lordofgun
02-11-2003, 09:53 AM
Packed schedule keeps teams busy
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By John Clayton
ESPN.com
The NFL uses February as a time for teams to regroup. A couple of years ago, free agency started in the middle of the month, and the general managers and coaches complained there was no time to rest.
Byron Leftwich, expected to be a top-five pick, will be heavily probed at the NFL scouting combine.
Well, February provides for long weekends and a few days of relaxation, giving front-office executives a little bit of a breather. But that time is almost over. The NFL scouting combine starts next Tuesday. Free agency comes 10 days later.
Of course, not all teams have rested. The 49ers interviewed head-coaching replacements for Steve Mariucci until last Friday. Whoever gets the job must hire a staff. Mariucci is revamping the Lions' staff after taking over last week.
Things are so unpredictable in the NFL that late-starting staffs don't eliminate themselves. The Bucs made the Jon Gruden trade in mid-February, and Al Davis waited until the end of the month to promote Bill Callahan as the Raiders head coach. Both teams met in the Super Bowl.
Here's a preview of coming attractions in the NFL.
Feb. 18-24: Scouting combine
Two extra days were added to the former five-day scouting combine. The extra time was needed for players to complete the Giants' psychological test and free up more time for scouts and coaches to interview the players. Near fistfights broke out as scouts wrestled for the value time of players making the trek to Indianapolis. Virtually every draftable player attends the combine, but many of the top players elect not to work out. They save their running for individual workouts on their home turf. Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich will be medically probed more than any other player. The shin problems that nagged him through the final weeks of the past couple of seasons have to be probed. Leftwich may not be the first choice. That honor may go to Carson Palmer of USC, but strong individual workouts and a positive medical report won't hurt. Another heavily studied player will be Willis McGahee, a former top-five prospect who had his left knee resconstructed. Teams may still consider McGahee in the second or third round.
Feb. 20: Franchise and transition tags
The free-agent market will start to go dry on this day. It's the first official day that teams can designate franchise or transition tags. At least a dozen of the top free agents in a light market will be taken off the market unless they reach contract agreements. The list of potential franchise players should be impressive. Heading the list will be Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister, Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones, Bengals linebacker Takeo Spikes, Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser, Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking and Rams left tackle Orlando Pace. The Packers may tag defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday. If the Panthers can't get a deal with punter Todd Sauerbrun, he may be tagged. The Cardinals may franchise wide receiver David Boston. The reasonably low $3 million price for franchising safeties could take Donovin Darius of the Jaguars and Tebucky Jones of the Patriots off the market. The franchise tag gives a player a tender offer equal to the average of the top-five salaries at the position from last year. It costs two first-rounders to lure a franchise player away from a team. The transition designation only allows a team to match an offer from another team, but the price is the average of the top 10 salaries. A rule change enacted last year allows teams to sign their tagged players to long-term deals by the middle of the next month without losing the chance to tag players for the length of the contract. If a deal can't be reached, a long-term deal can't be executed until after July 15.
http://msn.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/clayton_john/1506774.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
The NFL uses February as a time for teams to regroup. A couple of years ago, free agency started in the middle of the month, and the general managers and coaches complained there was no time to rest.
Byron Leftwich, expected to be a top-five pick, will be heavily probed at the NFL scouting combine.
Well, February provides for long weekends and a few days of relaxation, giving front-office executives a little bit of a breather. But that time is almost over. The NFL scouting combine starts next Tuesday. Free agency comes 10 days later.
Of course, not all teams have rested. The 49ers interviewed head-coaching replacements for Steve Mariucci until last Friday. Whoever gets the job must hire a staff. Mariucci is revamping the Lions' staff after taking over last week.
Things are so unpredictable in the NFL that late-starting staffs don't eliminate themselves. The Bucs made the Jon Gruden trade in mid-February, and Al Davis waited until the end of the month to promote Bill Callahan as the Raiders head coach. Both teams met in the Super Bowl.
Here's a preview of coming attractions in the NFL.
Feb. 18-24: Scouting combine
Two extra days were added to the former five-day scouting combine. The extra time was needed for players to complete the Giants' psychological test and free up more time for scouts and coaches to interview the players. Near fistfights broke out as scouts wrestled for the value time of players making the trek to Indianapolis. Virtually every draftable player attends the combine, but many of the top players elect not to work out. They save their running for individual workouts on their home turf. Marshall quarterback Byron Leftwich will be medically probed more than any other player. The shin problems that nagged him through the final weeks of the past couple of seasons have to be probed. Leftwich may not be the first choice. That honor may go to Carson Palmer of USC, but strong individual workouts and a positive medical report won't hurt. Another heavily studied player will be Willis McGahee, a former top-five prospect who had his left knee resconstructed. Teams may still consider McGahee in the second or third round.
Feb. 20: Franchise and transition tags
The free-agent market will start to go dry on this day. It's the first official day that teams can designate franchise or transition tags. At least a dozen of the top free agents in a light market will be taken off the market unless they reach contract agreements. The list of potential franchise players should be impressive. Heading the list will be Ravens cornerback Chris McAlister, Seahawks left tackle Walter Jones, Bengals linebacker Takeo Spikes, Vikings tight end Jim Kleinsasser, Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking and Rams left tackle Orlando Pace. The Packers may tag defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday. If the Panthers can't get a deal with punter Todd Sauerbrun, he may be tagged. The Cardinals may franchise wide receiver David Boston. The reasonably low $3 million price for franchising safeties could take Donovin Darius of the Jaguars and Tebucky Jones of the Patriots off the market. The franchise tag gives a player a tender offer equal to the average of the top-five salaries at the position from last year. It costs two first-rounders to lure a franchise player away from a team. The transition designation only allows a team to match an offer from another team, but the price is the average of the top 10 salaries. A rule change enacted last year allows teams to sign their tagged players to long-term deals by the middle of the next month without losing the chance to tag players for the length of the contract. If a deal can't be reached, a long-term deal can't be executed until after July 15.
http://msn.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/clayton_john/1506774.html