FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-36 7/25/02
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENCY
PERIOD ENDS;
75 RE-SIGN, 130 SWITCH TEAMS
Seventy-five
veteran free agents re-signed with their old teams this year during the
unrestricted free agency signing period, while 130 signed with new teams,
the National Football League announced today. The four-month UFA signing
period, under terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the
league and players, ended July 22.
The number of
teams signing free agents increased to 32 this year with the addition of
the expansion Houston Texans. The Texans signed the most unrestricted
free agents from other teams (16), followed by the New Orleans Saints
(10), Minnesota Vikings (9) and New England Patriots (8).
There were a
total of 297 unrestricted free agents this year. The total player pool is
approximately 1,700.
In addition, one
of this year's 104 restricted free agents signed with a new team
(Pittsburgh kicker KRIS BROWN to Houston), while 99 returned to
their former clubs. The period for restricted free agents to accept
offers from other teams ended April 15.
The 131 total
free agents who switched teams represent only eight percent of all NFL
players. Of 454 players who were free agents in the various categories of
the system, 309 signed new contracts with either new teams or their old
clubs.
"The veteran
free agent signings reflect an ongoing awareness on the part of teams and
players that continuity and stability are more important in our sport,
perhaps, than in others," said HAROLD HENDERSON, executive vice
president of labor relations and chairman of the NFL Management Council.
"The system is contributing to the competitive balance that is so
important in our sport."
Under the NFL
Collective Bargaining Agreement, players without 2002 contracts who had
four or more seasons of free agency experience were termed "unrestricted
free agents" and were free to sign with any club between March 1 and July
22.
If a player's
prior club made a 110 percent tender on or before June 1, the prior club
retained exclusive negotiating rights after July 22 if the player did not
sign with another club. If the player and club are unable to negotiate a
contract by the 10th week of the regular season, the player may not play
the remainder of the season. If the player sits out the season, he
becomes an unrestricted free agent next year.
Under the CBA,
restricted free agents are those players who have three seasons of free
agency experience and are subject to compensation and/or right of first
refusal.
A "transition"
player is a designated unrestricted free agent whose team must tender a
one-year contract at the average of the 10 highest-paid players of 2001 at
the transition player's position, or a 20 percent increase, whichever is
greater. A "franchise" player is a designated unrestricted free agent
whose team must tender a one-year contract at the average of the five
highest-paid players at the franchise player's position in 2001, or a 20
percent increase, whichever is greater.
A comparison of
free agent movement since the current CBA went into effect 10 years ago:
NFL
FREE AGENCY MOVEMENT
(Veteran Free Agents Who
Signed With New Teams)
|
Category |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 |
1996 |
1997 |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
|
Unrestricted |
108 |
121 |
171 |
99 |
85 |
110 |
115 |
107 |
93 |
130 |
|
Restricted |
8 |
7 |
6 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
4 |
4 |
1 |
|
Transition |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Franchise |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
2 |
__0 |
__0 |
_0 |
__0 |
|
TOTALS |
121 |
132 |
179 |
105 |
89 |
117 |
118 |
111 |
97 |
131 |
2002 NFL UNRESTRICTRED & RESTRICTED FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS
1) 130
UNRESTRICTED free agents signed with NEW teams:
|
TEAM |
PLAYER |
FORMER
TEAM |
|
ARIZONA |
CB Duane Starks |
Baltimore |
|
ATLANTA |
RB Warrick Dunn |
Tampa Bay |
|
|
LB John Holecek |
San Diego |
|
|
S Keith Lyle |
Washington |
|
|
CB Allen Rossum
|
Green Bay |
|
|
CB Fred Weary |
New Orleans |
|
|
T Todd Weiner |
Seattle |
|
BUFFALO |
LB London
Fletcher |
St. Louis |
|
|
K Mike Hollis |
Jacksonville |
|
|
S Billy Jenkins |
Green Bay |
|
|
T Marcus Price |
New Orleans |
|
|
T Trey Teague |
Denver |
|
CAROLINA |
CB Terry Cousin |
Miami |
|
|
QB Rodney Peete |
Oakland |
|
|
RB Lamar Smith |
Miami |
|
CHICAGO |
RB Rabih
Abdullah |
Tampa Bay |
|
|
TE Luther
Broughton |
Carolina |
|
|
LB Mike Caldwell |
Philadelphia |
|
|
DE Keith
McKenzie |
Cleveland |
|
CINCINNATI |
QB Gus Frerotte |
Denver |
|
|
DE Eric Ogbogu |
N.Y. Jets |
|
CLEVELAND |
S Robert
Griffith |
Minnesota |
|
|
LB Earl Holmes |
Pittsburgh |
|
|
DT Kenard Lang |
Washington |
|
|
T Barry Stokes |
Green Bay |
|
DALLAS |
DT La’Roi Glover |
New Orleans |
|
|
LB Kevin Hardy |
Jacksonville |
|
|
TE Jeff Robinson |
St. Louis |
|
|
CB Bryant
Westbrook |
Detroit |
|
DENVER |
LB Terry Killens |
San Francisco |
|
|
DT Lional Dalton |
Baltimore |
|
|
S Izell Reese |
Dallas |
|
|
T Ephraim Salaam |
Atlanta |
|
DETROIT |
WR Az-Zahir
Hakim |
St. Louis |
|
|
S Corey Harris |
Baltimore |
|
|
TE Mikhael Ricks |
Kansas City |
|
|
WR Bill
Schroeder |
Green Bay |
|
|
S Brian Walker |
Miami |
|
GREEN BAY |
DE Joe Johnson |
New Orleans |
|
HOUSTON |
LB Allen
Aldridge |
Detroit |
|
|
RB James Allen |
Chicago |
|
|
WR Corey
Bradford |
Green Bay |
|
|
S Chris Carter |
Cincinnati |
|
|
G DeMingo Graham |
San Diego |
|
|
QB Kent Graham |
Washington |
|
|
T Jimmy Herndon |
Chicago |
|
|
LB Greg Jones |
Chicago |
|
|
LB Robert Jones |
Washington |
|
|
G Steve McKinney |
Indianapolis |
|
|
LB Jeff Posey |
Jacksonville |
|
|
TE Rod Rutledge |
New England |
|
|
CB Jason Simmons |
Pittsburgh |
|
|
WR Tony Simmons |
Indianapolis |
|
|
TE Kaseem
Sinceno |
Chicago |
|
|
LB Kailee Wong |
Minnesota |
|
INDIANAPOLIS |
DT James Cannida |
Tampa Bay |
|
|
LB Greg Favors |
Tennessee |
|
|
CB Walt Harris |
Chicago |
|
|
C Jim Pyne |
Philadelphia |
|
JACKSONVILLE |
WR Pat Johnson |
Baltimore |
|
|
G Chris Naeole |
New Orleans |
|
|
WR Bobby Shaw |
Pittsburgh |
|
KANSAS CITY |
K Morten
Andersen |
NY Giants |
|
|
QB Jonathan
Quinn |
Jacksonville |
|
MIAMI |
DT Larry Chester |
Carolina |
|
MINNESOTA |
K Doug Brien |
Tampa Bay |
|
|
DE Lorenzo
Bromell |
Miami |
|
|
CB Corey Chavous |
Arizona |
|
|
LB Henri
Crockett |
Atlanta |
|
|
WR Sean Dawkins |
Jacksonville |
|
|
DE Kenny Mixon |
Miami |
|
|
P Kyle
Richardson |
Baltimore |
|
|
DE Chuck Wiley |
Atlanta |
|
|
RB Moe Williams |
Baltimore |
|
NEW ENGLAND |
TE Cam Cleeland |
New Orleans |
|
|
TE Christian
Fauria |
Seattle |
|
|
WR Donald Hayes |
Carolina |
|
|
CB Tom Knight |
Arizona |
|
|
DE Rick Lyle |
NY Jets |
|
|
DT Steve Martin |
NY Jets |
|
|
LB Ryan Phillips |
Indianapolis |
|
|
DB Daryl Porter |
Tennessee |
|
NEW ORLEANS |
CB Dale Carter |
Minnesota |
|
|
LB Bryan Cox |
New England |
|
|
T Spencer Folau |
Miami |
|
|
DT Grady Jackson |
Oakland |
|
|
C Kendyl Jacox |
San Diego |
|
|
C Bubba Miller |
Philadelphia |
|
|
WR Jerome Pathon |
Indianapolis |
|
|
WR Jake Reed |
Minnesota |
|
|
T Victor Riley |
Kansas City |
|
|
TE David Sloan |
Detroit |
|
NY JETS |
LB Sam Cowart |
Buffalo |
|
|
DE Riddick
Parker |
New England |
|
|
G Dave Szott |
Washington |
|
|
P Matt Turk |
Miami |
|
|
DE Steve White |
Tampa Bay |
|
OAKLAND |
LB Gerald Dixon |
San Diego
|
|
|
QB Rick Mirer |
San Francisco |
|
|
DT Mike Mohring |
San Diego |
|
|
DT John Parrella |
San Diego |
|
PHILADELPHIA |
LB Shawn Barber |
Washington |
|
PITTSBURGH |
LB James Farrior |
NY Jets |
|
|
K Todd Peterson |
Kansas City |
|
ST. LOUIS |
LB Jamie Duncan |
Tampa Bay |
|
|
RB Chris
Hetherington |
Carolina |
|
SAN DIEGO |
TE Stephen
Alexander |
Washington |
|
|
DT Jason Fisk |
Tennessee |
|
|
G Bob Hallen |
Atlanta |
|
|
C Cory Raymer |
Washington |
|
SAN FRANCISCO |
DE Sean Moran |
St. Louis |
|
|
S Tony Parrish |
Chicago |
|
|
G Ron Stone |
NY Giants |
|
SEATTLE |
DT Brandon
Mitchell |
New England |
|
TAMPA BAY |
TE Marco
Battaglia |
Washington |
|
|
G Kerry Jenkins |
NY Jets |
|
|
WR Joe
Jurevicius |
NY Giants |
|
|
RB Michael
Pittman |
Arizona |
|
|
DE Greg Spires |
Cleveland |
|
TENNESSEE |
RB Greg Comella |
NY Giants |
|
|
RB Robert
Holcombe |
St. Louis |
|
|
S Lance
Schulters |
San Francisco |
|
|
C Jeff Smith |
Jacksonville |
|
WASHINGTON |
WR Reidel
Anthony |
Tampa Bay |
|
|
WR Jacquez Green |
Tampa Bay |
|
|
T Rod Jones |
St. Louis |
|
|
G Larry Moore |
Indianapolis |
|
|
DE Carl Powell |
Chicago |
|
|
LB Jeremiah
Trotter |
Philadelphia |
|
|
DE Renaldo Wynn |
Jacksonville |
2) 75
UNRESTRICTED free agents re-signed with their OLD
team:
|
TEAM |
PLAYER
|
|
ARIZONA |
G Anthony
Clement
|
|
ATLANTA |
RB Travis
Jervey
|
|
|
TE Brian
Kozlowski
|
|
|
LB Artie
Ulmer
|
|
BALTIMORE |
CB James
Trapp
|
|
BUFFALO |
C Billy
Conaty
|
|
CAROLINA |
S Damien
Richardson
|
|
CHICAGO |
C Olin
Kreutz
|
|
|
QB Jim
Miller
|
|
|
RB Daimon
Shelton
|
|
CINCINNATI |
CB
Artrell Hawkins
|
|
|
T John
Jackson
|
|
|
DE
Reinard Wilson
|
|
CLEVELAND |
G Tre
Johnson
|
|
|
LB Lenoy
Jones
|
|
|
DT Mark
Smith
|
|
DALLAS |
DT
Michael Myers
|
|
|
S Darren
Woodson
|
|
DETROIT |
G Kerlin
Blaise
|
|
|
CB Lamar
Campbell
|
|
|
WR
Germane Crowell
|
|
|
T Matt
Joyce
|
|
|
DT Travis
Kirschke
|
|
|
DT Kelvin
Pritchett
|
|
|
G Tony
Semple
|
|
GREEN BAY |
DT
Gilbert Brown
|
|
|
TE Tyrone
Davis
|
|
|
T Earl
Dotson
|
|
|
RB
William Henderson
|
|
|
LB Rob
Holmberg
|
|
|
QB Doug
Pederson
|
|
|
G Mike
Wahle
|
|
JACKSONVILLE |
T Todd
Fordham
|
|
|
C John
Wade
|
|
KANSAS CITY |
LB Glenn
Cadrez
|
|
|
DE Rich
Owens
|
|
|
DT
Derrick Ransom
|
|
|
G Marcus
Spears
|
|
|
CB Eric
Warfield
|
|
|
G Donald
Willis
|
|
MIAMI |
S Scott
McGarrahan
|
|
|
WR Jeff
Ogden
|
|
MINNESOTA |
TE Byron
Chamberlain
|
|
|
DE Lance
Johnstone
|
|
|
RB Harold
Morrow
|
|
NEW ENGLAND |
RB
Antowain Smith
|
|
|
T Grant
Williams
|
|
NEW ORLEANS |
K John
Carney
|
|
|
TE Johnny
Mitchell
|
|
|
DB Jerry
Wilson
|
|
NY GIANTS |
S Shaun
Williams
|
|
OAKLAND |
T Darryl
Ashmore
|
|
PHILADELPHIA |
TE Mike
Bartrum
|
|
|
P Sean
Landeta
|
|
|
RB Brian
Mitchell
|
|
PITTSBURGH |
CB Deshea
Townsend
|
|
ST. LOUIS |
DE
Leonard Little
|
|
|
WR Ricky
Proehl
|
|
SAN DIEGO |
C David
Binn
|
|
|
K Steve
Christie
|
|
SAN FRANCISCO |
RB Fred
Beasley
|
|
|
RB
Garrison Hearst
|
|
|
C Jeremy
Newberry
|
|
|
T Matt
Willig
|
|
SEATTLE |
QB Trent
Dilfer
|
|
|
TE Itula
Mili
|
|
|
RB Mack
Strong
|
|
TAMPA BAY |
CB Brian
Kelly
|
|
|
T Pete
Pierson
|
|
|
C Todd
Washington
|
|
|
WR Karl
Williams
|
|
TENNESSEE |
G Gennaro
DiNapoli
|
|
|
DT Joe
Salave’a
|
|
|
CB Dainon
Sidney
|
|
WASHINGTON |
LB Eddie
Mason
|
3) 1
RESTRICTED free agent signed with a NEW team:
TEAM
|
PLAYER |
FORMER
TEAM |
|
HOUSTON |
K Kris Brown |
Pittsburgh |
4) 99
RESTRICTED free agents re-signed with their OLD
teams:
|
TEAM |
PLAYER |
|
ARIZONA |
DE Tom Burke |
|
|
QB Chris Greisen |
|
|
RB Joel
Makovicka |
|
|
RB Dennis
McKinley |
|
|
CB Coby
Rhinehart |
|
ATLANTA |
LB Chris Draft |
|
|
C Todd McClure |
|
BALTIMORE |
G Edwin Mulitalo |
|
|
WR Brandon
Stokley |
|
BUFFALO |
RB Shawn Bryson |
|
|
LB Jay Foreman |
|
|
TE Sheldon
Jackson |
|
|
LB Keith Newman |
|
|
DB Pierson
Prioleau |
|
|
CB Chris Watson |
|
CAROLINA |
LB Hannibal
Navies |
|
|
G Jamar Nesbit |
|
CHICAGO |
WR D’Wayne Bates |
|
|
WR Marty Booker |
|
|
LB Rosevelt
Colvin |
|
|
LB Warrick
Holdman |
|
|
G Rex Tucker |
|
CINCINNATI |
S JoJuan Armour |
|
|
S Cory Hall |
|
|
TE-RB Nick
Williams |
|
CLEVELAND |
DB Chris Akins |
|
|
T Roger Chanoine |
|
|
K Phil Dawson |
|
|
CB Daylon
McCutcheon |
|
|
DE Arnold Miller |
|
|
LB Wali Rainer |
|
|
S Marquis Smith |
|
|
DT Marcus
Spriggs |
|
DALLAS |
WR Darrin
Chiaverini |
|
|
C Ben Fricke |
|
|
CB Duane
Hawthorne |
|
|
TE Mike Lucky |
|
|
LB Dat Nguyen |
|
|
DT Brandon Noble |
|
DENVER |
TE Desmond Clark |
|
|
RB Olandis Gary |
|
DETROIT |
DE Jared DeVries |
|
|
LB Clint
Kriewaldt |
|
GREEN BAY |
WR Donald Driver |
|
|
DT Cletidus Hunt |
|
|
CB Tod McBride |
|
HOUSTON |
RB Charlie
Rogers |
|
|
C Ryan Schau |
|
|
T Ryan Young |
|
INDIANAPOLIS |
DE Chukie
Nwokorie |
|
|
C Jeff Saturday |
|
|
DE Brad Scioli |
|
|
P Hunter Smith |
|
|
LB Sam Sword |
|
|
WR Terrence
Wilkins |
|
JACKSONVILLE |
CB Jason Craft |
|
|
RB Stacey Mack |
|
KANSAS CITY |
T Willie Jones |
|
|
LB Mike
Maslowski |
|
|
LB Gary Stills |
|
MIAMI |
TE Jed Weaver |
|
MINNESOTA |
LB Jim Nelson |
|
|
DE Talance
Sawyer |
|
|
CB Kenny Wright |
|
NEW ENGLAND |
C Grey Ruegamer |
|
NEW ORLEANS |
QB Jake Delhomme |
|
|
TE Lamont Hall |
|
|
DE Willie
Whitehead |
|
NY GIANTS |
TE Dan Campbell |
|
|
G Mike Rosenthal |
|
|
G Jason Whittle |
|
NY JETS |
G David Loverne |
|
|
WR Craig Yeast |
|
PHILADELPHIA |
WR Na Brown |
|
|
G Doug
Brzezinski |
|
|
S Rashard Cook |
|
|
RB Cecil Martin |
|
PITTSBURGH |
TE Matt Cushing |
|
|
LB Joey Porter |
|
|
T Oliver Ross |
|
|
C Mike Schneck |
|
|
TE Jerame Tuman |
|
|
RB Amos Zereoue |
|
ST. LOUIS |
RB James Hodgins
|
|
|
G Cameron Spikes |
|
SAN DIEGO |
DE Adrian Dingle |
|
|
TE Steve Heiden |
|
|
S Jason Perry |
|
|
LB Orlando Ruff |
|
SAN FRANCISCO |
DE Chike Okeafor |
|
|
RB Terry Jackson |
|
SEATTLE |
DT Antonio
Cochran |
|
|
QB Brock Huard |
|
|
CB Paul Miranda |
|
|
LB Tim Terry |
|
|
G Floyd
Wedderburn |
|
TAMPA BAY |
S Dexter Jackson |
|
TENNESSEE |
DT John Thornton |
|
WASHINGTON |
WR Derrius
Thompson |
5) 4
FRANCHISE players re-signed with their OLD teams:
|
TEAM |
PLAYER
|
|
ARIZONA |
S Kwamie
Lassiter
|
|
DALLAS |
T Flozell
Adams
|
|
INDIANAPOLIS |
T Tarik
Glenn
|
|
NEW ENGLAND |
K Adam
Vinatieri
|