Cap Question

[BuckEmUp]

Today I was listening to 620 on the way home.  The main reason behind this was to see if they had a play show on, but they were talking to Pro Football Talk.  I stayed on the station for a few minutes so that I could hear what they had dug up about Gruden's agent asking about possible oppertunities elsewhere.  While I was listening Dumb Dog said that the reason why this team is in cap hell is because Gruden had McKay spend a lot of money on FA's so that they could get to the SB then agian when Gruden wanted to repeat.

I may be wrong but I thought this team was in cap hell long before that because of the huge salaries that we had on D.  If I am wrong please ket me know.  I don't believe anything that guy says but I don't really follow the cap either because I do not really understand the whole thing.

[alldaway]

You must remember that most of the players that were signed when Gruden came on board with Mckay (mostly offensive players) were veterans acquired cheaply.  Pittman was a cast off from Zona, Oben a cast off from the Browns, JJ a cast off from the Giants, Whittle a cast off, Jenkins a cast off, and McCardell a post June 1st signing (that is how the Bucs acquired him cheaply and caused trouble down the road).  Only players that had big contracts on offense were Keyshawn, Brad, and the recently drafted Kenyatta Walker all were acquired the seasons before.

Rice was initially signed to a two year deal but was extended after he showed promise in learning this defensive scheme in year two.  We already knew about the big contracts with Lynch, Brooks, and Sapp in that they would cause cap problems down the road  (but they would be manageable but not severe cap problems that laid ahead).  The severe cap problems mainly came from restructuring Rice's contract multiple times and the big extension Brad received after the Super Bowl.  Throw in Booger's cap money taking up space a few years later and it was a disaster.  Then factor in Keyshawns contract and the hit when he was traded.

I agree with ADW. People wnat to blow Gruden up for bad signings. Garner, Steussie and Deese. They all had relatively small signing bonuses, so the only way they couldve been hazardous to the cap is if they were complete and utter busts. And Steussie and Garner were. But there aeffect on the cap was still small, and is no longer effecting the cap. Steussie had like a 6 mil signing bonus whereas Rice and Booger got like 10-15 mil signing bonuses. Keyshawn, Brooks and Brad Johnson also got HUGE extensions. Martin Gramatica got just as big a bonus as Garner.

Gruden/Allen had little money to spend. They didnt have the luxury of splurging on big FAs, so there chances of hitting it big in FA were much smaller. All they could afford were good old players, instead of good young players. And unfortunately the tread fell off them. Still though all excuses for these bums aside, there effecto n the cap was very small compared to what McKay did to the cap

[cvillebucfan]

Never listen to the show, heard a ton about the guy. It was a simple matter of time till the cap hell got to us. Gruden may not have helped the cause, obviously but it was inevitable. ADW Summed it up, we had high priced vets on the roster with back-laden contracts that MCKAY not Gruden worked out prior to Gruden joining the bucs.

[alldaway]

Never listen to the show, heard a ton about the guy. It was a simple matter of time till the cap hell got to us. Gruden may not have helped the cause, obviously but it was inevitable. ADW Summed it up, we had high priced vets on the roster with back-laden contracts that MCKAY not Gruden worked out prior to Gruden joining the bucs.

The contracts that Mckay had were not that problamatic only until after the Super bowl year.  Giving Brad that pay raise after the Super Bowl at the time was seen as the right decision but hindsight tells us it was a big mistake.  We also thought the contract to Booger was the best way to go but that was bad.  Throw in Garner, Steussie, Deese, Keyshawn wanting to leave, McCardell leaving, restructuring of Rice's and Booger's contracts a couple of times and it was really bad.

The Bucs had bloated contracts before Gruden arrived but most of the cap problems came about with bad decisions AFTER the Super Bowl. McKay and Allen made bad cap decisions two years after the Super Bowl and that is what cost the Bucs.  Both GM's tried to reload and make another run but set the team back in terms of rebuilding efforts.   That is why I can not really blame Allen nor Mckay for trying to take a stab at another Super Bowl win.  I mean that is what it is all about?

Allen's reloading wasnt very harmful to the cap. Allen's mistakes arent the reason why we are still in cap hell.

You forgot to mention the signing bonus given to Gramatica and Keyshawn, and the extention to Brooks. I dont blame McKay for what he did, they were necessary moves at the time. BUt I wont blame Gruden/Allen for the mess they walked into. They have never made moves in FA that would severely hurt the cap like McKay did.

[alldaway]

Allen's reloading wasnt very harmful to the cap. Allen's mistakes arent the reason why we are still in cap hell.

You forgot to mention the signing bonus given to Gramatica and Keyshawn, and the extention to Brooks. I dont blame McKay for what he did, they were necessary moves at the time. BUt I wont blame Gruden/Allen for the mess they walked into. They have never made moves in FA that would severely hurt the cap like McKay did.

Allen's reloading was not as harmfull to the cap but it delayed the rebuilding effort another year.   I too do not blame McKay for the moves he made at the time. 

This off-season the Bucs will have cap money and if Gruden/Allen are around they will need to make good decisions with free agent pickups.   If all of the free agent pickups end up being duds the Bucs can find themselves in a cap mess in a hurry (EG Titans and 49ers.... just when the broke out of cap hell they went right back in due to a few bad decisions within a few years).  If they are good decisions this team should be able to compete.

[bradentonian]

I agree with ADW. People wnat to blow Gruden up for bad signings. Garner, Steussie and Deese. They all had relatively small signing bonuses, so the only way they couldve been hazardous to the cap is if they were complete and utter busts. And Steussie and Garner were. But there aeffect on the cap was still small, and is no longer effecting the cap. Steussie had like a 6 mil signing bonus whereas Rice and Booger got like 10-15 mil signing bonuses. Keyshawn, Brooks and Brad Johnson also got HUGE extensions. Martin Gramatica got just as big a bonus as Garner.

Gruden/Allen had little money to spend. They didnt have the luxury of splurging on big FAs, so there chances of hitting it big in FA were much smaller. All they could afford were good old players, instead of good young players. And unfortunately the tread fell off them. Still though all excuses for these bums aside, there effecto n the cap was very small compared to what McKay did to the cap

Part of the problem was that we signed so many players at once.  We were the most active team in free agency that year.  We tried to replace the entire OL in one shot.  I truly believe that if we had focused on a smaller number of high-impact players our cap dollars would have been put to better use.


March 5, 2004 Signed free agent tackle Derrick Deese (6 year, $15MM, $2.5MM SB)
March 5, 2004 Signed free agent offensive lineman Matt Stinchcomb (2 year, $5MM)
March 10, 2004 Signed free agent running back Charlie Garner (6 year, $20MM, $4MM SB)
March 12, 2004 Released safety John Lynch
March 17, 2004 Signed free agent offensive lineman Todd Steussie (6 year, $20MM, $4MM SB)
April 29, 2004 Signed free agent linebacker Ian Gold (5 year, $30MM, $1.4MM SB)

[Itchalot]

We were at the beginning of a dynasty.  Virtually every Buc fan thought that.

[Itchalot]

Bradentonian, what high impact free agent players are you referring to?

[bradentonian]

Bradentonian, what high impact free agent players are you referring to?

John Tait, for instance.  Chicago signed him to a large contract that same year, but not so large that I don't think we could have handled it.  However it would have been the only deal we could have afforded.  But in the end, it would have paid off better than signing 10 guys that last 2 years.

[alldaway]

Bradentonian, what high impact free agent players are you referring to?

I am not so sure but here is a start (Note that some of these players were re-signed before hitting free agency).

2004 NFL Free Agent Listing
Below is a list of Free Agents entering the offseason for 2004. Results are listed by team.

UFA = Unrestricted Free Agents - free to negotiate with any team though the team has the right to franchise or transition them.
RFA= Restricted Free Agents - team will have opportunity to tender an offer to players and may receive compensation from a team that signs a player.
EFA= only team with the players' rights can negotiate with that player.
***= Franchised; ^^^ = Transitioned

Cardinals
WR Kevin Kasper(RFA, 6th), WR Bryan Gilmore(RFA), WR Nate Poole(EFA), C Jason Starkey(UFA), C Chris Dishman(UFA), T Kendrick Rogers(EFA), DT Derrick Ransom(UFA), DT Marcus Bell(RFA, 4th), CB David Barrett(UFA), CB Renaldo Hill(RFA, 7th), CB Emmanuel McDaniel(UFA), S Justin Lucas(UFA), S Quentin Harris(EFA), K Bill Gramatica(RFA, 4th), K Tim Duncan(EFA)

Rams
QB Marc Bulger(RFA, 6th), QB Scott Covington(UFA), RB Arlen Harris(EFA), RB Joffrey Reynolds(EFA), FB/TE Cam Cleeland(UFA), FB Spencer Nead(EFA), WR Dane Looker(EFA), WR Mike Furrey(EFA), TE Brandon Manumaleuna(RFA, 4th), T Orlando Pace(UFA), G Adam Timmerman(UFA, G David Loverne(UFA), C/T John St.Clair(UFA), C Andy King(RFA), DT Brian Young(UFA), DE Grant Wistrom(UFA), DE Bryce Fisher(RFA, 7th), LB Jeremy Loyd(EFA), CB Jerametrius Butler(RFA, 5th), CB James Whitley(EFA), CB Fred Weary(UFA), DB Jason Sehorn(UFA), S Rich Coady(UFA)

49ers
RB Kevan Barlow(RFA, 3rd), RB Jamal Robertson(EFA), WR Terrell Owens(UFA), WR Tai Streets(UFA), WR Cedrick Wilson(RFA, 6th), TE Eric Johnson(RFA, 7th), TE Jed Weaver(UFA), LS/TE Brian Jennings(UFA), C Brock Gutierrez(UFA), G Dwayne Ledford(EFA), DT Travis Kirschke(UFA), DE Chidi Ahanotu(UFA), LB Brandon Moore(EFA), LB Julian Peterson(UFA), CB Ahmed Plummer(UFA), CB Jimmy Williams(RFA, 6th), CB Jason Webster(UFA), CB Rashad Holman(RFA, 6th), S Ronnie Heard(UFA), K Todd Peterson(UFA)

Seahawks
FB Heath Evans(RFA, 3rd), WR Darrell Jackson(UFA), WR Alex Bannister(RFA, 5th), T Walter Jones(UFA), T Floyd Womack(RFA, 4th), C Dennis Norman(RFA, 7th), DE Lamar King(UFA), DT Cedric Woodard(UFA), LB Randall Godfrey(UFA), LB Isaiah Kacyvenski(UFA), LB Orlando Huff(RFA, 4th), LB DD Lewis(EFA), CB Shawn Springs(UFA), CB Willie Williams(UFA), P Tom Rouen(UFA)

Cowboys
RB Troy Hambrick(UFA), RB Aveion Cason(UFA), RB Adrian Murrell(UFA), FB Eric Bickerstaff(EFA), WR Randal Williams(RFA), TE James Whalen(RFA), C Matt Lehr(RFA, 5th), T Ryan Young(UFA), T Javiar Collins(RFA), OL Tyson Walter(RFA, 6th), T Torrin Tucker(EFA), G Gennaro DiNapoli(UFA), DT Willie Blade(EFA), DT Leonardo Carson(UFA), DE Ebenezer Ekuban(UFA), LB Markus Steele(RFA, 4th), CB Mario Edwards(UFA), CB Andrew Davison(EFA), S Lynn Scott(RFA), K Billy Cundiff(EFA)

Giants
QB Jesse Palmer(RFA, 4th), QB Jason Garrett(UFA), RB Delvin Joyce(EFA), WR Ron Dixon(UFA), TE Marcellus Rivers(RFA), C Chris Bober(UFA), T Ian Allen(EFA), G Omar Smith(EFA), G Pat Crummey(EFA), DT Lance LeGree(RFA), DT Cornelius Griffin(UFA), DE Keith Washington(UFA), LB Brandon Short(UFA), LB Dhani Jones(UFA), CB Kato Serwanga(UFA), CB Will Peterson(RFA, 3rd), CB Ralph Brown(UFA), S Johnnie Harris(UFA)

Eagles
QB AJ Feeley(RFA, 5th), RB Correll Buckhalter(RFA, 4th), G Kevin Dogins(UFA), G Bobbie Williams(UFA), DT Jim Flanigan(UFA), DT Paul Grasmanis(UFA), DE Marco Coleman(UFA), LB Keith Adams(RFA, 7th), LB Carlos Emmons(UFA), CB Bobby Taylor(UFA), CB Troy Vincent(UFA)

Redskins
FB Bryan Johnson(RFA), WR Darnerian McCants(RFA, 5th), WR Patrick Johnson(UFA), TE Zeron Flemister(UFA), TE Kevin Ware(EFA), G Lennie Friedman(UFA), DT Darrell Russell(UFA), DT Bernard Holsey(UFA), DT Martin Chase(UFA), DE Peppi Zellner(UFA), LB Kevin Mitchell(UFA), LB Antonio Pierce(RFA), LB Lemar Marshall(EFA), CB Champ Bailey(UFA), CB Bruce Branch(EFA), S Ifeanyi Ohalete(RFA), S David Terrell(UFA), S Todd Franz(EFA), LS Ethan Albright(UFA)

Bears
FB Stanley Pritchett(UFA), WR Dez White(UFA), WR Ahmad Merritt(RFA), G Mike Gandy(RFA, 3rd), G Steve Edwards(EFA), G Chris Villarrial(UFA), T Scott Sanderson(UFA), G Corbin Lacina(UFA), DT Keith Traylor(UFA), DE Joe Tafoya(RFA, 7th), CB Todd McMillon(UFA)

Lions
QB Mike McMahon(RFA, 5th), QB Ty Detmer(UFA), RB Shawn Bryson(UFA), FB Stephen Trejo(RFA), WR Shawn Jefferson(UFA), WR Scotty Anderson(RFA, 5th), WR Eddie Drummond(EFA), WR Reggie Swinton(RFA), G Ray Brown(UFA), G Eric Beverly(UFA), G Josh Lovelady(EFA), DT Kelvin Pritchett(UFA), DE James Hall(UFA), LB Barrett Green(UFA), LB Donte Curry(RFA), LB Jeff Gooch(UFA), LB Brian Williams(UFA), CB Otis Smith(UFA), CB Jacoby Shepherd(RFA, 2nd), CB Doug Evans(UFA), CB Chris Cash(EFA), S Bracey Walker(UFA), P John Jett(UFA), P Nick Harris(RFA, 4th)

Packers
QB Doug Pederson(UFA), RB Tony Fisher(EFA), WR Antonio Freeman(UFA), WR Travis Williams(EFA), TE Wesley Walls(UFA), TE David Martin(RFA, 6th), T Kevin Barry(EFA), T Chad Clifton(UFA), G Marcus Spriggs(UFA), DT Grady Jackson(UFA), DT Rod Walker(RFA), DT Larry Smith(UFA), LB Torrance Marshall(RFA, 3rd), LB Paris Lenon(EFA), LB Marcus Wilkins(EFA), CB Bhawoh Jue(RFA, 3rd), S Antuan Edwards(UFA), S Michael Hawthorne(UFA), S Curtis Fuller(RFA, 4th), P Josh Bidwell(UFA)

Vikings
RB Doug Chapman(UFA), RB John Avery(RFA), TE Jim Kleinsasser(UFA), OL Everett Lindsay(UFA), G Lewis Kelly(RFA, 7th), C Cory Withrow(UFA), DT Fred Robbins(UFA), DT Cedric Killings(RFA), CB Eric Kelly(RFA, 3rd), S Brian Russell(EFA)

Falcons
QB Doug Johnson(UFA), RB George Layne(RFA, 4th), RB Travis Jervey(UFA), RB Woody Dantzler(EFA), WR John Lewis(EFA), TE Brian Kozlowski(UFA), TE Sean Brewer(RFA, 3rd), G Robert Garza(RFA, 4th), G Kynan Forney(RFA, 7th), G Dwayne Morgan(EFA), G Mookie Moore(EFA), T Mike Saffer(EFA), DE Ray House(EFA), LB KaRon Riley(RFA, 4th), LB James Cotton(EFA), LB Terrence Robinson(EFA), LB Matt Stewart(RFA, 4th), LB Artie Ulmer(UFA), LB Twan Russell(UFA), CB Juran Bolden(UFA), S Keion Carpenter(UFA), Gerald McBurrows(UFA), K Jay Feely(RFA)

Panthers
RB Nick Goings(RFA), RB Rod Smart(RFA), WR Steve Smith(RFA, 3rd), WR Eugene Baker(EFA), WR Kevin Dyson(UFA), TE Kris Mangum(UFA), TE Marco Battaglia(UFA), TE Jermaine Wiggins(UFA), G Kevin Donnalley(UFA), T Tutan Reyes(UFA), T Matt Willig(UFA), DE Kavika Pittman(UFA), DE Al Wallace(UFA), LB Greg Favors(UFA), LB Lester Towns(UFA), LB Brian Allen(RFA, 3rd), CB Reggie Howard(UFA), CB William Hampton(EFA), S Deon Grant(UFA), S Travares Tillman(RFA, 2nd), K John Kasay(UFA), LS Jason Kyle(UFA)

Saints
RB James Fenderson(EFA), RB Fred McAfee(UFA), RB Lamar Smith(UFA), RB KiJana Carter(UFA), FB Terrelle Smith(UFA), TE Boo Williams(UFA), TE David Sloan(UFA), OL Spencer Folau(UFA), C Jerry Fontenot(UFA), DT Kenny Smith(RFA, 3rd), LB Sedrick Hodge(RFA, 3rd), LB Derrick Rodgers(UFA), LB Roger Knight(EFA), CB Fakhir Brown(UFA), CB Fred Thomas(UFA), S Victor Green(UFA), S Steve Gleason(RFA)

Buccaneers
QB Shaun King(UFA), RB Thomas Jones(UFA), RB Aaron Stecker(UFA), FB Jameel Cook(RFA, 6th), WR Reggie Barlow(UFA), TE Rickey Dudley(UFA), TE Todd Yoder(UFA), G Cosey Coleman(UFA), T Cornell Green(UFA), DT Warren Sapp(UFA), DT Chartric Darby(UFA), DE Ellis Wyms(RFA, 6th), LB Ryan Nece(EFA), LB Nate Webster(UFA), CB Corey Ivy(EFA), S David Gibson(UFA), S John Howell(RFA, 4th), P Tom Tupa(UFA), LS Ryan Benjamin(EFA)

Broncos
RB Reuben Droughns(RFA, 3rd), WR Chris Cole(RFA, 3rd), TE Pat Hape(UFA), T Blake Brockermeyer(UFA), C Ben Hamilton(RFA, 4th), G Steve Herndon(RFA), DE Bert Berry(UFA), DE Reggie Hayward(RFA, 3rd), LB Al Wilson(UFA), LB Jashon Sykes(EFA), LB Keith Burns(UFA), LB Ian Gold(UFA), LB Johhny Rutledge(UFA), LB Donnie Spragan(RFA), CB Kelly Herndon(EFA), CB Ryan McNeil(UFA), CB Scott Turner(UFA), CB Jimmy Spencer(UFA), S Nick Ferguson(UFA), S Chris Young(EFA), LS Mike Leach(EFA)

Chiefs
QB Jonathan Quinn(UFA), RB Derrick Blaylock(RFA, 5th), TE Jason Dunn(UFA), TE Billy Baber(RFA, 5th), T John Tait(UFA), DT Eric Downing(RFA, 3rd), DE Eric Hicks(UFA), DE R-Kal Truluck(EFA), LB Quinton Caver(RFA, 2nd), LB Monty Beisel(RFA, 4th), CB Darrius Johnson(UFA), CB William Bartee(UFA), S Greg Wesley(UFA), S Shaunard Harts(RFA, 7th), S Lyle West(UFA), P Jason Baker(RFA), LS Kendall Gammon(UFA)

Raiders
QB Rick Mirer(UFA), QB Rob Johnson(UFA), QB Tee Martin(RFA, 5th), FB Chris Hetherington(UFA), WR Ronald Curry(EFA), WR Alvis Whitted(UFA), TE OJ Santiago(UFA), G Brad Badger(UFA), T Matt Stinchcomb(UFA), T Joe Wong(EFA), T Chad Slaughter(RFA), DT Sean Gilbert(UFA), DT Dana Stubblefield(UFA), DE Lorenzo Bromell(UFA), S Eric Johnson(UFA), LB Shurron Pierson(UFA), LB Larry Atkins(UFA), CB Charles Woodson(UFA), CB Terrence Shaw(UFA), CB Clarence Love(UFA), S Anthony Dorsett(UFA)

Chargers
RB Leon Johnson(UFA), RB Jesse Chatman(EFA), WR Tim Baker(EFA), WR Micah Ross(EFA), WR Eric Parker(EFA), TE Josh Norman(EFA), T Solomon Page(UFA), T Ed Ellis(UFA), G Kelvin Garmon(UFA), T Damion McIntosh(UFA), G Michael Keathley(RFA), C Jason Ball(EFA), C David Brandt(EFA), G Bob Hallen(UFA), DT Joe Salave'a(UFA), DT DeQuincy Scott(EFA), DE Otis Leverette(RFA, 6th), LB Zeke Moreno(RFA, 5th), LB Carlos Polk(RFA, 4th), CB Kevin House(EFA), S Jerry Wilson(UFA), S Vernon Fox(EFA), P Darren Bennett(UFA), K Steve Christie(UFA), LS David Binn(UFA)

Bills
QB Travis Brown(RFA), FB Sam Gash(UFA), RB Joe Burns(EFA), RB Ken Simonton(EFA), T Marques Sullivan(RFA, 5th), G Ross Tucker(RFA), DT Ron Edwards(RFA, 3rd) DE Keith McKenzie(UFA), LB Dashon Polk(UFA), LB Josh Stamer(EFA), CB Antoine Winfield(UFA), CB Dainon Sidney(UFA)

Dolphins
QB Sage Rosenfels(RFA, 4th), FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo(UFA), RB Travis Minor(RFA, 3rd), RB Leonard Henry(EFA), RB Charlie Rogers(UFA), WR Oronde Gadsden(UFA), TE Ed Perry(UFA), G Jamie Nails(UFA), T Greg Jerman(EFA), DT Dario Romero(EFA), DE Adewale Ogunleye(RFA), LB Morlon Greenwood(RFA, 3rd), LB Tommy Hendricks(UFA), CB Terrell Buckley(UFA), CB Jimmy Wyrick(UFA), S Shawn Wooden(UFA), S Arturo Freeman(UFA), P Matt Turk(UFA)

Patriots
QB Damon Huard(UFA), RB Kevin Faulk(UFA), RB Mike Cloud(UFA), RB Patrick Pass(UFA), FB Larry Centers(UFA), WR Dedric Ward(UFA), WR David Givens(EFA), TE Fred Baxter(UFA), G Brandon Gorin(EFA), T Tom Ashworth(EFA), G Wilbert Brown(RFA), G Russ Hochstein(RFA, 5th), G Mike Compton(UFA), C Damien Woody(UFA), OL Steve Neal(EFA), C Gene Mruczkowski(EFA), G Mike Clare(EFA), DT Ted Washington(UFA), DT Rick Lyle(UFA), DE Bobby Hamilton(UFA), DE Anthony Pleasant(UFA), LB Courtney Ledyard(EFA), LB Don Davis(UFA), S Shawn Mayer(EFA), S Je'Rod Cherry(UFA), S Chris Akins(UFA), S Antwan Harris(UFA), P Ken Walter(UFA), LS Brian Kinchen(UFA)

Jets
RB Michael Bates(UFA), WR Kevin Lockett(UFA), WR Kevin Swayne(RFA), WR Jonathan Carter(EFA), WR Ken Yon Rambo(RFA, 7th), WR Lawrence Hamilton(EFA), T Brent Smith(UFA), T Kareem McKenzie(RFA, 3rd), C JP Machado(UFA), DT Chester McGlockton(UFA), DT James Reed(RFA, 7th), DT Alan Harper(EFA), LB Quincy Stewart(RFA), LB Kenyatta Wright(RFA), LB Mark Brown(EFA), LB Jason Glenn(RFA, 6th), CB Jamie Henderson(RFA, 4th), CB Omare Lowe(EFA), K Doug Brien(UFA), P Dan Stryzinski(UFA)

Ravens
QB Anthony Wright(UFA), QB Chris Redman(UFA), RB Alan Ricard(RFA), WR Marcus Robinson(UFA), WR Randy Hymes(EFA), TE John Jones(UFA), C Mike Flynn(UFA), T Orlando Brown(UFA), G Bennie Anderson(RFA), G Casey Rabach(RFA, 3rd), T Damion Cook(RFA), NT Kelly Gregg(RFA), DT Ma'ake Kemoeatu(EFA), DE Marques Douglas(RFA), DL Rid**CENSORED** Parker(UFA), DE Adalius Thomas(UFA), DE Mike Collins(EFA), LB Ed Hartwell(RFA, 4th), LB Bernardo Harris(UFA), CB Chris McAlister(UFA), CB Tom Knight(UFA), CB Ray Walls(RFA, 5th), S Will Demps(EFA), K Wade Richey(UFA), K Matt Stover(UFA), LS Jon Maese(RFA, 6th), LS Mike Solwold(RFA)

Bengals
QB Shane Matthews(UFA), RB Rudi Johnson(RFA, 4th), RB Brandon Bennett(UFA), WR TJ Housmandzadeh(RFA, 7th), TE Tony Stewart(RFA, 5th), C Rich Braham(UFA), G Mike Goff(UFA), G Victor Leyva(RFA, 5th), G Matt O'Dwyer(UFA), DT Glen Steele(UFA), LB Riall Johnson(RFA, 6th), CB Reggie Myles(EFA), S Rogers Beckett(UFA), S Mark Roman(UFA), DB Kevin Kaesviharn(RFA), K Shayne Graham(RFA), LS Brad St. Louis(UFA)

Browns
RB RJ Bowers(RFA), WR Andre King(RFA, 7th), WR Dennis Northcutt(UFA), T Barry Stokes(UFA), G Shaun O'Hara(UFA), G Paul Zukauskas(RFA, 7th), G Chad Beasley(EFA), DT Michael Myers(UFA), DE Tyrone Rogers(UFA), LB Brant Boyer(UFA), CB Lewis Sanders(UFA), P Chris Gardocki(UFA), K Brett Conway(UFA)

Steelers
FB Dan Kreider(UFA), WR Chris Doering(UFA), TE Matt Cushing(UFA), T Mathias Nkwenti(RFA, 4th), T Barrett Brooks(UFA), C Chukky Okobi(RFA, 5th), G Keydrick Vincent(RFA), DT Kendrick Clancy(UFA), DE Rodney Bailey(RFA, 6th), DE Chris Hoke(RFA), LB Clark Haggans(UFA), CB Chidi Iwuoma(RFA), S Mike Logan(UFA), K Jeff Reed(EFA), LS Mike Schneck(UFA)

Texans
QB Mike Quinn(UFA), FB Moran Norris(RFA, 4th), FB Greg Comella(UFA), RB Stacey Mack(UFA), WR JJ Moses(EFA), TE Jabari Holloway(RFA, 4th), TE Rashod Kent(EFA), TE Matt Murphy(EFA), G Todd Washington(UFA), T Greg Randall(UFA), C Ben Lynch(UFA), T Jimmy Herndon(UFA), DT Jeremy Schlecta(EFA), DE Jerry DeLoach(RFA), DE Corey Sears(UFA), DE Jason Davis(EFA), LB Travis Carroll(EFA), LB Troy Evans(EFA), LB Steve Foley(UFA), LB Shante Orr(EFA), CB Jason Simmons(UFA), CB Jason Bell(RFA), CB Darrick Vaughn(RFA, 7th), CB DeMarcus Faggins(EFA), S Curry Burns(EFA), S Marlon McCree(RFA, 7th), LS Bryan Pittman(EFA)

Colts
QB Peyton Manning(UFA), QB Cory Sauter(UFA), RB Dominic Rhodes(RFA), RB Ricky Williams(EFA), RB James Mungro(EFA), WR Terrence Wilkins(UFA), WR Ja'Juan Dawson(UFA), WR Brad Pyatt(EFA), TE Joe Dean Davenport(RFA), G Rick DeMulling(RFA, 7th), T Ryan Diem(RFA, 4th), G Tupe Peko(EFA), DT Josh Williams(UFA), LB Jim Nelson(UFA), LB Marcus Washington(UFA), CB David Macklin(UFA), CB Nick Harper(RFA), CB Clifton Crosby(UFA), S Cory Bird(RFA, 3rd), S Chris Doering(RFA, 6th)

Jaguars
RB David Allen(EFA), WR Jimmy Redmond(EFA), G Leander Jordan(UFA), G Jamar Nesbit(UFA), T Sammy Williams(UFA), DT Matt Leonard(EFA), DE Paul **CENSORED**er(UFA), DE Javon Mills(EFA), LB Danny Clark(UFA), LB Tony Gilbert(EFA), LB Hakim Akbar(EFA), CB Fernando Bryant(UFA), CB Blue Adams(EFA), CB James Trapp(UFA), S Donovin Darius(UFA), S Deke Cooper(EFA), S Ray Perryman(EFA), P Mark Royals(UFA), P Chris Hanson(UFA), LS Joe Zelenka(UFA)

Titans
QB Billy Volek(UFA), QB Neil O'Donnell(UFA), WR Justin McCareins(RFA, 4th), WR Eddie Berlin(RFA, 5th), WR Darrell Hill(EFA), WR Drew Bennett(RFA), TE Erron Kinney(UFA), TE Shad Meier(RFA, 3rd), T Matt Martin(EFA), DT Robaire Smith(UFA), DE Jevon Kearse(UFA), DE Juqua Thomas(RFA), LB Brad Kassell(EFA), LB Jordan Kramer(EFA), S Steve Smith(EFA), S Scott McGarrahan(UFA), S Lamont Thompson(EFA), K Gary Anderson(UFA), LS Ken Amato(EFA)

[Itchalot]

Which ones were "high impact"?

[Itchalot]

John Tait got a monstrous contract. At the time people were shocked at how big it was. John Tait. lol

I have to admit that my argument has always been not to fault Gruden and Allen for signing free agents, just for signing the wrong free agents.  But lets not pretend that they were out there in bunches. John Tait shows how few there were out there, because the one OL who actually was really good got a kings ransom, which the Bucs did not have to give.

2004 Tait contract:
The Bears signed John Tait to a six-year, $37 million contract in free agency with a $3 million signing bonus.  The eighth-year player has never been selected to a Pro Bowl.

[Franchise 5]

I think every year since or before we won the superbowl we had to either CUT or restructure someones contract to get under the cap

so signing big time free agents wasn't going to cut it most of them demanded 4-6 mill a year and we would only get about 10 under the cap still needing to sign our own free agents

This is the first time we have a significant amount of cap space in a long time.