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POSTED 10:51 a.m. EST, March 25, 2006
PATS TO PULL OUT A POISON PILL OF THEIR OWN?
We always read the e-mails that readers send to us. Not just because we are gluttons for abuse, but because sometimes our readers offer up some pretty good insights.
And then we can pass them off as our own.
Case in point. Now that the Seahawks have signed Vikings receiver Nate Burleson to a seven-year, $49 million contract that becomes fully guaranteed if he plays five or more games in Minnesota during any year of the deal, the Seahawks could end up losing kicker Josh Brown if a team signs him to an offer sheet that becomes fully guaranteed if Brown plays five or more games in the state of Washington. By adding several big-dollar phony years onto the end of the deal, there's no way the Seahawks would match.
So it's possible that the Seahawks have outsmarted themselves.
If a team with a pressing need at the position (such as the Patriots) is willing to give up a seventh-round draft pick, they can get Brown by turning the tables on the Seahawks.
Also available for such a maneuver is Seahawks quarterback Seneca Wallace, who would command a fourth-round pick as compensation.
POSTED 9:04 a.m. EST; LAST UPDATED 10:16 a.m. EST, March 25, 2006
VIKES NOT INCLINED TO MATCH BURLESON OFFER
The early word out of Minnesota regarding the tit-for-tat offer sheet signed by Vikings receiver Nate Burleson with the Seahawks on Friday is that the Vikings will not match the offer.
A league source tells us that Burleson, a restricted free agent, was tendered at the lowest possible level because the Vikings decided that they wouldn't mind getting a third-round draft pick in lieu of keeping him. Implicit in that sentiment is a recognition by the Vikings that, if Burleson had been tendered at a higher level, another team would not have been inclined to give up a first-round pick to secure his services.
It remains to be seen whether the NFL and/or the Vikings challenge the poison pill provisions contained in the offer, not in an effort to enable the Vikings to match what in reality amounts to a four-year, $14 million deal, but to put a lid on the potential expansion of the use of ludicrous terms in offer sheets aimed at making the entire deal guaranteed for the player's original team, if the offer is matched.
It'll be hard, of course, for the Vikings to argue such a contention with a straight face, since Minnesota used a similar device in securing guard Steve Hutchinson from the Seahawks. In the end, however, the Seahawks abandoned their argument that the offer to Hutchinson violated the CBA, relying instead upon a restructuring of the Walter Jones contract in an effort to avoid the triggering of the guarantee. So the broader argument could now be advanced in an effort to block an easy way to ensure that no offer sheet will ever be matched.
DEATH OF THE RFA TENDER?
When the Vikings were able to land guard Steve Hutchinson from the Seahawks via the use of a creative term that would have made the full offer guaranteed only if matched by the Seahawks, we explained that the development, coupled with other factors, likely meant the death of the transition tag.
So what's the significance of such a device to the strategy for handling a team's restricted free agents? The prognosis is not as poor, but the Seahawks' offer sheet to Vikings receiver Nate Burleson provides an easy blueprint for any team that wants to secure a restricted free agent -- if that is willing to part with the requisite compensation.
How easy? All the offer sheet needs to say is that the entire deal becomes guaranteed if the guy plays a certain number of games in the state in which the player's original team's home games are hosted. Or if, for example, the Steelers want to pilfer an Eagle, the restriction can be more specific, tying the guarantee to a county, a city, or a stadium.
And if the Giants want to get a Jet, then the trigger could be based on uniform color.
Sure, it's absurd. But the idea that the Vikings hatched and that the 'Hawks have expanded invites such an approach.
The availability of such a simple strategy means that, if a team really wants to keep a guy, the team should either sign him to a long-term contract before he becomes a restricted free agent -- or the team should increase the tender offered to the player in order to scare off a suitor who would have to give up a first-rounder, or as much as a one and a three, if the offer is not matched.
Looking at this problem from a more fundamental basis, and in light of the language of the new CBA provision permitting all rookie contracts to be at least four years in length, all teams should now insist upon the use of four-year terms for all draft picks beyond round one. This essentially wipes out the restricted free agency dilemma, since it ensures that the player will still be under contract when he otherwise would have been a restricted free agent.
So, in a roundabout way, restricted free agency should go bye-bye. Not because teams let players with three years of service walk away, but because teams avoid the issue by locking up all of their draft picks for the full four years.
KITNA HAS EDGE IN DETROIT
Although the Lions are committed to using the best man at quarterback this year, we're told that, if Jon Kitna and Josh McCown are relatively equal, Kitna will get the edge due to his age and experience.
The Lions recently signed both Kitna and McCown, who along with Shaun King and Dan Orlovsky are the quarterbacks who eventually will be under contract when training camp opens. Joey Harrington is still technically a member of the team, but he will be gone by June.
Kitna, McCown, King have all been starters in the past. None, however, has played for new offensive coordinator Mike Martz, and a big part of winning the job will be demonstrating an ability to understand, recall, and execute Martz's War and Peace-sized playbook.
SATURDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS
Former Vikings LB Sam Cowart has signed with the Texans.
Saints DE Jimmy Verdon was arrested last weekend.
FB Mack Strong has signed a three-year, $3.16 million deal to stay with the Seahawks; he received a $500,000 signing bonus.
Packers G.M. Ted Thompson explains the team's decision not to spend a big chunk of its enormous cap room on big-name free agents: "Free agency is not like Christmas shopping. Just because the player's fairly functional on another team doesn't necessarily mean you'll get all what you pay for if you pay him a huge contract."
The Falcons hosted DE N.D. Kalu and DT Grady Jackson on Friday.
Larry Allen is expected to play left guard with the 49ers, with Justin Smiley moving to right guard.
The Giants signed WR Tim Carter to a two-year, $2 million deal.
The Jets re-signed TE Chris Baker.
The Packers have signed LB Ben Taylor and K Billy Cundiff.
The Packers are interested in Vikings LB Raonall Smith; the Rams have made Smith an offer.
The Pack are making a push to sign WR Marc Boerigter.
The Redskins have signed OL Mike Pucillo and OL Tyson Walter.
After unsuccessfully looking elsewhere to upgrade their line, the Bucs re-signed OT Kenyatta Walker.
There will be no negotiations for CB Charles Woodson, who visited the Bucs on Friday, until after he visits the Packers next week.
The Bucs envision moving Charles Woodson to free safety, if he signs there.
Agent Carl Poston said he wanted to arrange a visit by CB Charles Woodson to Seattle, but the Seahawks say they aren't interested.
RB DeAngelo Williams was timed in the range of 4.38 to 4.42 for the 40-yard dash at his pro day workout.
The Rams are still interested in KR Michael Lewis.
Panthers G.M. Marty Hurney apparently is a bit of a doofis in front of the cameras.
Colts owner Jim Irsay explains that he couldn't competitively pay RB Edgerrin James -- apparently because Irsay has overpaid so many other players.
The Bengals and QB Jamie Martin have exchanged contract proposals. (Yeah, such as "We'll pay you $150 to wash and wax all of the cars in the players' parking lot.")
Scott Wells is the top candidate to replace C Mike Flanagan in Green Bay.
Rams coach Scott Linehan says that the acquisition of RB Tony Fisher doesn't mean that RB Marshall Faulk will be retiring.
S Lance Schulters has yet to sign with the Seahawks.
Rams president Jay Zygmunt is picking a verbal fight with P Jason Baker (Jason, you'd better be careful . . . he might send Samir after you).
The Rams have signed P Matt Turk.
Click here for more of the best NFL news and analysis (or you can just say the words "poison pill" over and over again).
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