Tackled for a Loss: April Fool’s Day Mark’s Opening of RFA Period

[Philadelphia Freedom]

Dateline: 3/29/02
by Linus Scrimmage

Come Monday, the Feeding Frenzy league will enter its first ever Restricted Free Agent signing period. The players have been declared and teams are now evaluating their needs and wants. The 12 teams have declared a total of 21 players and a number of these players are likely to draw a lot of attention.

Quarterbacks
The aging Rich Gannon (3,828 yards and 27 TD’s along with 231 yards rushing and 2 TD’s) has been declared by the Nittany Dodgers. The Dodgers have cap space but do not have a QB under contract for next year. Gannon has expressed his desire to keep playing until he is 50. By rough calculations that should leave him about a season.

Steve “Air” McNair (3,350 and 21 and 414 and 5) who had something of a breakout year last year and has been tendered an offer by the Insects. Unfortunately, for McNair the only time the “Air” tag applied previously was after trips to Taco Bell. Heading into 2002 it is likely that he will be second on the Insects depth chart behind Dante Culpepper. This fact and the Insects lack of cap space could allow someone to make McNair an offer he cannot refuse to switch teams.

Jake Plummer (3,653 and 18 and 163 yards rushing) is also available and Jersey Toxic Waste currently have only Kerry Collins under contract for the 2002 season. The correlation between Toxic Waste, Kerry Collins and a plumber are just too easy… Actually, Plummer has shown flashes through his career but has been saddled with high expectations that he has yet to live up to.

Rounding out the options at QB is Kordell Stewart (3,109 and 14 ad 537 and 5). Stewart who has played a number of roles in the NFL, including left bench and crybaby, finally looked like the QB that the Steelers needed. However, he seems to be in the Troy Aikman mold as a capable NFL QB and a solid number 2 option in FF. The Philadelphia Freedom have offered him a tender offer but would probably relegate him to back-up duty behind Donovan McNabb. He has said he would like to have the opportunity to start and it is likely that he will be contacting the Mayflower Movers before the start of the 2002 season.

Running Backs
The Wonder Mutts have offered tender contracts to both Terrell Davis (770 total yards and 0 TD’s) and Marshall Faulk (2147 and 21 TD’s and 83 receptions). With over $7,500 in cap space it is likely that the team could protect both if they desire. It will be interesting to see what kind of price a player like Faulk generates on the open market since he is widely considered the best RB available. There was talk at the recent winter meetings that Faulk could command the league’s first $4,000 contract. Davis has shown the ability to be a top tier player in the past but his injury history may hold his value down a bit.

Another team protecting two RB’s is the Detroit Wyverns. The Wyverns have protected Mike Alstott whose future with the Bucs seems somewhat uncertain after the Pittman signing. Alstott is said to not be happy with the prospect of sharing time and has asked to join the Keyshawn Johnson “JGMTDB” Club. Also, available but coming off an injury is Edge James. James who had been considered the number 2 RB by many last year had his season cut short because of a knee injury. His health is a concern but his upside in the Indianapolis offense is huge. It is not likely that he will match his 2001 salary of $3,500 but it is likely that there will be a number of teams interested in his services.

Warrick Dunn has being tendered an offer by the Insects and his recent move to HotLanta could create some interest. Dunn will likely being switching teams since the Insects do not have a lot of cap space and seem to be happy with the Ricky Williams and Thomas Jones.

Garrison Hearst has been declared by the Devil Hounds. Hearst is happy to be talking tender contract instead of tender knees and could be a hot property after his comeback player of the year award last season. The Devil Hounds currently have Tiki Barber under contract so it will be interesting to see how they handle the option to have he and Hearst together.

Curtis Martin has been protected by the Nittany Dodgers and is said to be looking for a raise over his 2001 salary of $1,539. His numbers (1833 and 10 TD’s and 53 receptions) certainly give him some bargaining power and it is likely that the Dodgers will make a strong effort to keep him. Please note, our friends at Page Six (NY Post) reported seeing Curtis out at Tiffany’s buying some bling-bling.

Antowain Smith (1,349 total yards and 13 TD’s) is coming off of a Super Bowl victory and has recently inked a deal with the Patriots. Smith who was had for the league minimum of $100 last year is likely looking for a pretty hefty pay raise. The Vagrants whose recent trade cleared some cap space might try and keep him or they may go into the season with Jerome Bettis and recent addition Priest Holmes.

Fred Taylor is another player who is coming off an injury (I think this sentence will follow Fragile Fred for the rest of his career), but has shown a tantalizing range of talent. He can catch, run, and his big play ability keeps at the forefront of most FF owners minds. He had $2,800 contract last year, with the Rager’s, but it is unlikely that anyone will be willing to pay that much for him now.

Anthony Thomas is the last RB in the RFA class and his youth and numbers from last year should propel him to a solid long term deal. His 2001 salary of $1,525 may look like a bargain when the dust settles on this one. Word out of Philadelphia is that the Freedom would love to reunite him with David Terrell. However, the Squirrel Chasers who have tendered him this offer have a good bit of cap space and would certainly like to cement their backfield for years to come with Thomas and S. Alexander.

Wide Receiver
Quality at WR can often be the difference between winning and losing in this league. As Nomar Bad-Deals of the Philadelphia Freedom noted, “We had the chance to win a number of games last year and our lack of production at WR kept us well under .500.” Luckily for the Freedom, and other teams, this off-season provides 6 RFA WR’s that had over 1,000 yards receiving last year.

The list is headed (based on yardage) by Jimmy Smith (112 catches for 1373 yards and 8 TD’s) who sucked up footballs the way he sucked up the cocaine last off-season, was offered a tender deal by the Devil Hounds. The Hounds have some space and could team him with Chris Chambers of the Dolphins.

Keyshawn Johnson (106 and 1,266 and 1) who posted solid numbers in terms of receptions and yardage learned that one is the loneliest number. That is not a typo he had only 1 TD for the entire season, Wilt Chamberlain used to score more than that in an hour. The Royal Hawaiian Opihi have the right of first refusal here though they have a number of WR available under contract.

Randy Moss who earned $2,450 in 2001 is looking for a similar deal for 2002. This works out to about $1,225 per play where he actually did not “take off”. His future with the Squirrel Chasers is somewhat in doubt after their recent acquisition of David Boston. Moss who had 82 catches for 1,233 yards and 10 TD’s would certainly qualify as a number WR for any team and the bidding here could be serious.

Moss’s teammate on the Chasers, Troy Brown had something of a breakout year last year with 101 catches for 1,199 and 5 TD’s. Brown who earned the league minimum of $100 last year is in line for a pretty big raise and it is likely that a receiving poor team may be willing to make him a solid offer.

Tim Brown had been offered a tender deal from the Insects. Brown who earned $1,100 dollars in 2001 is looking for a team he can finish his career with. The Insects lack of cap space may allow another team to step in and make him and offer that could allow him to finish his career in a new uniform.

The final WR available will be Marty Booker. Booker who produced more than many observers expected, is looking for a raise over his $300 contract from 2001. His 100 catches, for 1,071 yards and 8 TD’s will make him a viable option for a number of teams. However, it is likely the Dodgers who have a lot of cap space will try and keep him and team him with Mushin Muhummad and Quincy Morgan.

Kickers
Mike Vanderjagt has been offered a tender offer by the Philadelphia Freedom. Since he is the only RFA kicker it will be interesting to see how the market reacts.