
Drew Bledsoe — 36 (average)
Tony Romo — 30
Drew Henson — 42
Vinnie Testaverde — 18
Quincy Carter — 30
Troy Aikman — 29

What Might the Cowboys Pay for a Kicker?

Somewhere between $1.4 million and perhaps $2.0 million, if the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is correct.

It reports that 49ers’ kicker Joe Nedney, a top free agent prospect, was re-signed by the Niners for an average of $1.4 million per year.

In interviews with the Dallas Morning News and Ft. Worth Star Telegram yesterday, Jerry Jones said Dallas would sign an “experienced” kicker, but probably not the most expensive one. That would seemingly rule out Patriots’ K Adam Vinatieri, who received over $2.5 million last season. That might also rule out Mike Vanderjagt, whom the Colts are cutting loose.

A kicker more in line with Nedney’s salary is Packers’ K Ryan Longwell, whose last Green Bay contract averaged $1.5 million.

Of course, Jerry may simply be sandbagging. We should know by this time next week, unless CBA negotiations postpone the start of free agency.

Draft Combine Crumbs

Cowboys-related news on a Sunday evening:

– CBA or no CBA?
Conflicting reports are emerging about the status of collective bargaining agreement negotiations. NFLPA President Gene Upshaw remains steadfast in his belief that negotations are stalled. However, Browns GM Phil Savage has apparently heard rumors that free agency might in fact be delayed one to two weeks so an agreement can be hammered out. (scroll down) The Washington Post quotes anonymous league sources who appear optimistic a deal will be reached soon.

A smile at Washington’s expense?:
The Post also reports that QB Patrick Ramsey and his agent Jimmy Sexton have been given permission to work out a trade.

The Ranch Reports front page hints that Sexton has spoken with the Cowboys about Ramsey. Sexton is Bill Parcells’ agent. The Post says only that a “suitable partner” for Washington has not been found.

I’ll bet.

– Dallas has interviewed Georgia Tech LB Gerris Wilkinson, Miami CB Kelly Jennings and N.C. State DE/OLB Manny Lawson.

– Jerry Jones dropped some hints about the Cowboys’ offseason direction in a DMN interview Among them:

– He claims he “probably won’t go after the top paid [OL] in free agency.” Jones cites cost as a factor;
– the Cowboys will not force the issue at the WR position. Dallas will not pick a receiver just for the sake of getting younger;
– the Cowboys will sign an “experienced” kicker but not one of the priciest ones. Hello Matt Bryant? Ryan Longwell?
– the team will put off addressing La’Roi Glover’s situation “until a better day.” Make of that what you will.

Could Dallas & Denver Be Drifting Towards a Fit?

The Broncos want to increase last season’s sack total of 28…

…Broncos defensive coordinator Larry Coyer said the Broncos are interested in adding a sack specialist.

“I know this about (coach) Mike Shanahan: There will be a move,” Coyer said. “We’re going to address the needs to get to the Super Bowl. Whatever that is, you don’t know. When I first heard about Champ Bailey, I started laughing, ‘We’re not going to be able to do that.’ [Then] there he was.”

– Denver Post, “Broncos Hope to Keep Their Current Linemen.” 2/26/2006

“Well, this is where I think I don’t have much for you because there’s tremendous uncertainty going on [because of the collective bargaining agreement].”

– Bill Parcells on NT/DT La’Roi Glover’s status,
DMN “Offseason is Keeping Parcells Busy.” 2/26/2006

There’s nothing linking these teams or these players — yet. This has been nothing but my incessant speculation. However, Parcells is noncommittal about La’Roi Glover’s future with the team, even though he will have the cap space to keep him. His statement about the CBA was a convenient dodge, with Parcells hiding behind non-existent cap trouble. He is firm about bringing Greg Ellis back in the same article, but is coy about Glover.

Meanwhile, Denver, as I predicted at the end of the season, sees themselves as one or two players shy of the title. They’re going for broke. They’re re-signing old offensive linemen. They’re restructuring contracts of aging vets they should consider replacing. They’ve done the most obvious and intense flirting with Terrell Owens.

And they need a pass rusher — badly. Their top lineman had four sacks last year.

Desperate teams do desperate things.

The Broncos are desperate.

Jones: New CBA Could Happen “Immediately.”

Jerry Jones believes a new collective bargaining agreement could be hammered out “immediately” if the various parties wanted it. He downplayed earlier complaints that large market owners were preventing a deal by warring with smaller market owners over revenue splits.

– Tight End intrigue: You can infer a lot from the prospect interview process. On Saturday, top TE prospect Vernon Davis was interviewed by, at minimum, the Lions (10), Chargers (19), Chiefs (20), Jaguars (28) and Redskins (no first round pick). The Jaguars, Redskins and Eagles (14) also met with Georgia TE Leonard Pope. Davis and Pope are considered the top two TE prospects.

Davis has been placed in many mock drafts with the Rams at 11. However, he could slide to teams like San Diego and Kansas City if he got past St. Louis, since the Browns (Kellen Winslow Jr.), Ravens (Todd Heap), Eagles (L.J. Smith), Falcons (Alge Crumpler), Dolphins (Randy McMichael), Vikings (Jim Kleinsasser) and Cowboys (Jason Witten) the teams picking 12th through 18th, have a good starting TE.

It’s interesting that San Diego would consider matching Davis, an Antonio Gates clone, with Gates. And that Kansas City is contemplating matching him with the aging Tony Gonzalez. How scary would those pairings be for opposing linebackers and safeties? The receivers on those teams would never see double coverage.

Washington may also be tipping its hand. The Redskins are rumored to be seeking a way into the first round. They may be looking for a true tight end to match with H-back Chris Cooley.

Davis may slide into the late teens to early 20s, but he’s rated in the top 9-to-12 on every draft board I’ve seen. With the WR crop being so thin this year, would you spring for another playmaker at tight end? Given how much Dallas uses two-TE sets and how much Bill Parcells loves tight ends, could he pass Davis up, even when he has crying needs at OT, OLB and FS?

The Cowboys’ Big Decision

Fellow blog regular lou c. follows Eric R.’s piece with a review of the guard positions and first-day OL draft targets. Take it away, lou c.:

With all of the discussions about possible draft targets of the Boys, and free agent RT’s and C’s, I think that they biggest decision that will dictate what the Cowboys do this offseason starts with Larry Allen. I would love to see Larry Allen stay, but he only stays with a pay cut. If we want to discuss guys like LeCharles Bentley, Allen would have to take a big pay cut. If he doesn’t take the cut, and is released, it changes our draft board a little and puts more emphasis on Bentley. With LA gone, I say Jerry Jones goes real hard for Bentley and I put it at 60% that we sign him (Cleveland has a lot of money, a new QB, and that’s his hometown, so I see them as the main competitors). It also makes finding a veteran RT more important. Here’s a look at some of the draft options:

G Max Jean-Gilles
- The best guard in the draft, he is the biggest guard in the draft. He is 6’3” and a half, and weighed in at 355 lbs at the combine. His feet look good, and he’s strong. He is more athletic than you think for a 355 lb. player. His problem seems to be his weight. If he keeps his weight in check, and Bill Parcells would make sure he would, he could be a dominant LG in the NFL. However, I give him the least chance of lasting until pick 49.

G Charles Spencer
- Another big guard, he is listed at 6’4” and a half, 352 lbs. He is really strong, and put up 30 reps at 225 lbs, good for 3rd most among offensive lineman. He is real good athlete, and has quick feet. His technique is raw, and I don’t know if he would be ready to play in 2006. What I like about him is his versatility and that he is a team leader. He played defensive tackle his first 2 years, so he has agility and is really strong. I think he has a good chance at being there at 49, and I could see the Cowboys taking him.

G Davin Joseph
- The best athlete of the offensive lineman, he ran a 5.09, and was the best jumper of the OL at the combine. He has really, really long arms which help him. He is a little undersized at 6’2”, 311 lbs. I think he may project to RG, and could give Marco Rivera a run for his money for the starting job. He also has had some time at tackle, although he is a better guard. I think he will rise up draft boards, but should be there at 49 when the Cowboys pick.

Honorable Mentions: Deuce Lutui, Jason Spitz

Any of those 3 guards would really give Stephen Peterman a run for his money, and I think one of the 2 would be able to get the job done at left guard. I think Jean Gilles could start right away over Peterman, with Spencer and Joseph taking over mid season maybe, depending on what Peterman shows.

As the right tackle position goes, I like Jason Fabini and Tom Ashworth a lot. Fabini is older and was injured last year, but has a lot of experience and is an ex-Parcells player. While most think we will sign a veteran RT after last season’s debacle, we still have to look into RT’s in the draft. Petiti could pan out, but I didn’t like what I saw last year. Here’s my quick synopsis from the guys I think the Cowboys should be interested in:

T Winston Justice
- He could fall to 18, and the Cowboys would probably have to draft him. He is the 2nd best tackle in the draft, and has good size at more than 6’6, 319 lbs. He had a great 2005 season after not playing in 2004. Now a USC tackle may scare some Cowboy fans, but I think Justice is the real deal and would be ready to start in 2006. He is the best offensive lineman not named D’Brickashaw Fergunson, and is both great at run blocking and pass blocking. He is still pretty raw, and has some character issues, but I think Parcells would love to see him fall to 18.

T Jon Scott
- My favorite tackle that the Cowboys have a realistic shot at, he could play either LT or RT in the NFL. Like every tackle I listed, he comes from a real good college program. He has real good size and is a good athlete with long arms. He moves well for a guy his size. Has a lot of experience playing in Texas. I think he could start right away at RT, and could move to LT later on. He needs to hit the weight room, but again I think Parcells will fix that. I think he will soar up draft boards and go in the late 1st round, but if he lasted until 49 the Cowboys would take him in a heartbeat.

T Eric Winston
- Winston was highly rated before an ACL injury in 2004. Scouts said he was never fully recovered from the injury, and wasn’t the same afterwards. After watching him at the combine, I think he is healed. He struggles a little bit in the passing game, and has some trouble with speed rushers. He is a better run blocker IMO. He has good size for a RT, and has good feet. He was a former TE, and was the fastest lineman at the combine running a 4.88. Injuries could drop him to the mid second round where the Cowboys pick.

T Marcus McNeil
- If your looking for a RT with size and great athletic ability, there’s no better than McNeil. He is quite simply huge. He has long arms and is somehow very quick for his size. He is solid at run blocking and pass blocking, and has good feet. He is a better RT than LT IMO. Because of his size, he tends to play too uptight I think, and that could cause problems. However, his size still makes it real hard to get around him. The major question is his back. He will be medically tested as much as any player at the combine. A back injury always scares off teams when it comes to offensive tackles. He could drop because of it into the mid second round. The Cowboys spent a lot of time with him at the Sr. Bowl, and he is real possibility in the 2nd round, not 1st I think. I wouldn’t be surprised if McNeil becomes a dominant Pro Bowl tackle.

Honorable Mention: Daryn Colledge, Andrew Whitworth

Note: If you have a subject that you’re dying to debate with the community, send it to Raul. The link is in the left hand column.

Combine Update

– The Star-Telegram offers a different set of free agent kicker targets than the Ranch Report. Clarence Hill believes Adam Vinatieri, Matt Bryant and Ryan Longwell are likely targets for the Cowboys.

The RR has Mike Vanderjaagt on its short list, replacing Longwell.

And of these four are improvements.

– Longwell’s agents says he does not expect the Packers to make a serious attempt to re-sign him before free agency begins next Friday. Longwell anticipates several offers from other teams.

– The same article details WR Javon Walker’s frustrations with the Packers. The 2004 Pro Bowler (89 receptions, 1382 yards and 12 touchdowns) wanted a long term extension entering 2005, the final year of his initial contract. The Packers refused. Walker suffered the free-agent-to-be’s nightmare, tearing an ACL early in the season. The Packers are now refusing a long-term extension until they see how well Walker recovers.

He could be a top free agent WR target in 2007, especially if the year is uncapped. Keep him in the back of your mind. He’s the big Michael Irvin-class wideout (6′3″, 215 lbs.) so many readers have been screaming for.

– The Washington Times weighs in on the Redskins cap situation. Their assessment is even more extreme than the Post’s. TheTimes does offer Washington a possible silver lining: seven other teams face similar problems — the Broncos, Chiefs, Raiders, Dolphins, Jets, Titans and Bucs are all at least $5 million over the cap. These teams could provide incentive to complete a new CBA, especially when you consider that Kansas City, Denver, Tampa and Miami have legitimate playoff aspirations.

Free Agent Sticker Shock May Strike Washington

The Washington Post today confirms what other reports have claimed — unless a new collective bargaining agreement is reached soon, the Redskins will be in salary cap purgatory.

The team is roughly $20 million over the anticipated $92 to 95 million cap. It is expected to release S Matt Bowen, CB Walt Harris, DT Brandon Noble, C Cory Raymer and K John Hall. WRs James Thrash and Taylor Jacobs and DE Reynaldo Wynn may also have to be cut.

Those moves would still leave Washington well over the cap limit. The team is trying to trade QB Patrick Ramsey to gain more cap relief. It will also have to rework the deals of RT Jon Jansen, OG Randy Thomas and QB Mark Brunell to get under the limit.

In many ways, the Redskins dilemma demonstrates the problems associated with trying to build a team through free agency. Of these players on the bubble Thomas, Brunell, Hall, Wynn, Thrash, Noble and Harris are all recent free agent signings.

Who Do You Choose?

There may be others and still others to come, but as of right now 5 players have emerged as the lead candidates to become the starting RT for the Cowboys in 2006. Lets take a look at ‘em:

Jason Fabini 6-7 304 LBS

Right out of college (Cincinnati) Fabini was a player that was known to play injured. A reputation that may have gotten him drafted by, none other than, Bill Parcells. Their ties makes him a strong candidate for this job. Jason is a tough and physical T that has started 114 games in New York. If I were to pick two words to discribe him, they’d be durable and solid.

Jon Runyan 6-7 330 LBS

Runyan, by far, has the most experience of the bunch with 10 years under his belt. In his rookie year he played in 10 games. Since then he has started in 154 straight games. That is quite remarkable for an offensive linemen! He has competed on the highest levels. The Super Bowl, NFC Championship games, and in 2002 was selected to play in the Pro Bowl. Runyan easily has the best credentials, but will likely come with the highest price tag too. If the Cowboys were to sign Runyan, they would be getting better while making a division foe weaker. Not bad! Especially for a player known to have a mean streak.

Mike Williams 6-6 360 LBS

Williams was a highly touted OT coming out of college (Texas) just 4 years ago. His massive frame opened enormous wholes for Longhorn tailbacks throughout his college career. Scouts drooled over how easily Williams turned defenders completely away from the play. He dominates once he engaged with opponents. If he gets his hands on you, its over! A totally overbearing force, but some say that domination is limited to the running game. His inability to keep his weight has cost his footwork to slow. Williams has struggled to keep faster DEs off of his quarterbacks’ backs. The greatest upside to Williams, if he can regain the form that got him drafted as the 4th overall selection, he can be the RT for now, and the LT of the future. Big “if” though.

Kevin Barry 6-4 304 LBS

Barry was an undrafted free agent in 2002 that made his presence known to Green Bay coaches during his first training camp. He made that Packers team, which had an already solid group of linemen. He has started only one game in his career, and was an OG coming out of college (Arizona) just 4 years ago. In 2004, he contributed to an offense that many regarded as having the best offensive line in the game. Barry’s roll that year was as the 6th lineman in their “big” formation. Many people within the Packers’ circle believe that Kevin is a developing raw talent that is about to bust out.

Tom Ashworth 6-6 305 LBS

Like Barry, Ashworth was an undrafted free agent in 2002. He was originally signed by San Francisco. After he did not make the 49ers final roster, New England then plucked him away off of San Fran’s practice squad. Ashworth has started 31 regular season games, and is a seasoned vet with a lot of playoff experience. Known for his hard work, Ashworth didn’t know the meaning of “I can’t”. That work ethic coupled with his tremendous preparation for each opponent has formed him into a very solid RT in the NFL.

…. Well out of the bunch, who would you take?

I think its a toss up between Fabini and Williams. With Fabini, you know what you have. And you would have that for the next 4-5 years. When watching film of Williams, you can see that he can dominate and blow defenders off the line of scrimmage. Words like “unmotivated” “lazy” and “overweight” are being thrown Williams way, and I can only think of another player that was described similarly. Flozell Adams, was all of that, and just like Williams was know that if he got his hands on you, it was over. Flo has come into his own, and improved under Parcells. Yet I don’t think Adams is as gifted as Williams. I believe, with the right coaching, Williams can be the best OT we have had in Dallas since Erik Williams was in a car wreck.

Rumors for Lunch

The Morning News’ Todd Archer notes in the paper’s sports blog that Bill Parcells lunched today with bad-boy agent Drew Rosenhaus. (Scroll down)

I know what you’re thinking — did they talk about T.O.?

That will certainly be the buzz. Archer correctly notes, however, that Rosenhaus represents a large group of pro and college players and that any or all of them could be the point of the meeting.

Combine Update: The 49ers won the coin flip with the Raiders. San Francisco now owns the 6th overall pick with Oakland selecting 7th. This increases the chances for a trade up, if Vandy QB Jay Cutler slip through the top five. Miami covets Culter and rumors in Miami have them targeting the Niners as a trade partner, since San Francisco wants extra picks.

Miami may fill its QB needs next month. Reports today say the Dolphins believe the Vikings may release QB Duante Culpepper early next month, to avoid paying him a large roster bonus. Miami could then pursue Culpepper and use its top selection on an offensive tackle.

Look for the 49ers to begin shopping their pick, to Miami and everybody else behind them in the draft order.

Waiting by the Window

We’re now in the one week can-we-re-sign-them phase of free agency, where teams struggle to hammer out long-term deals with players willing to stay.

This puts Dallas in the position of the eager kid with money in his pocket, his face pressed to the window waiting for the candy store to open. The Cowboys have some free agent treats in mind, but don’t know if they’ll be rudely snatched away at the last minute by new long-term contracts with the home team.

Adam Vinateiri is one example. The Boston Herald reports that the Patriots and Vinatieri are talking about a long-term deal and many officials interviewed at the combine expect Vinatieri to stay with New England. One, however, feels that Dallas may be a player for him, saying, I wouldn’t want to even give Parcells a chance at Vinatieri”. Parcells signed Vinatieri during his New England stay.

In other possible Cowboys’ related news:

– The Eagles will let OT Jon Runyan test the market, but have not given up on getting him back. Runyan told a Philadelphia paper he had not heard from the Eagles and speculates that they would need to find a new RT if they let him go. That doesn’t express much confidence in his linemates.

– The Eagles are apparently emerging as players in the Antwaan Randle El sweepstakes.

– NFLPA head Gene Upshaw told agents yesterday to prepare for an uncapped season in 2007, suggesting a new CBA will not be reached soon. The truth depends on whom you canvass; Chiefs owner Lamar Hunt said earlier this week that he didn’t feel a new deal was far off and that the revenue sharing between the owners was a bigger issue to be settled than any disagreements with the players. SI’s Paul Zimmerman, an avowed union supporter, claims Upshaw is a poor leader and is too chummy with commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Zimmerman suspects this is all being done for PR reasons and that a deal could “miraculously” be patched together, making Upshaw and Tagliabue look like heroes, when a crisis could have been averted long ago.

If Upshaw is on the level and we see an uncapped 2007 the Redskins are in deep trouble. CBS Sportsline’s Pete Prisco and ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli both quote cap experts from other NFL teams (they may be quoting the same guy, since their sources are anonymous) that Washington’s cap situation is dire and only a new CBA can save them from radical salary surgery.

According to Pasquarelli (subscription required),

… the Redskins cannot get into compliance with the projected spending ceiling for next season without an extension to the collective bargaining agreement.

The expert claims there are only two players on the current Washington roster who will bring the team significant cap relief if they are released. Cutting some of the team’s big-name players would actually increase the cap impact in most cases… According to the cap expert’s analysis, the Redskins might have to play with as many as 15-20 rookies, all earning the minimum salary, to squeeze close to the cap.

But you can be sure that several preseason magazines and some “experts” (cough)Joe Theisman(cough) will proclaim Washington a Super Bowl front runner.

Bentley to be Free, Vinatieri? Him Too

Update: The Patriots declined to designate Adam Vinatieri by the 4 pm eastern deadline, meaning he will be an unrestricted free agent March 3rd unless New England signs him to a long term deal in the interim.

Today is the last day for franchises to designate transition players or franchise players.

One major offense line candidate will hit the market, as the New Orleans Saints announced they will not place either tag on center LeCharles Bentley.

The four year veteran from Ohio State wants a contract similar to the one signed by Panthers’ OG Mike Wahle last year — five years, $28 million with an $11.5 million signing bonus. That might be too rich for Dallas, who signed Wahle’s former Packers teammate Marco Rivera to a five year, $20 million deal with a $9 million bonus last year.

We’ll see. Free agency begins on March 3rd.

In related news, there are conflicting reports on Patriots’ kicker Adam Vinatieri. The Boston Herald says the Pats “may” franchise him for a third consecutive year while the Providence Journal says “indications are they will not franchise him.”

Keep your eyes on the sports ticker. Vinatieri would be the Cowboys free agent priority number one if he was untagged at 4 pm this afternoon.

Update: The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that Steelers FS Chris Hope wants to be paid like one of the top five safeties in the NFL. That increases the chances he’ll hit the market, since the cap-strapped Steelers don’t have that type of cap room right now.

That’s the good news. The bad news — for Hope anyway — is that he’s not one of the top five safeties in the league. He’s one of the best young free safeties, but you can’t put him in the same sentence with Ed Reed, Brian Dawkins, Roy Williams or Rodney Harrison? No you can’t. Hope will be waiting by a silent phone if he wants to be paid like them.

Free Agency Maneuverings

As the free agency starting line approaches — only nine window-shopping days until the NFL’s version of Christmas — the rumors are spinning wildly.

– The Jets have officially franchised John Abraham but are expected to deal him in a sign and trade deal sometime just before draft day or on draft day. The Chargers, Redskins, Browns and Texans have apparently called New York already to inquire about Abraham. New York could try to leverage QB Philip Rivers from the Chargers for Abraham, allowing the team to select Virginia OT D-Brickashaw Ferguson with the fourth selection this year.

– Abraham’s franchising means the Jets offensive liquidation sale will begin, oh, about now. OT Jason Fabini, FB Jerald Sowell and G Pete Kendall were informed on Monday that they were going to be cut sometime this week. Newday reports that C Kevin Mawae is also a prime candidate to be traded or cut. The latter is more likely since he is due $4.5 million this year and is rehabbing a torn triceps muscle. New York’s decision to gut its offensive line likely spells the end of Chad Pennington in Jets green. His fragile shoulder is not likely to survive behind a new, patchwork line. It failed behind the experienced one.

– The Vikings have called the Dolphins and the Ravens to guage their interest in QB Daunte Culpepper. Owner Zigi Wilf says no final decision has been made on Culpepper’s future with the team, but it’s clear what the Vikings would like it to be.

– The Dolphins are interested in Jacksonville’s David Garrard and are also ready to pounce if Drew Brees hits the market.

– Tampa Bay may release DT Anthony McFarland if he refuses to restructure his deal. The Bucs would like to re-sign K Matt Bryant but fear they may lose him. The team has started negotiations with Bryant but all bets are off is he is not re-signed by the end of business Thursday. The Bucs are $19 million over the cap and have some serious restructuring to do. They signed Billy Cundiff recently as insurance.

– Detroit will franchise OT Jeff Backus is he is not re-signed to a new deal by Thursday. Lions GM Matt Millen says the team will not release WR Charles Rogers.

– The Browns want to strike quickly in free agency. They are following Dallas’ plan of development, installing a 3-4 defense and reworking an undermanned offensive line. They’re also on the market for a veteran WR. That’s no surprise because HC Romeo Crennell assisted Bill Parcells and later Bill Belichick. They bear watching because they’re about one year behind the Cowboys and will likely be looking at the same players. Possible Cowboys’ draft targets like Gabe Watson and Manny Lawson might be snatched up ahead of them by the Cleveland.

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