For various reasons, some NFL teams are more active than others when it comes to free agency. Some teams prefer homegrown talent, and these clubs like to add depth through the draft. Other teams constantly struggle to get under the salary cap, and as a result, don’t have the available cash to drop on free agents. Some teams, most notably the Redskins, sign big-name free agents every single season.

Here’s a list of teams (in no particular order) that have gotten face-lifts through free agency. For better or worse, these teams will look completely different from the squads you saw in 2005.

Tennessee Titans The Titans added experience to their young roster. Having been strapped with salary cap issues the past couple seasons, the Titans made up for lost time by stepping up and being very active in this year’s free agency market. The team dropped $24 million to get wide receiver David Givens, a player whose playoff experience is as important as his play-making abilities. The Titans also paid big money for Chris Hope, the hard-hitting free safety who unsuccessfully tried to shakedown the Steelers to the tune of $4 million a year. Other notable picks include speedy linebacker David Thornton from the Indianapolis Colts and veteran center Kevin Mawae from the New York Jets. With an infusion of free agent players from winning teams, the Titans hope to make winning contagious in Tennessee

Miami Dolphins Even if Daunte Culpepper only gets back to 50 percent of his former self, the Miami Dolphins still will have pulled off the steal of a lifetime. Gone is Gus Frerotte, and in comes a proven stud with All Pro credentials. Sure, Culpepper still has to recover from his catastrophic knee injury (he tore three ligaments), but can you believe the Dolphins got this guy for a second round draft pick? The Dolphins thought that Culpepper was a safer bet than Drew Brees, and the team might have finally found a suitable quarterback after years of sub-par, post-Marino mediocre passers.

Cleveland Browns The Browns have the cap room to be big spenders, and it looks as if Coach Romeo Crennel wants his team to be competitive next year. The Browns bolstered their porous offensive line, signing center LeCharles Bentley and tackle Kevin Shaffer. The Browns also picked up wide receiver Joe Jurevicius and former New England defensive end Willie McGinest. Crennel also reunited with defensive tackle Ted Washington. Cleveland picked up a lot of hometown products: Jurevicius, Bentley, and free agent punter Dave Zastudil have roots in Ohio.

Washington Redskins The Skins love free agency, and this year is no different. The Skins improved their receiving corps by brining in Antwaan Randle El and Brandon Lloyd. Lloyd is a human highlight reel who made more than a dozen acrobatic catches for 49ers last year. Randle El is a versatile player who works great out of the slot and can contribute to special teams as a kick and punt return specialist. Washington threw lots of cash at Adam Archuleta, the hard-hitting safety for St. Louis, and they also picked up defensive end Andre Carter from San Francisco. Tight end Christian Fauria and backup quarterback Todd Collins were also added. Look for Washington to continue to pick up players via free agency.

Pittsburgh Steelers The Steelers are one of those teams that don’t spend hefty sums to keep big name free agents. Pittsburgh drafts well, so they can afford to let people go. Last year the Steelers lost Plaxico Buress and Kendrell Bell. After their Super Bowl run last season, the Steelers had more than a few players looking to secure fat contracts. The Steelers were unwilling to drop the cash to retain players like Antwaan Randle El, Chris Hope, and Kimo von Oelhoffen, all starters last season. Instead, the Steelers off-season priority was Brett Keisel. Who, you might ask, is Brett Keisel? Keisel is a four year veteran who has never started a game. He’s a backup defensive end who plays on special teams and occasionally subs in on the defensive line. Many teams expressed interest in this young player, but the Steelers signed him to a four-year, $13 million contract. As soon as players get too big-headed and see dollar signs in their future, the Steelers let them go, and find a homegrown product to plug into to the hole. Clark Haggans and Deshea Townsend were also resigned.

New York Jets The Jets had serious cap issues to deal with, and they’ve done a decent job of getting under the cap. Chad Pennington had to restructure his deal, and he did. So did Curtis Martin. Offensive tackle Jason Fabini was cut, as was Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawae. The Jets are busily shopping around franchised defensive end John Abraham, and many teams have expressed interest. Without a new CBA, the Jets would have been in serious trouble. With the Saints signing free agent quarterback Drew Brees, and with the Dolphins picking up Duante Culpepper, look for the Jets to make a move for one of the premier quarterbacks in this year’s NFL draft.

Detroit Lions After weeks of public assurances that Joey Harrington was still the future of the franchise, the Lions went out and picked up two free agent quarterbacks: Jon Kitna and Josh McCown. This doesn’t bode well for Joey. The two new quarterbacks are expected to compete for the starting job, and Harrington is expected to be looking for work somewhere else. The Lions also picked up wide receiver (as if they needed another one) Corey Bradford from Houston, and tight end Dan Campbell from Dallas.

Baltimore Ravens The Ravens picked up workhorse running back Mike Anderson. They also resigned Jamal Lewis. Hopefully, after a drama-filled off-season and a miserable performance last year, Jamal Lewis can return back to his old form. The new one-two punch should help out the atrocious running attack the Ravens had last season. Trevor Pryce, the mean defensive lineman from Denver, was also a quality pick-up for Baltimore.

There are plenty of players still available in free agency, and some big-time playmakers will be added to teams via the draft. With so many players changing teams, the NFL landscape is sure to have a new look next season.

By Christopher Stout

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With the new Collective Bargaining Agreement in place, free agency exploded in the NFL. Teams have more money to spend, and more flexibility to spend it. Here’s a look at a few of the big name free agents who cashed in on the craze.

Edgerrin James The Colts decided that of all their offensive weapons, their star running back was the easiest piece to replace. After Shaun Alexander re-signed with the Seahawks, James became the top free agent running back available. Although the Cardinals and Coach Dennis Green stated they were not likely to go after a big-name free agent, they concluded that James was a talent that they couldn’t pass up. With cash to spend (the Cardinals were $28 million under the cap), and with players lobbying the organization to make the move (Anquan Boldin was campaigning heavily for James), Arizona decided to give James a four-year contract worth $30 million. Half that cash will be paid to the star running back within the first year of the contract. Cha-ching!

Drew Brees The former Purdue star has enjoyed success the past two seasons, but his lucked changed when he went down with a torn labrum in his right shoulder during a meaningless, season-ending game against Denver. The Chargers apparently felt Brees would not rebound from the injury, so they let him hit the free market. Philip Rivers, the untested young QB who was basically traded for Eli Manning, will now take over in San Diego. Don’t feel too bad for Brees though. He just signed a six-year, $60 million deal with the New Orleans Saints. The deal included an $8 million signing bonus, a salary of $2 million in 2006, a $12 million roster bonus due next spring, and a 2007 salary of $3 million. That’s a whole lot of cash for a guy who has months left to recover from a serious injury. Even if he never plays again he’s set for life.

LeCharles Bentley Widely considered the best offensive lineman in this year’s free agent pool, center Bentley wasted no time cashing in on the hype. One minute after the start of free agency, Bentley signed a six-year, $36 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. The deal included $12.5 million in guaranteed cash. Bentley was the 44 th overall selection in the 2002 NFL Draft, but became Sports Illustrated’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2002. He played both guard and center for the New Orleans Saints, and made the Pro Bowl in 2003 and 2004.

Antwaan Randle El The Steelers favorite gimmick-guru got paid in a big way. The former quarterback-turned-receiver signed with the Washington Redskins. Randle El adds depth to the Skins’ wide receiver corps, and he’ll also be featured as a punt returner. Randle El signed a contract that included $11.5 million in guaranteed money. The contract is back loaded in such a way that it’s sure to be restructured a few years from now. Randle El is slated to make moderate salaries in the first couple seasons, and over $4 million a year in the later years of the contract. Randle El rejected overtures from the Bears, and decided to sign the incentive laden, long-term deal with the Skins instead.

David Givens The former Patriot star cashed in with the Tennessee Titans. He signed a five-year contract worth $24 million. The deal included an $8 million signing bonus. Although he’s only 25 years-old, Givens adds experience to a very young and unpolished Titans squad.

Willie McGinest The all-time sack leader in the playoffs was unceremoniously released by the New England Patriots for salary cap reasons. The former USC star then went directly to Romeo Crennel, his old defensive coordinator, and head coach of the Cleveland Browns. The Browns gave McGinest a three-year, $12 million contract that included $6 million in bonuses and guarantees. The 12-year vet was happy that his first stint in free agency was so smooth and effortless.

Adam Archuleta is now the highest paid safety in NFL history after signing with the Washington Redskins. Archuleta was a fixture of the Rams’ defense for years, and he’s now a very rich man. The six-year, $30 million deal included a $10 million signing bonus. Archuleta replaces Ryan Clark, who signed with the Steelers. His services might also come in handy if Sean Taylor is forced to miss time as he’s does time for his aggravated assault charges.

Will Witherspoon Former Carolina stand-out linebacker Witherspoon got a sweet deal from the Rams. The Rams forked over a $33 million, six-year contract that included $15 million in guarantees. The Panthers offered $11.5 million in bonuses and guarantees to retain Witherspoon’s services, but St. Louis trumped offers from Carolina and New Orleans in order to secure the weakside linebacker. Witherspoon had 109 tackles last season and was one of the most sought-after linebackers in free agency.

Plenty other players got paid including: Ryan Pickett, David Thornton, Chris Hope, Andre Carter, Maake Kemoeatu, Anthony Weaver, Josh McCown, Jon Kitna and Antonio Bryant.

Thanks to the extension of the CBA, this year’s free agency has been the most active signing period in the history of the NFL.

By Christopher Stout

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Unlike Major League Baseball or the National Hockey League, the National Football League saved itself from professional sports suicide by settling its labor issues before things got too nasty.

The NFL realized that it had the most popular American sports product on the market, and tampering with that success would be nothing short of disastrous. In a wise business decision, Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, the NFL Players Association (NFLPA), and 30 of 32 team owners agreed to extent the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) until 2011.

The start of free agency was delayed twice, and negotiation deadlines came and went without any consensus between the owners and the players. At the last minute, the owners voted 30-2 to approve the final proposal put forth by Gene Upshaw, the executive director of the NFLPA.

The extension expanded the salary cap by $7.5 million, so teams now have $102 million to spend on their rosters. That figure will increase to $109 million in 2007.

Had the separate interests groups not come together to extend the CBA, the NFL would have faced absolute turmoil. The salary cap for the 2006 season would not have increased, so wholesale cuts would have been in order.

Without an agreement, half the teams in the league would have had to scramble to get under the cap. Free agents would not be receiving boat-loads of cash, and veteran role players would have had a hard time finding roster spots. Rookie contracts would have been negotiated under the assumption that 2007 would be an uncapped year. That means that primo players like Reggie Bush would not get the kind guaranteed cash up front that first round draft picks normally take home.

If the CBA was not extended, the salary cap would have vanished in 2007, never to be seen again. In 1994, the first year of the salary cap, the NFL decided that parody and league-wide competition were good for business. Take away the cap, and small market teams would not be able to compete with their big-market peers. The gap between the haves and have-nots would have increased dramatically, and remained permanently. The threat of a player-strike two years from now was a real possibility, but that possibility was thwarted by the owners’ last minute decision to extend the CBA.

Crucial to the negotiations was the concept of revenue-sharing. Gene Upshaw said that the differences among the owners regarding revenue-sharing had to be resolved before a new CBA could be approved.

Small market teams wanted larger market clubs to contribute more of their revenue to the player pool. Low-income teams like the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Buffalo Bills, and the Cincinnati Bengals have less available capital to invest in their clubs, because they lack the revenue streams that big-market clubs can tap into. Radio and television rights, advertising, and merchandising bring in more cash for teams that are based in bigger markets. With the CBA extension, teams like the Redskins and the Cowboys are expected to put more money into the player pool than lower-revenue organizations.

But even with these contributions, not all of the smaller-market teams were pleased. Ralph Wilson, owner of the Buffalo Bills, thought that more could be done for smaller-market clubs. The Bills and the Bengals were the lone dissenters in the CBA vote.

All told, the owners agreed to fork over almost a billion dollars over the next six years in order to ensure labor peace in the NFL. Teams received more cash to spend on their rosters. The NFL avoided an uncapped season in 2007, and a sure-lockout in 2008.

The NFL is already reaping the benefits of the new extension. This year’s free agency period has been very active. Just a couple of weeks ago, stories were being written about how no player would garner interest with so many teams strapped for cash. Now players are switching teams at record pace, and getting paid hefty sums to do so. Four and five year veterans that are now eligible for unrestricted free agency would have been restricted free agents without a new CBA. With the new CBA, free agents are also able to sign longer, more lucrative contracts, because their signing bonuses can be prorated over a longer period of time.

The CBA brought with it some other interesting developments. Teams now have less leeway when disciplining their players. Signing bonuses cannot be taken away because a player misbehaves: A development that comes too late for Ricky Williams. Prior to the 2004 season, Williams was forced to pay back $8.6 million after violating the league’s drug policy that forced him to drop out of the league. With the new CBA, teams can only recoup a signing bonus if a player refuses to play, not for violations of policy.

The new CBA would have also greatly changed one of last year’s major controversies. Terrell Owens was harshly disciplined by the Eagles for conduct detrimental to the team. The Eagles deactivated TO for a large chunk of the season, and banned him from using the team’s facilities. The maximum suspension for a player is now four weeks. Under the new CBA, a team can choose to deactivate a player week to week, but they can’t just suspend him for the whole season for acting up.

The new CBA also has a Maurice Clarett rule, stating that a player must be three years removed from high school in order to be eligible for the NFL draft. The minimum salaries for league veterans were also increased by $40,000 across the board. It’s also a lot harder for teams to franchise players for multiple years in a row.

The new CBA extension will have far-reaching developments for years to come, but because of this new agreement, the NFL will continue to dominate the American sports landscape. Kudos to all involved for not killing the golden goose.

By Christopher Stout

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Now that “Game of Shadows,” the book detailing Barry Bonds’ alleged history of steroid use has been released, a firestorm of controversy has erupted, calling the historic achievements of the Giant’s slugger into question. The writers of “Game of Shadows” used grand jury testimony and evidence to compile a timeline and history of Bonds’ steroid use. One of the more startling allegations of the book is that Barry Bonds was motivated to pursue steroids primarily as a result of jealousy for the accolades which Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were receiving during their historic home run record chase.

The major question raised by the book is whether or not Bonds’ legacy as one of the greatest baseball players of all time will be tainted by these revelations. And the answer is a resounding yes. Although Bonds’ was a Hall of Fame player before he allegedly began using steroids in 1998, his legacy will defined by his association with the steroid scandal and BALCO labs. It appears that without the assistance of steroids, none of these players would have been able to break home run records.

The steroid controversy highlights the fact that the achievements of Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Babe Ruth (who had no access to perform enhancers as far as we know) were truly magnificent athletes. Their accomplishments cannot be compared to the achievments of the steroid sluggers.

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