Busy off-season for NFL

Free agent signings, trades strengthen some teams, weaken others as summer training camp approaches

As football fans endure another excruciatingly long off-season without quarterbacks rocking a mesh baseball cap on the sidelines and touchdown celebrations capped off with a cell phone call, an oft-overlooked topic — the salary cap is misunderstood.

Every fan checks out the waiver wire and the extensive list of free agents, wanting his or her team to sign an immediate impact player, an all-star. Unfortunately, most fans do not understand why team management cannot make the moves every armchair quarterback desires.

With labels such as franchise tags, restricted and unrestricted free agents and salary deferral along with veterans' minimum salaries, it's relatively difficult to follow the accounting records of teams, let alone make sense of them.

In short, a memo to those whom apply: one or two key acquisitions do not ensure any city the Vince Lombardi Trophy the following season. Yes, championships are won in the off-season, but more so they are won on a coaching staff's blackboards, in management's boardrooms and most importantly, by an organization's number crunchers.

Just ask Washington Redskins fans — infamous team owner Daniel Snyder has been throwing money around over the past few seasons like former University of Alabama football coach Mike Price in a gentlemen's club. Snyder's strategies haven't rewarded fans with a winning squad since the Clinton administration; it's time for fans to realize that money doesn't buy happiness.

Snyder has bucked his recent trends this off-season and made a football-wise decision in hiring Joe Gibbs to take the reins. Gibbs has ultimate control of player personnel decisions. Who can reasonably argue with a man who has won two Super Bowl titles in his previous tenure in Washington? Snyder's retro-to-old-school tactics not only have given Redskins fans a glimpse of hope, but, more importantly, has proved to the NFL that freewheeling owners can't win in the league. Period.

A few hours up Interstate 95, Philadelphia Eagles fans finally have stopped booing their team's disastrous performance in the NFC Championship game. After feeling the heat from hands down the league's most brutal and, arguably, most passionate fans, team owner Jeffrey Laurie finally has opened his checkbook.

The signings of wide receiver Terrell Owens and defensive end Jevon Kearse, the best unrestricted free agents on both sides of the ball, has calmed fans — for now. Considering the Eagles' poor receiving core that was exploited by the Carolina Panthers in a 14-3 aberration in the NFC title game, as well as a pass rush that couldn't apply significant pressure to opposing quarterbacks all season, the Eagles have indeed addressed essential needs.

The problem is that coach Andy Reid has failed to address Philadelphia's biggest problem in 2003 — the ability to stop the opposing team's running game. If the Eagles don't attain a fellow elite, run-stopping defensive tackle to work in cahoots with defensive tackle Corey Simon, Philadelphia will need their offense to put up 35-plus points on a consistent basis in order to win games.

Let's not forget about the reigning Super Bowl champions the New England Patriots. In this day and age, dynasties are becoming a rarity. Some are quick to label the Patriots as a dynasty. But, in reality, the bunch hailing from Foxboro failed to reach the playoffs in 2002. They are indeed the front-runners for Super Bowl candidacy this season, and a third title in three years would secure a legitimate label of — gulp — a dynasty.

New England coach Bill Belichick has funneled superstars out of his lineup in New England, emphasizing team chemistry. The Patriots quietly have collected multiple first-round draft picks for both this season and next, and have a system that's not to be bucked.

Just ask superstar cornerback Ty Law, whose big mouth hasn't persuaded the Patriots to "show him the money" anytime soon.

The Patriots ($1.5 million under the cap) have built a strong foundation of talented youth, accompanied by a significant core of role players.

The Eagles are currently $17.6 million under the cap, having entered the off-season signing period a league-high $27 million under. Granted, they have failed to punch their ticket to the big game in three-straight attempts, but Philadelphia has been the league's winningest team over the past three seasons, going 36-16.

As Indianapolis Colts general manager Bill Polian said, "More people are working with their [salary] cap better. When you have teams such as the [Carolina] Panthers and [New England] Patriots winning, you realize you don't have to pay outrageous prices for free agents to be successful. And, each year, teams get better and better at managing things."

The Eagles have been the most active in the off-season, but it remains to be seen if their new strategy — which drastically compromises their recent philosophy of success — will yield them a championship.

The Redskins have taken a step in the right direction by hiring a living legend — Gibbs.

Don't expect the Redskins to be a playoff contender in 2004, but in two or three years they are likely to be a team no one wants to see on its schedule.

As for the Patriots, well, two titles in three years is pretty good.

Quarterback Tom Brady just might get tired of Orlando, Fla., and his subsequent trips to Walt Disney World.

One off-season, three teams — one, upstart franchise, one on the brink on greatness and one with a championship blueprint other teams desire to duplicate.

Surely every true fan has an unparalleled passion for his or her team. Unfortunately, a majority of fans don't understand the salary cap, and essentially need to trust their management's decisions to improve their team.

Leave the financial analysis to the accounts and the cheering up to you and your fellow fans — unless you're an Arizona Cardinals fan. Then, feel free to boo.

Wes Heinel is a sports management major who loves football.