Each team's capsule contains a list of players who are scheduled to become free agents on March 2. Unrestricted free agents (UFAs) are players who have accrued four or more NFL seasons and are free to sign with any team unless given a franchise or transition tag. Restricted free agents (RFAs) are players with three accrued seasons. The player's current team has a right of first refusal on offers from other teams. If the team chooses to let a restricted free agent leave by opting to not match an offer, the team will receive draft-choice compensation from the player's new team. Exclusive-rights free agents are players who have fewer than three accrued seasons. They do not have the right to change teams if they are offered a contract from their current club.

Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals' 2001 free agents

UFAs: S Tommy Bennett, OL Ethan Brooks, OL Jon Clark, OL Chris Dishman, TE Chris Gedney, LB Mark Maddox, S J.J. McClesky, DE Simeon Rice, DT Mark Smith, CB Aeneas Williams. RFAs: CB Corey Chavous, OL Anthony Clement, TE Terry Hardy, RB Michael Pittman, P Scott Player, DT Corey Sears, DT Rashod Swinger, S Pat Tillman, LB Zack Walz. EFAs: WR Mac Cody, WR Bryan Gilmore, QB Sean Keenan, CB Justin Lucas, WR Tywan Mitchell, OL Jason Starkey, RB Clarence Williams, CB Jordan Younger.

Analysis: There are many needs on this team, but the club isn't in very good salary-cap shape given all the unsigned free agents they have, so you can expect the Cardinals to rebuild their core through the draft. Head coach Dave McGinnis has already indicated several free agents won't be offered contracts, including Ethan Brooks, Jon Clark, Mac Cody, Chris Gedney, Mark Maddox, J.J. McClesky, Corey Sears and Mark Smith. The Cardinals would like to have several of their restricted free agents back and signed to long-term deals, but they may not be able to offer them more than the one-year tender at this point. The highest-priority restricted free agents are Michael Pittman, Anthony Clement and Pat Tillman, followed by Corey Chavous, Scott Player, Zack Walz and Terry Hardy. At press time, the Cardinals were still waiting to hear what Aeneas Williams wants to do. There have been rumblings the long-time standout corner wants to retire or move to a contending team next season. Simeon Rice is expected to be on his way out of Arizona. Andre Wadsworth is expected to have his contract voided because of the high salaries remaining on the final three years of the original deal, although that situation may be headed to an arbiter. Word has it the Cardinals won't have much more than around $2 million in cap space to spend on outside free agents. Look for the team to go after a second-tier guard, with Lester Holmes expected to be released. The Cardinals also need big-time help on the defensive line, and they are believed to be thinking about picking a defensive tackle in the first round of the draft. Beyond that, the Cardinals could use help at tight end and cornerback, and they may try to get an upgrade over kicker Cary Blanchard.

Dallas Cowboys

	Cowboys' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: LB Dexter Coakley, QB Randall Cunningham, DT Leon Lett, WR James McKnight, S Greg Myers, DL Alonzo Spellman, CB Charlie Williams, LB Barron Wortham. RFAs: LB Darren Hambrick, DT Michael Myers, S Izell Reese, FB Robert Thomas. EFAs: WR Chris Brazzell, OL Ben Fricke, CB Duane Hawthorne, WR Damon Hodge, P Micah Knorr, DT Brandon Noble, PK Tim Seder, LB Brandon Tolbert, WR Jason Tucker.

Analysis: Before figuring out how to attack free agency, the Cowboys need to decide who will be their starting quarterback next season. That means a decision on Troy Aikman has to be made -- either by Aikman or the team. Word has it that Aikman is leaning toward continuing his playing career. But can the Cowboys afford him? If he comes back, it will only be after his contract has been seriously renegotiated. If Aikman isn't back, they will have to come up with a quarterback. No matter what happens with the quarterback position, the Cowboys aren't expected to be major players on the open market, as this franchise is not in very good salary-cap shape. In fact, they will likely be trying to dump some of the existing money they already have on the books. They can clear in the neighborhood of $7.5 million in roster bonuses by releasing cornerback Ryan McNeil and linebacker Joe Bowden. The team may also have to consider the futures of offensive tackle Erik Williams and defensive tackle Chad Hennings, who each have one year left on their contracts, and cornerback Phillippi Sparks, who has two years left on his deal.

New York Giants

Giants' 2001 free agents

UFAs: RB Tiki Barber, QB Mike Cherry, PK Brad Daluiso, OL Derek Engler, P Brad Maynard, TE Pete Mitchell, LB Pete Monty, DT Christian Peter, LB Ryan Phillips, CB Jason Sehorn, S Omar Stoutmire. RFAs: RB Greg Comella, WR Joe Jurevicius, CB Emmanuel McDaniel, CB Ramos McDonald, DT George Williams. EFAs: WR Thabiti Davis, RB Dawud Rasheed, CB Reggie Stephens, LB Vernon Strickland, RB Craig Walendy, OL Jason Whittle.

Analysis: Coming off their first Super Bowl appearance in a decade, the Giants are full of good vibes. Yes, the vibes would have been even better had they defeated the Ravens for the NFL title, but things are still pretty upbeat around the Giants' practice facility these days. First of all, there appears to be stability within the organization now that head coach Jim Fassel is on the verge of getting a lengthy and lucrative contract extension. Furthermore, the Giants are in decent salary-cap shape. The two must-sign players that are currently on the Giants' roster are Jason Sehorn and Tiki Barber. Both guys love playing in the league's largest market and are expected to re-sign before the Feb. 22 deadline to designate franchise and transition players. Also slated to become unrestricted are two more starters -- Ryan Phillips and Christian Peter -- and the team's punter (Brad Maynard) and kicker (Brad Daluiso). Phillips could be re-signed at the right price, while Peter could be expendable because of the outstanding rookie effort of defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin. The Giants may opt to get younger at kicker, choosing to go with Jaret Holmes over Daluiso, a 10-year veteran. Pete Mitchell apparently wants to be a bigger part of the offense, but the Giants aren't convinced he is the right man for the job, which may lead to him moving on. That would mean the Giants would be in the market for a tight end. They may also be looking to sign a cornerback.

Philadelphia Eagles

	Eagles' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: TE Luther Broughton, CB Jerod Cherry, LB James Darling, DT Paul Grasmanis, S Tim Hauck, TE Jeff Thomason, RB Chris Warren. RFAs: LB Ike Reese, LB Jeremiah Trotter, DE Brandon Whiting. EFAs: PK David Akers, CB Jason Bostic, OL Ryan Schau.

Analysis: Few teams have as much salary-cap space to play with as the Eagles. When all is said and done -- including signing their own free agents and setting aside money for their 2001 draft class -- the Eagles will have in the neighborhood of $7 million to spend on free-agent salaries for next season. Two of their own players they definitely want to return are Jeremiah Trotter, who has become a top middle linebacker, and David Akers, who emerged as a very reliable kicker last season. Neither of those players have control over his own destiny, though. Trotter is a restricted free agent, which means the Eagles can match any offer he receives, and Akers is an exclusive-rights free agent, which means he has no leverage at all. With as much cap space as the Eagles have to work with, don't be surprised to see them sign at least one big-time free agent -- most likely a wide receiver or defensive end. Philadelphia's wide receiver corps is much-maligned, and the Eagles want another top end to start opposite Hugh Douglas. A couple of the names being floated around Philadelphia are Titans wide receiver Derrick Mason and Bills defensive end Marcellus Wiley. For years it was believed the Eagles weren't a desirable destination for free agents because of the poor training facility and bad turf at Veterans Stadium. However, the Eagles are confident they can compete for the elite free agents now that the team is moving into a new state-of-the-art training facility -- the NovaCare Complex -- and will be playing in a new stadium beginning in 2003.

Washington Redskins

Redskins' 2001 free agents

UFAs: P Tommy Barnhardt, S Curtis Buckley, WR Albert Connell, CB Tyronne Drakeford, OL Ed Ellis, DE Nolan Harrison, OL Tony Hutson, TE James Jenkins, QB Brad Johnson, LB Greg Jones, DE N.D. Kalu, LB Kevin Mitchell, PK Eddie Murray, RB Adrian Murrell, WR Andre Reed, WR Kenny Shedd, LB Derek Smith, WR James Thrash. RFAs: LB Shawn Barber, C Mark Fischer, RB Skip Hicks, LB Tyrus McCloud, RB Mike Sellers. EFAs: RB Gerard Arnold, PK Scott Bentley, OL Derrick Fletcher, DE Derrick Ham, S David Terrell.

Analysis: Washington's game plan for attacking free agency is a bit murky at this point, with the new regime still evaluating the existing talent on the roster. One thing known at this point is that the Redskins aren't expected to be a huge player on the open market like they were last year. The spending spree that took place in 2000 will not be repeated. In fact, the Redskins will likely have to cut one well-known player to create salary-cap space. It wouldn't be shocking if the Skins released wide receiver Michael Westbrook or offensive guard Tre' Johnson, both of whom ended the season on injured reserve with knee injuries. Another potential cap casualty is defensive tackle Dan Wilkinson, although new defensive coordinator Kurt Schottenheimer has spoken highly of what he saw of "Big Daddy" in game tapes from last season. Depending on which player becomes a cap casualty, the Skins will have to replace either a starting wide receiver, guard or defensive tackle. The Redskins will be in the market for a quarterback to battle Jeff George for the starting job. One rumor making the rounds is that the Skins will make a run at either Doug Flutie or Rob Johnson, whichever one is released by the Bills. Also look for the Redskins to address special teams. They definitely need a kicker, and punter Tommy Barnhardt is an unrestricted free agent. The Skins will look to add players who can contribute on the other aspects of special teams, something that was largely ignored by the previous staff.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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