Certain NFL players & their agents expect to cash in big with more money available in free agent
Michigan
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Timing is everything.
That axiom rings especially true as the NFL's free agency market is set to open at 12:01 a.m. Friday with about 350 players due to become unrestricted free agents. With the market flooded with more money than ever, the road to the bank will be lined in green.
"That's Thursday night on the West Coast," says San Francisco-based agent Steve Baker. "I expect my cellphone will be buzzing at 9 o'clock."
Baker represents Jeff Garcia, the backup Philadelphia Eagles quarterback who will benefit from the good timing of sparking a playoff drive with a phenomenal second half of the season after filling in for injured Donovan McNabb.
In a free agent crop that is considered marginal and is even weaker for quarterbacks, Garcia, 37, is suddenly in demand again.
"December was an amazing experience," Baker said after mentioning the chance to start in the right system, the city and compensation as factors to consider.
Garcia threw seven touchdown passes with two interceptions during the four game-winning streak the Eagles used to rally to the NFC East title.
The timing works in different ways for others.
After the Buffalo Bills kept cornerback Nate Clements off the market last year by designating him a franchise player, he negotiated a one-year deal with a clause that the tag couldn't be used on him again.
Good move. Clements is a top free agent corner.
Hints have already been dropped suggesting that Clements can have dinner with the owner or be whisked away on a private jet when the market opens. At least 10 teams are expected to open the market with at least $20 million in salary-cap room.
"Who knew it would be this big?" agent Todd France says. "It's almost like being recruited again."
It's a far cry from last year, when the opening of the market was delayed twice as the NFL and players union negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement. Although a new CBA led to a $102 million cap for 2006, it was tougher for some teams to plan for free agency and much money was spent to retain players.
This year's market has a $109 million cap that is more than 27% higher than it was two years ago — before the NFL struck a new TV deal and extended its collective bargaining agreement with players.
Thanks to cap decisions made last year, when a new CBA was an uncertainty, more marquee players are under contract and more teams have ample cap room. "You try to keep from being gun-shy," says general manager Phil Savage of the Cleveland Browns, who are about $30 million under the cap. "You want to go ahead and get out there. We've got the cap room to do it."
"Last year was an entirely different environment," says Drew Rosenhaus, who represents more NFL players than any agent with roughly 100 clients. "Last year, we didn't know when the market was going to open."
Rosenhaus hopes the timing works for offensive tackle Luke Petitgout, released last week by the New York Giants after an injury-plagued season. Petitgout passed a physical Wednesday for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and joins a thin tackle market.
"He may not be a first-night deal because teams will want to see how he is physically," Rosenhaus said. "But he will become very hot in this market."
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas has seen his stock soar for months. The Ravens considered using the franchise player tag that would have guaranteed more than $7.2 million in 2007 to keep him. Thomas earned $1.46 million in 2006.
"The way we approach it, we come to a threshold of what we think the player's value is in Baltimore," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome says. "When it goes beyond that, we don't mind them going out the door. We feel like we can go out and find some more."
Newsome is a realist.
"From the time I retired as a player, in every instance I've told every player, 'If you get a chance to make a lot, you should go out and make a lot,' " he said. " 'Your shelf life is so small.' "
That axiom rings especially true as the NFL's free agency market is set to open at 12:01 a.m. Friday with about 350 players due to become unrestricted free agents. With the market flooded with more money than ever, the road to the bank will be lined in green.
"That's Thursday night on the West Coast," says San Francisco-based agent Steve Baker. "I expect my cellphone will be buzzing at 9 o'clock."
Baker represents Jeff Garcia, the backup Philadelphia Eagles quarterback who will benefit from the good timing of sparking a playoff drive with a phenomenal second half of the season after filling in for injured Donovan McNabb.
In a free agent crop that is considered marginal and is even weaker for quarterbacks, Garcia, 37, is suddenly in demand again.
"December was an amazing experience," Baker said after mentioning the chance to start in the right system, the city and compensation as factors to consider.
Garcia threw seven touchdown passes with two interceptions during the four game-winning streak the Eagles used to rally to the NFC East title.
The timing works in different ways for others.
After the Buffalo Bills kept cornerback Nate Clements off the market last year by designating him a franchise player, he negotiated a one-year deal with a clause that the tag couldn't be used on him again.
Good move. Clements is a top free agent corner.
Hints have already been dropped suggesting that Clements can have dinner with the owner or be whisked away on a private jet when the market opens. At least 10 teams are expected to open the market with at least $20 million in salary-cap room.
"Who knew it would be this big?" agent Todd France says. "It's almost like being recruited again."
It's a far cry from last year, when the opening of the market was delayed twice as the NFL and players union negotiated a new collective bargaining agreement. Although a new CBA led to a $102 million cap for 2006, it was tougher for some teams to plan for free agency and much money was spent to retain players.
This year's market has a $109 million cap that is more than 27% higher than it was two years ago — before the NFL struck a new TV deal and extended its collective bargaining agreement with players.
Thanks to cap decisions made last year, when a new CBA was an uncertainty, more marquee players are under contract and more teams have ample cap room. "You try to keep from being gun-shy," says general manager Phil Savage of the Cleveland Browns, who are about $30 million under the cap. "You want to go ahead and get out there. We've got the cap room to do it."
"Last year was an entirely different environment," says Drew Rosenhaus, who represents more NFL players than any agent with roughly 100 clients. "Last year, we didn't know when the market was going to open."
Rosenhaus hopes the timing works for offensive tackle Luke Petitgout, released last week by the New York Giants after an injury-plagued season. Petitgout passed a physical Wednesday for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and joins a thin tackle market.
"He may not be a first-night deal because teams will want to see how he is physically," Rosenhaus said. "But he will become very hot in this market."
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Adalius Thomas has seen his stock soar for months. The Ravens considered using the franchise player tag that would have guaranteed more than $7.2 million in 2007 to keep him. Thomas earned $1.46 million in 2006.
"The way we approach it, we come to a threshold of what we think the player's value is in Baltimore," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome says. "When it goes beyond that, we don't mind them going out the door. We feel like we can go out and find some more."
Newsome is a realist.
"From the time I retired as a player, in every instance I've told every player, 'If you get a chance to make a lot, you should go out and make a lot,' " he said. " 'Your shelf life is so small.' "
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