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Team-by-team salary cap climate
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Team
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Comment
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Arizona Cardinals
2000: $2.1 under
2001: $18 under
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Injuries killed this year's cap and forced them to release five players worth $1.7 million Thursday because $16 million of their cap is tied up in injured players or holdout Simeon Rice. Injuries and the cap may cost them a November vote to stay in Phoenix. |
Atlanta Falcons
2000: $1.5 under
2001: $16 under
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Face tough negotiations for cornerback Ray Buchanan and left tackle Bob Whitfield but the cap room is there to get one player done before the end of the season. |
Baltimore Ravens
2000: $1.2 under
2001: $2 over
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About ready to complete a monster contract with left tackle Jonathan Ogden, but overall the cap is in good shape as is the team.
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Buffalo Bills
2000: $0.9 under
2001: $16 over
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They had to forget about 17 players from last year's team to get under the cap. Still, they have a fighting chance to keep wide receiver Eric Moulds and defensive end Marcellus Wiley.
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Carolina Panthers
2000: $0.2 under
2001: $11 over
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They are prisoners of the cap now and about to go into solitary confinement next year. Things are so tight they have tough time acquiring a third-receiver or linebacker making $440,000
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Chicago Bears
2000: $0.3 under
2001: $13 under
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The Bears had the cap room to buy the best defense available in free agency -- cornerback Thomas Smith, defensive end Philip Daniels, safety Shawn Wooden and defensive tackle Brad Culpepper. Need to get a contract extension for cornerback Walt Harris for continuity.
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Cincinnati Bengals
2000: $0.3 under
2001: $18 under
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The Bengals are finally spending to the cap, but do they have enough talent? Probably not. The key renegotiation involves halfback Corey Dillon, but his $3 million base gives the Bengals working room to try to make a deal.
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Cleveland Browns
2000: $4.2 under
2001: $9 under
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The Browns need to spend money on a running back, receiver and tight end. The money is starting to go faster than anyone expected.
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Dallas Cowboys
2000: $0.7 under
2001: $15 over
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Compared to past years, the Cowboys are in good shape. They should have no problem getting under the cap and all of their top offensive players are under contract. They should come out with room to spend on defense next year.
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Denver Broncos
2000: $3.3 under
2001: $4 under
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The Broncos do a great job with their cap and should have room to do what they need. Their biggest task is keeping linebacker John Mobley.
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Detroit Lions
2000: $1.3 under
2001: $1 over
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The Lions' simplistic cap leaves them room to do whatever they want. Their biggest decisions are on the offensive line where Jeff Hartings and Mike Compton are free agents. Linebacker Tracy Scroggins is also a key re-signing.
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Green Bay Packers
2000: $0.7 under
2001: $10 over
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This will be an evaluation year for the defense, which struggled during the preseason. Some veterans may need to go if they have bad seasons to leave room to re-sign guard Ross Verba.
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Indianapolis Colts
2000: $3.7 under
2001: $7 under
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Bill Polian has this team in great shape. They offensive stars are signed up for several years. He's filled the defense with better athletes. Now, he needs to add a star or two on defense.
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Jacksonville Jaguars
2000: $0.6 under
2001: $31 over
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Breaking up may be hard to do, but the Jaguars are in the cap position of making tough decision on key offensive people.
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Kansas City Chiefs
2000: $1.1 under
2001: $41 over
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The number is a little misleading because Elvis Grbac counts $20 million against next year's cap. Still, a few aging veterans have to produce or they may be off the roster after the season.
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Miami Dolphins
2000: $2.6 under
2001: $7 under
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The cap isn't as good as you might think because new deals are needed for defensive tackle Tim Bowens, defensive end Jason Taylor, linebacker Derrick Rodgers, safety Brock Marion and left tackle Richmond Webb. Also, at some point, the Dolphins will have to pay a quarterback.
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Minnesota Vikings
2000: $1.6 under
2001: $12 over
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If Dennis Green re-signs linebacker Dwayne Rudd, he has to find enough money next year to reward wide receiver Randy Moss.
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New England Patriots
2000: $1.4 under
2001: $1 over
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Bill Belichick cleaned up growing problems on the cap, but now he needs to get some players.
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New Orleans Saints
2000: $0.4 under
2001: $3 under
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The Saints have no key re-signings. They will take the year to evaluate these players and be as aggressive in free agency next year.
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New York Giants
2000: $1.4 under
2001: $2 under
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The Giants have cleaned up their cap. Once they take a look at cornerback Jason Sehorn's play, they will have to pay him top dollar or lose him.
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New York Jets
2000: $1 under
2001: $3 under
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Capwise, the team is in good shape. They figure to lose linebacker Mo Lewis. Defensive tackle Jason Ferguson is playing for a new deal.
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Oakland Raiders
2000: $1.7 under
2001: $6 over
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No major problems here. Tight end Ricky Dudley and wide receiver James Jett are in the final years of their deals. Dudley could get the big dollars. Jett may not.
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Philadelphia Eagles
2000: $5.4 under
2001: $14 under
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If preseason forecasts about the Eagles being one of the league's most improved teams are right, they'll have a stockpile of money to get better. Like Chicago a year ago, they have a chance to be a major free-agent player next year and lock up anybody they want this season.
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Pittsburgh Steelers
2000: $0.7 under
2001: $3 over
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Their only potential key free-agent losses could be running back Jerome Bettis and linebacker Mike Vrabel and that might happen. Need to do a contract extension for talented linebacker Earl Holmes.
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San Diego Chargers
2000: $0.9 under
2001: $7 under
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Rising cap star Ed McGuire has the team in great shape to re-sign linebacker Junior Seau to an extension and make the Chargers a player in next year's free agency like they were this year in getting cornerback De Ron Jenkins and wide receiver Curtis Conway.
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Seattle Seahawks
2000: $0.9 under
2001: $3.5 under
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Mike Holmgren sacrificed a victory or two this year to clean up his cap. Next year he needs to spend heavily because the talent base is rapidly falling.
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San Francisco 49ers
2000: $1.7 under
2001: $14 over
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It was cap hell this year. It will be cap hell next year and for probably another year after that. At least there aren't any key re-signings.
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St. Louis Rams
2000: $1.7 under
2001: $11 under
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After keeping the offense together with contract extensions for Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce, the Rams face tough choices with defensive end Kevin Carter and cornerbacks Dexter McCleon and Todd Lyght.
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2000: $2.4 under
2001: $4 over
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Some of their good young players are heading toward big paydays. They have to worry about safety John Lynch, cornerback Ronde Barber and guard Frank Middleton. Overall, though, no worries here.
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Tennessee Titans
2000: $1 under
2001: $14 over
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The Titans are a little overextended but why not? They are going for a repeat trip to the Super Bowl. In the tight windows of opportunity, it's best to go for it when you get the chance.
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Washington Redskins
2000: $1 under
2001: $0.7 over
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The price of success could eat up a lot of cap room if quarterback Brad Johnson and wide receiver Albert Connell have career years. Owner Daniel Snyder won't mind paying for it, though, and he has the cap room temporarily.
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