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As some 2003 draft choices and their agents have discovered in painful fashion the past few weeks, it may be harder to squeeze anything more than just modest increases out of this year's "flat" rookie pool allocation than it is to extract blood from a stone.
For a second straight spring the rookie pool -- essentially a cap within the salary cap and basically the maximum amount that a team can invest on draft choices and undrafted free agents -- is set at just shy of $119 million. The leavening of the rookie allocation is the byproduct of a bilateral decision by the league and the NFL Players Association to slow the revenues to younger players and direct more compensation toward veterans, in part by programs like the playing-time incentive pool instituted for the '02 season.
The end result is that those annual 8- to 10-percent increases that were once considered standard for rookies, no matter the round in which they were selected, have gone the way of the single-wing formation. And agents have gone crazy trying to elicit increases that just aren't there anymore.
|  | | Carson Palmer's signing bonus was less than that of 2002 No. 1 overall pick David Carr's. |
Agents and individual team capologists, who not long ago negotiated over signing bonus disagreements defined by thousands of dollars, are now haggling over just three-figure bumps. Given a current atmosphere where franchises are drawing financial lines in the sand and providing little or no latitude, and in which agents are desperate to find anything that even resembles the wiggle room they once enjoyed, nerves are already frayed. Even at this early juncture of the so-called "signing season," with just four first-day draft picks having agreed to terms, it's definitely high anxiety time.
Comparing signing bonuses for rookies this year, to the upfront money that players in the corresponding draft slots received in 2002, it's clear every penny literally counts.
"If you get anything at all, in terms of an increase, you have to feel pretty good about it," acknowledged veteran agent Joe Linta. "Hey, at least it's something on which to hang your hat. It's the reality, you know? This is where we're at right now."
Linta recently negotiated a three-year, $951,000 deal for offensive tackle Scott Kooistra, the Cincinnati Bengals' seventh-round selection, and the initial choice in the final stanza of the 2003 draft. The contract included a $41,000 signing bonus, just $500 more than the signing bonus awarded to LaVar Glover, the first prospect selected in the seventh round of last year's draft.
But that $500 represented a 1.2 percent increase in the signing bonus payment. And these days, with negotiating battle lines tightly drawn, a 1.2-percent bump might be viewed at the end of the day as a veritable windfall.
There have been instances in which rookies have signed "cookie-cutter" contracts, deals that precisely mirrored the ones signed by the player taken in the corresponding slot of the 2002 draft, pacts that offered zero increase. Some rookies, such as Philadelphia seventh-round safety Norman LeJeune, have settled for signing bonus increases as modest as just $100. A few others have signed contracts in which the bonus and the first-year salary cap number are less than those received by players in the same '02 slot.
"To say this is a tough (negotiating) year on everyone," suggested a cap specialist for one NFC team, "doesn't even begin to describe it. It's like fighting over millimeters. (Agents) are coming in and saying, 'Look, just give me some kind of increase, huh, so that I can paint this in the best light to my (client).' But, hey, it is what it is, right?"
As of Thursday evening, just 42 of the 262 players chosen this year had agreed to the first contract of their professional careers. Of that group, only four, one first-round selection and three others taken in the third round, were first-day prospects. But even with such a small group from which to elicit early empirical returns, the 2003 data is not promising, nor is it apt to improve dramatically, especially for players chosen after the second round.
ESPN.com has obtained the contract breakdowns for all 42 draft-choice contracts. Using a formula suggested by several agents and team cap specialists, it was determined that there are 34 contracts that are viably comparable to those signed by corresponding choices from the 2002 lottery, based on various criteria generally acceptable in such undertakings.
The results: The average increase in signing bonus, between the 2003 players and those chosen in the same slots in the 2002 draft, is just 1.5 percent. In terms of the salary cap charge -- prorated share of the signing bonus, added to the base salary, and to any other non-performance bonuses -- the increase for '03 is less than one-half of 1 percent at this point in the signing season.
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Stopping the run
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When he signed with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday evening, after his release last week by the Tennessee Titans, middle linebacker Randall Godfrey claimed that every unit on which he played in his seven years in the league ranked in the top 10 in defense against the run. Well, that isn't quite true, but Godfrey's point is still a good one. As a solid interior presence, he has contributed to five top 10-ranked defenses against the run in seven seasons, including four that rated among the top six. Here's how the defenses on which Godfrey has played ranked against the run, the past three years with Tennessee and the four seasons before that with the Dallas Cowboys, compared to how the Seattle unit rated in corresponding seasons:
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Yr
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Godfrey rank
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'Hawks rank
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2002
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2
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32
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2001
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5
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15
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2000
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3
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28
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1999
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6
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25
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1998
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12
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21
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1997
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24
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12
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1996
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9
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28
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The healthiest increase in signing bonus from the 34 contracts compared was the 14.3-percent bump realized by New York Giants wide receiver Willie Ponder. The sixth-round pick, and the 26th player chosen in that round, he received a $56,000 bonus on a three-year contract. In contrast, the 26th player chosen in the sixth round in 2002, linebacker Tyreo Harrison of Philadelphia, received $49,000 in upfront money on a three-year deal. It should be noted, though, that the comparison is a bit skewed, and could even be seen as aberrant, since Harrison signed a contract where the bonus was dramatically below what the No. 26 slot in the sixth round should have commanded.
Another of the Giants' picks, seventh-round receiver Kevin Walter, was one of those players whose signing bonus, in his case $24,250, was below that of the prospect taken in the same slot a year ago. But again the '02 player, Detroit tight end Matt Murphy got a signing bonus that was "out of slot," in this case higher than it should have been.
Those few exceptions aside, the study of early 2003 deals is a sobering one, and also one reflective of the squeeze under which team cap managers and agents are operating this year. Whatever gains have been realized, at least to this point, have been incremental at best and, more accurately, miniscule in most situations.
"All of those old 'well, it's like pulling teeth' comparisons are an understatement," said agent Todd France, who negotiated a deal with the Arizona Cardinals that netted client Tony Gilbert, a linebacker chosen in the sixth round, a $500 signing bonus increase. "I mean, the Cardinals didn't want to budge at all, and wanted us to take the same contract the guy in our slot got last year. Their mindset is like, 'We had $5 to spend last year, and we've got $5 to spend this year, so what makes you think we are going to spend $5.50 now?' Any victory, no matter how big or small, is a victory this time around."
Indeed, some agents who used to boast to ESPN.com about the double-digit increases that they regularly negotiated for clients are now bragging about bumps of $350-$500. Given the current situation, an upward move of $1,000 is akin to hitting the mother lode, and the market has seen bumps frequently defined by tenths of a percentage point. Things might loosen up a little more when first- and second-round deals are consummated, but not by much, and the trickle-down effect to middle- and late-round rookies could actually have a negative effect, one reason some agents are jumping at any increase now.
The effects of The Big Chill extend, as well, beyond just dollars and cents.
"There are non-monetary issues at work, too, and you've got to deal those," said agent Craig Domann, who achieved a heady 1.9-percent signing bonus increase for Giants fifth-round guard David Diehl. "Things like 'split' contracts and the length of the contract have come into play more now."
A "split" contract is one in which the agreement stipulates a player will not receive his full base salary if he is injured or not on the active roster. They became a quiet element in the bargaining process perhaps 10 years ago, but teams introduced them by including the stipulations only in the first season of a rookie contract. Over the years, however, clubs have added the number of "split" seasons to deals. Most three-year rookie contracts now include "splits" for the first two years.
Domann and France allowed that the "split" elements have not become a bargaining chip. France emphasized that the Cardinals typically include just a "split" stipulation for the first year of a contract, as was the case with Gilbert's deal, but other teams are far more insidious in using them.
As pointed out two weeks ago by ESPN.com, more teams are insisting now on four-year deals for middle- and late-round choices, a contract length that was unheard of until just recently. This year, it is largely in reaction to the Washington Redskins' raid this spring on the restricted free agent market, with the club signing four three-year veterans away from other franchises. By signing a rookie to a four-year contract, the deal extends past the restricted free agency window, and means a team doesn't have to tender a qualifying offer to the player after three seasons.
Not surprisingly, the New York Jets, who lost two restricted free agents to the Redskins, wide receiver Laveranues Coles and kickoff return ace Chad Morton, are insisting that even middle- and late-round selections sign four-year contracts. Other teams are pushing the four-year contracts as well and some agents have fallen prey to the pressure. Miami signed fifth-round tight end Donald Lee to a below-market four-year deal. But agent Ron Del Duca was able to back away from the negotiating table with just a standard, three-year contract for sixth-round defensive back Corey Jenkins.
Of the 38 deals completed so far beyond the second round, three are for four years, and there is one five-year contract. Those players who agree to contracts beyond three years, with no protection at the back end of the deal, are probably costing themselves money, as much as $302,000 in some cases, a recent NFLPA memo to agents emphasized.
But there are rookies and agents who will, in a year when they seem backed into a corner, agree to ill-advised four-year contracts. There is little doubt that, with the "flat" rookie allocation, the teams own the lion's share of the leverage. The players waiting until July to sign their contracts, perhaps convinced the market won't be nearly as restrictive then, are apt to be disappointed.
"There's no sense posturing," said Linta, who is actually taking a proactive negotiating stance and trying to get his clients signed, sealed and delivered. "There are still guys out there who contend that, if you sign early, you get less of a deal. That's bull, let me tell you, because no one is getting a great deal in this atmosphere. It doesn't matter when you sign the thing. I mean, if you're a fifth- or sixth- or seventh-rounder, what are you going to do? Hold out and kill any chance you have to make a team's roster?"
Around the league
The tight rookie allocation could well play a role in how teams view Georgia Tech tailback Tony Hollings, the most prominent entry in the July 11 supplemental draft, and a prospect who is commanding plenty of attention from league scouts. As many as 15-20 teams are expected on the Tech campus next Tuesday, to attend a Hollings audition, and agent Todd France said this week the phone "is ringing off the hook." Plenty of teams contacted by ESPN.com acknowledge they are intrigued by Hollings, who led the nation in rushing yards and scoring through four games in 2002, before he tore up his knee. But in addition to concerns about his physical status, and the reality that Hollings is a former defensive back who has just four games of exposure at tailback, there is the matter of the rookie pool. No one to this point has mentioned the rookie pool as a factor with the very talented Hollings, but it is a reality that is part of the equation. A franchise that selects Hollings in the supplemental draft must be able to somehow squeeze him into its rookie allocation and that won't be easy. France might have to be very creative in the manner he negotiates Hollings' first league contract. The Atlanta Falcons' medical staff performed a physical exam on Friday and is to provide the results to any league team interested. As noted here in the past, Hollings also has been cleared by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jim Andrews, and should be recovered in full by the start of camp next month. "There are a lot of questions marks about the guy," allowed the personnel director from an NFC North team. "But you owe it to yourself to go check him out."
Three weeks ago, ESPN.com detailed the early grades that National Football Scouting, Inc., one of the two combine services which provide reports for subscriber franchises, had assigned to the college seniors who will be available in the '04 draft. The National grades had J.P. Losman of Tulane, who received a 7.2 score on the combine's 9-point system, as the highest-rated quarterback. Eli Manning of Mississippi, considered by some observers as the early favorite to be the top player chosen overall next April, had a 6.2 grade. But on the springtime grades from the other scouting combine, Blesto, the quarterback order is reversed. Manning is the highest-rated quarterback, with a 1.23 grade on Blesto's 5-point system, where a lower score is superior. Losman has a grade of 1.25 and not too far behind, at 1.26, is Cody Pickett of the University of Washington. All three passers rank in the top 15 prospects on the Blesto ratings.
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| P. Manning |
Eli Manning's older brother appears to be making little progress toward a new deal with the Indianapolis Colts. Several sources close to Peyton Manning conceded this week that talks aimed at an extension, a maneuver the Colts desperately need to complete to carve out some much-needed cap room and to secure the future of their star, are progressing at a snail's pace. "Nothing to report," said agent Tom Condon. "Nothing is imminent."
Also in the "nothing is imminent" file, San Francisco staffers have significantly slowed the search for a veteran wide receiver to replace J.J. Stokes, who was released last month after a disappointing eight-year stint in the Bay area. For now, at least, the 49ers seem to feel that third-year veteran Cedrick Wilson had made sufficient progress to merit a shot at the No. 3 wideout job, and even possibly push Tai Streets for the starting spot opposite of Terrell Owens. Another factor is that the coaches are pleased with the work of a pair of draft choices, Brandon Lloyd (No. 4) and Arnaz Battle (No. 6), in offseason practices. Even with new coach Dennis Erickson wanting to throw the ball vertically more in 2003, the San Francisco offense doesn't mandate sprinters. Lloyd played in a sophisticated passing game under Ron Turner at Illinois and, while his pedestrian speed will always be an issue, he is a very polished receiver. Battle is the former Notre Dame quarterback who moved to wide receiver two years ago, is very raw, but has some notable upside. The younger players will get an opportunity to prove themselves before San Francisco panics and ardently pursues a veteran like Antonio Freeman, who will likely wind up back in Philadelphia for another year, or perhaps with the Carolina Panthers.
Even with the additions of veteran Derrius Thompson and draft choice J.R. Tolver, it is difficult to fathom wide receiver Oronde Gadsden not being on the Miami regular-season roster. But folks in Dolphins headquarters tell us that Gadsden, who last week re-signed with the team after a frustrating and ill-conceived foray in unrestricted free agency, will have to battle his way back up the depth chart. A starter until about halfway through the '02 campaign, when he suffered a season-ending wrist injury, Gadsden is expected to work with the third-unit offense when camp begins. It's not a move born of spite, but the Miami coaches want to see Gadsden hungry, as he was earlier in his career.
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| Dalton |
At any time of year, the defensive tackle position is among the most difficult to fill, and that would seem to be even more a reality just a month or so before training camps open around the league. But two pro personnel chiefs with whom we have regular dialogue, and who are both still desperately seeking to add a veteran interior defender, insisted this week that there will be some tackles tossed into the late free agency market. Among the potential casualties they cited: Ted Washington (Chicago), Travis Hall (Atlanta), Dan Wilkinson (Washington), Lional Dalton (Denver) and Grady Jackson (New Orleans). "I'm not (suggesting) all of them will be booted, but I'll bet you a beer right now that two or three of those guys are out there, OK?" said one pro director. Because it would mean assuming a $3.94 million cap hit in 2004, and locating a starting-caliber tackle to replace Wilkinson this season, the Redskins probably will retain the nine-year veteran but still want to rework his contract. But some of the others, indeed, might be candidates for the chopping block. Hall has a ponderous $5.378 million cap charge, and a base salary of $3.1 million, big numbers for a backup. A terrific character guy with a big motor, Hall has been cursed in recent years by injuries, and is recovering from offseason surgery for a sports hernia. Jackson has fallen into disfavor with Saints coach Jim Haslett, in large part because of weight problems, but New Orleans would squander the $1 million roster bonus they paid him earlier in the spring if he was released now. Rumors of the demise of Washington have been rampant in Chicago much of the offseason. Dalton seems to have been nudged from the Denver starting lineup, first because of emphasis new coordinator Larry Coyer has placed on speed, second because of the emergence of second-year vets Monsanto Pope and Dorsett Davis.
In his master plan, Cincinnati Bengals rookie coach Marvin Lewis would love to field a defense that features two physical cornerbacks, guys who can get up in the faces of wide receivers and play some "press" coverage. But those plans aren't likely to be enacted at the outset of Lewis' debut campaign. The Bengals acquired one veteran cornerback, Tory James, who fits the mold. They drafted another, Dennis Weathersby, but the Oregon State star, the victim of a random drive-by shooting on Easter, almost certainly won't be able to go full-speed when camp opens on July 27. There is little doubt that Weathersby was a steal at the top of the fourth round, a prospect who stayed on the draft board far longer than he should have, because of uncertainties over his physical condition. His injuries from the shooting, though, were serious and Weathersby lost a considerable amount of blood. Even given his diligence in rehabilitation, he probably will be limited early in camp, and that will cost him valuable time on the field. Weathersby is getting a crash course in the Cincinnati defense from secondary assistants Kevin Coyle and Lou Cioffi, but watching something on videotape and then transferring that knowledge into a real-world application is a quantum leap. Bengals trainer Chip Morton allowed this week that he is increasing Weathersby's workload incrementally. "If I was to put him through a 2½-hour session," said Morton, "that would hammer him." His estimable physical gains aside, Weathersby might not be ready to regularly contribute before midseason.
Much thanks to Dave Spadaro, the ever-diligent editor of the Philadelphia Eagles' web site, for pointing out that defensive end Derrick Burgess has actually been running for a much longer period than we reported in a recent feature story on veterans returning from 2002 injuries. That said, Burgess still has to demonstrate that he is physically whole again, after two surgeries to repair a fractured foot. The party line in Philadelphia remains that the depth the Eagles have assembled on the defensive front will be more than enough to compensate for the loss of end Hugh Douglas in free agency. On paper, that may well be the case, but we'll wait until the pads actually go on before making a judgment. One surprising thing about the Eagles' defensive line is that the team has been aligning first-round draft choice Jerome McDougle of Miami on the left side, not at Douglas' old right end spot. The team's other former Hurricane end, fourth-round pick Jamaal Green, is the guy getting more repetitions on the right side.
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| Fisher |
The lead item in last week's "Tip Sheet" laid out many of the offseason problems that have confronted the Tennessee Titans but also noted that coach Jeff Fisher was more than capable of keeping a steady hand on things. That's why it was good to see owner Bud Adams reward Fisher, one of the league's best and most respected coaches, with a pricey three-year contract extension through 2006.
One oversight on our part, however, in last week's Titans item: We failed to note that an organization that annually seems to have to jump through hoops to get into compliance with the salary cap limits faces the same old hurdles again next spring. According to NFLPA documents, the Titans have committed a league-high $102.161 million to their 2004 cap. That is by far the most in the NFL, way ahead of runner-up Miami, at $93.94 million. So once again, club president Jeff Diamond and general manager Floyd Reese will be forced to rework contracts, extend some deals, jettison overpaid and underproducing veterans. The problem is, some Tennessee players are to the point now where age all but precludes extensions, because they won't be around much longer and the cap ramifications in terms of "acceleration" might be prohibitive.
Tennessee's 10 highest-paid players for 2004, in terms of cap charges, account for $68.4 million in aggregate salary cap space. The spending limit for 2004 is expected to be about $80 million. It's tough to do business when just 10 players occupy so much cap room. Those 10 players and their 2004 cap charges: defensive end Kevin Carter, $11.77 million; quarterback Steve McNair, $10.76 million; cornerback Samari Rolle, $8.81 million; tailback Eddie George, $7.32 million; offensive tackle Brad Hopkins, $6.62 million; offensive tackle Fred Miller, $6.39 million; wide receiver Derrick Mason, $5.8 million; guard Benji Olson, $4.24 million; tight end Frank Wycheck, $3.38 million; linebacker Peter Sirmon, $3.25 million. Oh, yeah, the Titans will also carry in 2004 a charge of $3.08 million for departed linebacker Randall Godfrey, released last week.
The six-year contract signed by Titans punter Craig Hentrich this week is worth $9.1 million. It includes a $1.5 million signing bonus and base salaries of $655,000 (2003), $800,000 (2004), $1.3 million (2005), $1.4 million (2006), $1.4 million (2007) and $1.6 million (2008). There are roster bonuses of $45,000 for 2004 and then $100,000 each for 2005-2008. The two-year deal signed by Tennessee quarterback Neil O'Donnell has a signing bonus of $90,000, base salaries of $755,000 (2003) and $850,000 (2004), and a $50,000 roster bonus for 2004.
The breakdown on the new contract that Pittsburgh offensive tackle Marvel Smith got with what amounted to a five-year extension: A signing bonus of $6 million. Base salaries of $500,000 (2003), $1.75 million (2004), $3.95 million (2005), $4.4 million (2006). $4.2 million (2007) and $3.95 million (2008). Roster bonuses of $500,000 each in 2004 and 2008 and of $250,000 in 2007. A workout bonus of $4,800 this season.
Time again for all you Albert Connell fans to catch up on the CFL exploits of the wide receiver who is trying to resurrect his career and perhaps get another NFL contract: Alas, Connell followed up a five-catch, 103-yard performance in the regular-season opener with a downer on Thursday night. In the Calgary Stampeders' loss to Edmonton, he had just one reception for 28 yards. And Stampeders tailback Lawrence Phillips managed only 40 yards on nine rushes.
Cincinnati claimed former San Diego starter Rogers Beckett off waivers recently in hopes he could contend with Mark Roman for the starting free safety spot. Now there is a chance that the Bengals won't even keep Beckett, a former second-round draft choice, around long enough to see him in camp. Because of a fairly dramatic difference between the worker's compensation regulations in California and Ohio, there may a problem with Beckett's contract, and he might request that the Bengals cut him free. If that occurs, look for several teams to put in a waiver claim, because the guy still has some talent.
Punts: Linebacker and special teams ace John Fiala, recently released by Pittsburgh, has turned down a contract offer from the Houston Texans, and will retire instead. Word is that the Texans may pursue unrestricted free agent linebacker Johnny Rutledge, formerly of Arizona, who was a second-round pick in the '99 draft and a onetime Cardinals starter. … Texans first-round choice Andre Johnson, the former University of Miami wideout, still hasn't decided on a new agent after dumping Jeffrey Moorad. Before even signing his first NFL contract, Johnson has already gone through three agents. … Given the release of Dennis McKinley this week, after he was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking, the Cardinals are pretty thin at fullback. That may rekindle some interest in former Cards starter Joel Mackovicka, still an unsigned free agent, but Arizona officials as of Friday had not yet phoned him. … One reason Steelers tight end Mark Bruener may end up accepting a salary reduction from his scheduled $2.05 million to the $755,000 the club is asking him to take: He is near completion of a tony new home in suburban Pittsburgh. … Wide receiver Andre Rison, who has 743 catches but hasn't played in the league since 2000, is still looking to resurrect his career. Rison, 37, faces a four-game suspension if he ever signs a contract because of past sanctions resulting from a repeat violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy.
The last word: "He's the spaghetti sauce that covers up the noodles and, if you've got good sauce, then you're going to have good spaghetti. The quarterback has got to be the spaghetti sauce, the one who makes it all work." -- Houston Texans offensive coordinator Chris Palmer on the significance of second-year quarterback David Carr to the team.
Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
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