NFL Extends Deal Deadline Again
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Mar 6, 2006 5:40PM
In an effort to hammer out an extension of the collective-bargaining agreement between the league and the players' union, the NFL extended the deadline 3 more days.
Last Thursday was dubbed "Bloody Thursday" and then Sunday was expected to be a day of carnage. We're pretty certain newspapers across the land had U2 song-referencing headlines in the hopper for today's sports sections. Instead, another delay in the opening of the league's financial year allows another chance to extend the agreement before opening free agency.
The reason for the expected "bloodiness" stems from the league's current financial structure and the way that teams adjust contracts to fit within the salary cap. With no deal beyond the current deal's 2007 season, teams have less flexibility to ammortize salaries to finesse the salary cap. In order to get under the cap, large scale cuts are expected for teams that are at or near the 2006 cap that was annouced to be $94.5 million.
While this time of year often means overpaid formers stars past their prime get cut, the start of the 2006 financial year may result in stars still in their prime get their walking papers as their teams just cannot afford them.
Fortunately, the Bears don't seem to be in such a situation. The chaos may actually help the Bears fill some of their targeted areas, including cornerback, wide receiver and quarterback. A number of top players in positions they're planning to target are excpected to become available free agents. At the same time, the lack of cap space may remove other teams from contention on some targets. Bears management are chomping at the bit to get the free agency period started. It's kind of like they're standing outside Wal-Mart on the day after Thankgiving, just waiting for the doors to open and the bargains to be had.
Sam Madison and Andre Dyson are among the cornerbacks that have been cut already as teams begin parring payroll, although the waivers process won't make it offical until a labor deal is done or the deadline passes. Steelers wide receiver/ kick returner Antwaan Randle El is very high on the Bears' list of targets. While whispers put his demands above what the Bears are willing to pay, the lack of other suitors may help the Bears get him for what they want to pay. There may also be a lot of veteran QBs looking for work, allowing the Bears to bring in somebody to either compete with Rex Grossman for the starting job and/or somebody who'll be able to do more than Kyle Orton did should Grossman go down with an injury.
With another 72 hours to go, will a deal get done? So far, in spite of 2 absolute deadlines no deal could be worked out. Why will this deadline be any different? As Bears fans, we're probably better off if a deal isn't done before Wednesday.