Each team's capsule contains a list of players who are scheduled to become free agents on March 1. 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.

Dallas Cowboys

	Cowboys' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: OT Flozell Adams (franchise), DT Michael Myers, CB Izell Reese, S Darren Woodson. RFAs: WR Darrin Chiaverini, OL Ben Fricke, CB Duane Hawthorne, TE Mike Lucky, LB Dat Nguyen, DT Brandon Noble. EFAs: LB Keith Adams, PK Jon Hilbert, P Micah Knorr, LB Louis Mackey, WR Ken-Yon Rambo, PK Tim Seder, QB Clint Stoerner, WR Reggie Swinton, TE James Whalen, WR Randal Williams, QB Anthony Wright.

Analysis: After spending the 2001 season in "salary-cap jail," as owner Jerry Jones liked to call it, the Cowboys have roughly $20 million to spend this offseason. Not all of that, though, can go to signing free agents. Some of it needs to be earmarked for signing draft picks and their own unsigned players. Jones has vowed to be more fiscally prudent so as to avoid getting his team into another salary-cap jam. Look for Dallas to target one or two high-priced free agents. But for the most part, the Cowboys are expected to search for bargains, luring players to sign short-term deals in order to prove their worth. The biggest areas of need are cornerback and defensive tackle, and perhaps tight end. Of their own unsigned players, Woodson is the No. 1 priority. The Cowboys definitely want to have him back. The Cowboys franchised Adams, which is the first time in team history they have used the designation. He currently counts $4.92 million against the cap because of the franchise tag. Don't be surprised to see the two sides working on a long-term deal that would decrease his cap figure for next season. The Cowboys will also make an effort to re-sign Myers, who has developed into a fairly good starting defensive tackle. Look for C Mark Stepnoski, tight end Jackie Harris and safety George Teague to be released by March 1 so the team doesn't have to pay them roster bonuses.

New York Giants

	Giants' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: PK Morten Andersen, FB Greg Comella, WR Joe Jurevicius, CB Emmanuel McDaniel, OG Ron Stone, S Shaun Williams. RFAs: TE Dan Campbell, OL Mike Rosenthal, OL Jason Whittle. EFAs: OL Chris Bober, RB Lloyd Clemons, DE Frank Ferrara, LB Kevin Lewis, RB Damon Washington.

Analysis: The Giants were over the cap by a modest amount at presstime. Look for the team to work on new contracts for quarterback Kerry Collins and defensive end Michael Strahan. While both players are signed for the 2002 season, they combine to take up $17 million in cap space. The Giants need to reduce that figure dramatically. The team is also expected to dump linebacker Jessie Armstead, offensive guard Glenn Parker (in June) and cornerback Dave Thomas, which should clear up some space, and strong safety Sam Garnes will be asked to take a pay cut. Of their own free agents, Williams is the clear priority. He is believed to be seeking a deal in the six-year, $30 million range, which is similar to what Packers safety Darren Sharper got last year. They will probably make an offer to Stone, but they won't overpay to keep him. The same can be said for Jurevicius. It's not known what the Giants will do about their kicking situation. They may opt to re-sign Andersen, or they could go with young Owen Pochman, who was carried on the roster as a second kicker for most of last season. The Giants won't be afraid to make moves. As one member of the front office noted, they aren't going to drive themselves crazy trying to keep together a team that went 7-9 in 2001. As for what they may look to add, the Giants could use defensive line and linebacker depth and may consider adding a tight end.

Philadelphia Eagles

	Eagles' 2001 free agents
	UFAs: LB Mike Caldwell, P Sean Landeta, C Bubba Miller, RB Brian Mitchell, OG Jim Pyne, LB Jeremiah Trotter (franchise). RFAs: WR Na Brown, OL Doug Brzezinski, S Rashard Cook, FB Cecil Martin, S Damon Moore. EFAs: C Hank Fraley.

Analysis: The Eagles are in fine salary-cap shape, but they generally don't make a very big splash in the free-agent market. Instead, their philosophy has been to lock up their own good, young players for the long haul. Of the Eagles' season-ending starting lineup, only five of 22 players were unsigned for the 2002 season. Trotter has been franchised, but the team will attempt to work on a long-term contract for him. However, they aren't interested in meeting Trotter's current asking price, which is in excess of $6 million per season. At the moment, Moore isn't in the Eagles' plans after blowing out a knee in the NFC championship game. It's not known what the Eagles will do with Caldwell, who beat out second-round pick Quinton Caver and four-year veteran Ike Reese. Fraley's development at center made Miller expendable. The fifth unsigned starter, Martin, has been tendered as a restricted free agent and will return unless some other team makes an unexpected offer. Brzezinski, a valuable backup, and Landeta will be targeted for re-signing. If the team decides to go shopping, they could be in the market for another stud wide receiver. The Eagles also wouldn't mind a new defensive end to start opposite Hugh Douglas, someone who could draw the occasional double-team. They do like young defensive end Derrick Burgess, but he may not be ready to start.

Washington Redskins

Redskins' 2001 free agents

UFAs: TE Stephen Alexander, QB Tony Banks, LB Shawn Barber, TE Marco Battaglia, RB Donnell Bennett, RB Ki-Jana Carter, OG Ben Coleman, C Mark Fischer, QB Kent Graham, LB Robert Jones, DL Kenard Lang, S Keith Lyle, LB Eddie Mason, WR-RB Eric Metcalf, C Cory Raymer, OG Dave Szott, WR Michael Westbrook. RFAs: CB Kato Serwanga, WR Derrius Thompson. EFAs: DT Jerry DeLoach, TE Zeron Flemister, FB Bryan Johnson.

Analysis: The Redskins haven't publicly said much about what their offseason personnel plans include. They have about $12 million in cap space, but a good deal of that will be eaten up by a new quarterback, which is the team's No. 1 priority this offseason. With Tony Banks and Kent Graham both unsigned, the only quarterback under contract is Sage Rosenfels. The Redskins could consider signing a free agent like Trent Dilfer. They will also explore the possibility of trading for New England's Drew Bledsoe or Jacksonville's Mark Brunell. They also traded for forner Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel. However, he'll likely be considered a backup and not a realistic candidate to start. Another area of need is wide receiver, especially if they don't re-sign Westbrook. The Redskins would like to have him back, but not at the $5 million per season he is currently seeking. He is just one of many Redskins starters who are eligible to hit the open market. It will be virtually impossible to retain them all. It appears the top priority will be re-signing defensive lineman Kenard Lang. But if he returns, the Redskins might have to dump defensive end Marco Coleman and his salary. Don't be surprised if the Skins approach Coleman and Bruce Smith about taking pay cuts.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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