| For those of you out there who believe that with
the Super Bowl now history, the NFL has shut down for a long midwinter nap, think again. As
I write this, it is Sunday, Feb. 11. And where am I? At the plush Pro Football Weekly
offices in suburban Chicago. Why? Because we are already hard at work on yet another
issue.
Yes, just two weeks removed from the warm breezes of Tampa, I am back in ice-cold
northern Illinois, trying to break down how the NFL offseason will unfold. So if you
consider yourself a diehard NFL fan, there will be plenty of news to keep you busy until
the 2001 regular season kicks off late next summer.
Let’s take a look at all of the news and information that will come your way (and
all of the work that I and my PFW compadres will have to do) in the coming months.
First up, the NFL Combine. You know, where all 31 teams gather in Indianapolis to poke,
prod and interview around 300 of the top draft-eligible players. After this five-day
event, which begins on Feb. 22, you can count on draft rumors to really start to heat up.
Meanwhile, from now until March 2, which marks the start of the free-agent signing
period, most teams are trying to get their salary cap in order. About half of the
league’s teams need to clear significant cap space by that date, which means
interesting negotiations are taking place around the league. You can count on several
big-name players getting contract extensions, as teams sacrifice signing-bonus money up
front to lower base salaries for next season.
Furthermore, before the bidding for free agents can begin, a number of players will be
given the bad news that they have been designated as their team’s franchise player.
That will limit their mobility greatly and likely mean they won’t be able to cash a
lucrative bonus check. Hard feelings almost always follow a franchise designation, and
those emotions often wind up with thoughts of retaliation — in the form of a
holdout.
OK, with the salary-cap issues and franchise designations worked through, we can look
forward to the NFL’s version of the hot-stove league — when teams are able
to go shopping for proven veterans. While this class of free agents isn’t considered
to be outstanding, there will definitely be some impact signings. Bengals RB Corey Dillon,
Bills WR Eric Moulds, Redskins QB Brad Johnson, Titans CB Samari Rolle and Falcons CB Ray
Buchanan are just a few of the players who could wind up on your favorite team by the
start of next season.
After that, there is the spring owners meeting, to be held March 25-29 in Palm Desert,
Calif. Among the topics to be discussed there is realignment. While no final decision on
the makeup of the divisions for the 2002 season is expected, we may get a better idea
about what the owners are thinking.
Then you have the draft, which will be held in New York on April 21 and 22. Right now,
the odds-on favorite to be the top pick is Virginia Tech QB Michael Vick. But that could
change dramatically by time late April rolls around.
Following the draft, the first minicamps will be heating up, followed by the ominous
June 1 date. That is the first day that clubs can release veteran players without having
to take an accelerated cap hit. Instead, release a veteran on June 1 or after, and the
remaining amount of that player’s original signing bonus is spread out over the
team’s cap in 2001 and 2002. Every year, a few big-name players become June 1 cap
casualties. Will your team have to dump one of your favorite players? Time will tell.
Naturally, after June comes July. And with July comes the start of training camps. That
is immediately followed by the start of the preseason, which is followed by the start of
the regular season.
Are you still worried about a dearth of NFL news in the coming months? Didn’t
think so. So, keep your reading glasses on, folks; the offseason is just beginning. |
