Free Agency 2001
The Patriots added *twenty* free agents during the offseason. Is this
enough to turn around the season? Some point to signs of history repeating
itsels as the Patriots Turn
it Around!
Updated: 7/30/01
There are three categories for free agency within the NFL: Unrestricted Free Agents,
Restricted Free Agents and Exclusive Rights Players.
Unrestricted Free Agents
These players may sign with any team during the Free Agency Period.
I have arranged them in order of my opinion of their significance to the Patriots.
DT - Chad Eaton
FB - Tony Carter
DE - Brandon Mitchell
OT - Bruce Armstrong
FS - Matt Stevens
Restricted Free Agents
These players may sign an offer sheet with any team but if the Patriots
have tended them a contract offer, the Patriots would have the right to match the offer as
well as the awarding of compensation from the new team. The compensation is
determined by the value of the tender offer provided initially by the Patriots.
CB - Kato Serwanga
RB - Harold Shaw
DE - Greg Spires
Exclusive Rights Players
These players are not under contract with the Patriots but are exclusively
restricted such that they may only sign with the Patriots until and unless the team
waive's rights to them.
TE - Jermaine Wiggins
WR - Shockmain Davis
DT - Garrett Johnson
LS - Lonnie Paxton
DE - Reggie Grimes
LB - Antico Dalton
LB Joh Eskridge
Additions
Sam Bowie (FB)
Terrell Buckley, CB
Je'Rod Cherry, S
Mike Compton, G,
Bert Emanuel, WR,
Ray Hill, CB
Damon Huard, QB,
Larry Izzo, LB,
Charles Johnson, WR
Johnny McWilliams, TE
Joe Panos, G,
Riddick Parker, DT
David Patten, WR,
Anthony Pleasant, DL,
Terrance Shaw, CB,
Mike Vrabel, LB,
Mark Edwards, FB
Matt Stevens, S
Torrance Small, WR
Antowain Smith RB
Losses
OT, Bruce Armstrong
FB, Tony Carter
LB, Olrick Johnson
LB, Marc Megna
QB, John Friesz
LB, Chris Slade
FB, Harold Shaw
DT, Hank Thomas
DT, Chad Eaton
S, Larry Whigham
WR, Tony Hamler
Available
The Patriots currently have more than 1 Million available with a few Roster options to
open another few Million. An Open Promise exists to obtain a Defensive Tackle and much
speculation exists regarding the addition of Bryan Cox as well. As of this time the
two most likely additions: Ernie Logan and Bryan Cox. Some offensive line
speculation exists with the retirement of Joe Panos.
Rules and Ramblings:
What's the difference between Exclusive Rights, UFA and RFA?
An unrestricted free agent may sign with absolutely any team - no restrictions.
The only benefit the previous team has with an unrestricted free agent is that they may
sign them before the contract officially expires - and thus before other teams may
negotiate with the player. These are players with five or more accrued seasons OR four or
more accrued seasons in years with the Salary Cap. A restricted free agent has at least
three years of accrued seasons and less than five years. This group has fewer benefits
than the veteran of 4/5 years who is termed unrestricted. With a restricted free agent
there are two principle restrictions that benefit the team. The first is the right to
match any offer and thus keep the player. The second is the compensatory package which
stipulates that any team signing a restricted free agent from another team must provide
compensatory draft picks in accordance with the qualifying offer that was issued by the
original team. The Qualifying offers have a chart (sorry I do not) which indicates what
compensation is required for the various QO. At 1.4M/year, the compensation is the first
and third round selections of the team signing away the RFA. A veteran with less than
three accrued seasons with an expiring contract is termed an Exclusive Rights player.
Until 3/1/98 they may only negotiate with their prior club. After that period they become
Unrestricted Free Agents.
What is the Salary Cap?
In the collective bargaining agreement between the NFL player's
association and the NFL ownership, a Salary Cap was instituted which stipulates the total
player salary that may paid by a team for a single year. For 1997, that value was roughly
41 Million per year. As a result of the recent Televion contracts, the NFL is expected to
raise the '98 Cap to roughly 53 Million per year. Rookie's operate off a special cap which
greatly restricts their initial contract signings in the league. I am seeking information
on that value which I believe to be adjusted based on the draft position but averaging
roughly 2M/year for each team.
The salary cap is the absolute maximum each club may spend on player salaries
in a capped year. For 1999, that amount to 63% of league-wide “Defined Gross
Revenues” (divided by 31 teams), made up of preseason, regular season and post season
gate receipts and radio and television rights.
The cap is in effect 365 days a year. From February 12 to the day before the
season begins, a club’s top 51 salaried players count towards the cap, plus pro-rated
signing bonuses, incentives, etc., but not base salaries of the players on the roster up
to 80. Thereafter, all salaries on a club’s roster count towards the cap. The maximum
salary cap for 1999 is $57,288,000 per club. The minimum salary cap is $48, 040,000.
Player benefits are $7,445,000 per club above the salary cap number.
The 2001 Salary cap is roughly 64 Million Dollars!
What is the Patriots Salary Cap Status?
The New England Patriots are roughly 3 Million over their cap. This is
generally viewed a small amount. Drew Bledsoe currently counts as 9.8 Million
against this cap and a contract extension would immediatly ease the burden of this
number. John Friesz is 2.7 Million against the cap and for this reason will likely
represent a significant savings by earning his release. There are other expected
moves and adjustments which will occur over the next few months. The team may not
use the franchise or transition clauses on a player unless they have the cap room at the
time of this move. Thus Chad Eaton could only receive this label if the team removed
the 3 Million Surpluss and then cleared an additional amount equal to the salary Chad
would earn as the labeled player.
Other questions? I'll try to answer them
all and post the answers here.
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Zip's
