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Labor uncertainty slows free-agent dealing
The CBA does not expire for two seasons, but what is causing concerns is an uncapped year (no salary cap) in 2007, along with a transition year in 2006. As much as $5 million per team could be taken out of the free agency pool this year, if an agreement is not reached.
The NFLPA and league owners continue to talk in an effort to get their issues resolved before the March 3 deadline. But if they don't reach a resolution, the NFL could lose its salary cap, which was instituted in 1993 and is projected at $95 million this year.
With the clock ticking, personnel men such as Steelers director of operations Kevin Colbert are in a holding pattern.
"There's nowhere you can go, because you don't know what the situation will be," said Colbert, who is in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine. "It's hard to speculate. You have to be prepared for the worst and hope for the best. We don't know the specifics as to where we stand. It's all speculation at this point."
Colbert said the Steelers have spoken to each of their 11 unrestricted free agents, a group that includes wideout Antwaan Randle El, free safety Chris Hope and defensive end Brett Keisel, and will continue to do so in the coming days.
Randle El, who averaged 15.9 yards on 35 catches and returned two punts for touchdowns, was offered a new contract by the Steelers, but he plans to test the market. He is looking for a chance to be a No. 1 receiver -- and be paid like one.
Colbert refrained from talking about individual players, but he offered a general overview of the Steelers' approach this free-agency season.
"We don't say one guy's a priority over the other," said Colbert, who signed only one free agent from another team last season (wideout Cedrick Wilson), but it was enough to help the Steelers win their first Super Bowl in 26 years. "We do believe that we would love to have everyone back. It's hard to say where you can and can't go, because you don't know what's out there for the players yet, because they can't get offers from other teams. We want everybody back. Is that realistic? No. It's our challenge to keep this thing together the best that we can."
Hope told the Tribune-Review earlier this week that he wants to be paid like one of the top five safeties in the league, which would take a lot of maneuvering for the Steelers. The team clearly has to rework the deal for Pro Bowl center Jeff Hartings, who stands to count $8.1 million against the cap in '06.
Meanwhile, Colbert continues to evaluate the market.
"As I've said, we would love to keep our guys, but we have to be prepared to move on and sign other teams' players," he said. "That's the process we finished (Tuesday) in our evaluations. We'll try to go forward and see where we are. But the priority is always to keep our own guys."
