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| AFC North |
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AFC East |
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AFC West |
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AFC South |
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| NFC North |
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NFC East |
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NFC West |
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NFC South |
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2002 Free Agent Signings
UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENCY PERIOD ENDS JULY 25
75 RE-SIGN, 130 SWITCH TEAMS
(Based on official notification to NFL office)
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 |
|
| | | |
