One hundred veteran free agents re-signed with their old teams this year during the free agency signing period, while 124 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 Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed the most unrestricted free agents from other teams (14), while the New York Giants signed 10, followed by the Miami Dolphins with nine, and the Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins with eight each.
There were a total of 310 unrestricted free agents this year. The total player pool is approximately 1,700.
One of this year's 128 restricted free agents signed with a new team - Pittsburgh defensive end Rodney Bailey with New England. One-hundred-and-twenty-one restricted free agents returned to their former clubs, and six are in unsigned categories. The period for restricted free agents to accept offers from other teams ended April 16.
In addition, one transition player signed with a new team, Kansas City tackle John Tait with Chicago.
The 126 total free agents who switched teams represent only seven percent of all NFL players. Of 481 players who were free agents in the various categories of the system, 351 signed new contracts with either new teams or their old clubs.
"The veteran free agent signings reflect a belief by teams and players that continuity and stability play an important role in our sport," said Harold Henderson, executive vice president of labor relations and chairman of the NFL Management Council. "The system continues to enhance the competitive balance that is so important in our sport."
Under the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, players without 2004 contracts who had four or more seasons of free agency experience qualified to be "unrestricted free agents" and were free to sign with any club between March 3 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 2003 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 2003, or a 20 percent increase, whichever is greater.
2004 NFL UNRESTRICTRED & RESTRICTED FREE-AGENT SIGNINGS
1) 124 UNRESTRICTED free agents signed with NEW teams:
TEAM
PLAYER, FORMER TEAM
ARIZONA
RB Obafemi Ayanbadejo, Miami
DE Bert Berry, Denver
QB Shaun King, Tampa Bay
CB David Macklin, Indianapolis
ATLANTA
G Eric Beverly, Detroit
DT Roderick Coleman, Oakland
QB Ty Detmer, Detroit
LB Eric Johnson, Oakland
CB Jason Webster, San Francisco
WR Dez White, Chicago
BUFFALO
G Chris Villarrial, Chicago
CB Troy Vincent, Philadelphia
CAROLINA
G Travis Claridge, Atlanta
CB Terrance Shaw, Oakland
LB Brandon Short, N.Y. Giants
CHICAGO
RB Thomas Jones, Tampa Bay
QB Jonathan Quinn, Kansas City
CINCINNATI
WR Pat Johnson, Washington
LB Nate Webster, Tampa Bay
G Bobby Williams, Philadelphia
CLEVELAND
DE Ebenezer Ekuban, Dallas
G Kelvin Garmon, San Diego
RB Terrelle Smith, New Orleans
DENVER
DE Marco Coleman, Philadelphia
T Cornell Green, Tampa Bay
QB Mike Quinn, Houston
TE O.J. Santiago, Oakland
TE Jed Weaver, San Francisco
DETROIT
CB Fernando Bryant, Jacksonville
G David Loverne, St. Louis
QB Rick Mirer, Oakland
CB Dainon Sidney, Buffalo
WR Tai Streets, San Francisco
G Damien Woody, New England
GREEN BAY
S Mark Roman, Cincinnati
HOUSTON
LB Dashon Polk, Buffalo
DT Robaire Smith, Tennessee
T Todd Wade, Miami
JACKSONVILLE
CB Juran Bolden, Atlanta
G Mike Compton, New England
LB Greg Favors, Carolina
S Deon Grant, Carolina
LB Tommy Hendricks, Miami
QB Doug Johnson, Atlanta
DB Lewis Sanders, Cleveland
TE Todd Yoder, Tampa Bay
KANSAS CITY
C Chris Bober, NY Giants
MIAMI
S Chris Akins, New England
S Antuan Edwards, Green Bay
CB Reggie Howard, Carolina
G Jeno James, Carolina
TE John Jones, Baltimore
T Damion McIntosh, San Diego
RB Sammy Morris, Buffalo
T John St. Clair, St. Louis
WR Terrence Wilkins, Indianapolis
MINNESOTA
P Darren Bennett, San Diego
DT Steve Martin, Houston
WR Marcus Robinson, Baltimore
TE Jermaine Wiggins,Carolina
CB Antoine Winfield, Buffalo
NEW ENGLAND
G Bob Hallen, San Diego
CB Otis Smith, Detroit
DT Keith Traylor, Chicago
NEW ORLEANS
RB Sam Gash, Buffalo
G Jamar Nesbit, Jacksonville
RB Aaron Stecker, Tampa Bay
DT Brian Young, St. Louis
NY GIANTS
DE Lorenzo Bromell, Oakland
DT Martin Chase, Washington
WR JaJuan Dawson, Indianapolis
T Ed Ellis, San Diego
LB Carlos Emmons, Philadelphia
LB Barrett Green, Detroit
G Shaun O'Hara, Cleveland
DT Fred Robbins, Minnesota
DT Glen Steele, Cincinnati
T Barry Stokes, Cleveland
NY JETS
CB David Barrett, Arizona
LB Eric Barton, Oakland
S Reggie Tongue, Seattle
OAKLAND
DB Ike Charlton, NY Giants
LB Danny Clark, Jacksonville
WR Chris Cole, Denver
DE Bobby Hamilton, New England
DT Warren Sapp, Tampa Bay
S David Terrell, Washington
DT Ted Washington, New England
PHILADELPHIA
LB Dhani Jones, NY Giants
DE Jevon Kearse, Tennessee
PITTSBURGH
P Chris Gardocki, Cleveland
DT Travis Kirschke, San Francisco
RB Duce Staley, Philadelphia
CB Willie Williams, Seattle
SAN DIEGO
WR Kevin Dyson, Carolina
LB Steve Foley, Houston
LB Randall Godfrey, Seattle
C Mike Goff, Cincinnati
T Leander Jordan, Jacksonville
SAN FRANCISCO
T Greg Randall, Houston
SEATTLE
CB Bobby Taylor, Philadelphia
DE Grant Wistrom, St. Louis
TAMPA BAY
RB Brandon Bennett, Cincinnati
P Josh Bidwell, Green Bay
LB Keith Burns, Denver
RB Greg Comella, Houston
CB Mario Edwards, Dallas
RB Charile Garner, Oakland
QB Jason Garrett, NY Giants
LB Ian Gold, Denver
LB Jeff Gooch, Detroit
DE Lamar King, Seattle
CB Tommy Knight, Baltimore
G Matt O'Dwyer, Cincinnati
DT Darrell Russell, Washington
C Matt Stinchcomb, Oakland
WASHINGTON
CB Ralph Brown, NY Giants
DT Cornelius Griffin, NY Giants
TE Brian Kozlowski, Atlanta
TE Walter Rasby, New Orleans
DT Joe Salave'a, San Diego
CB Shawn Springs, Seattle
P Tom Tupa, Tampa Bay
LB Marcus Washington, Indianapolis
2) 100 UNRESTRICTED free agents re-signed with their OLD team:
TEAM, PLAYER
ARIZONA
S Justin Lucas
ATLANTA
S Keion Carpenter
C Todd McClure
LB Artie Ulmer
BALTIMORE
T Orlando Brown
C Mike Flynn
K Wade Richey
K Matt Stover
LB Adalius Thomas
QB Anthony Wright
BUFFALO
DE Keith McKenzie
CAROLINA
LB Jason Kyle
TE Kris Mangum
DE Kavika Pittman
G Tutan Reyes
T Melvin Tuten
T Matt Willig
CINCINNATI
S Rogers Beckett
G Rich Braham
CLEVELAND
DT Michael Myers
DALLAS
C Gennaro DiNapoli
DENVER
RB Reuben Droughns
TE Patrick Hape
LB Johnny Rutledge
CB Jimmy Spencer
CB Scott Turner
DETROIT
RB Shawn Bryson
DE James Hall
DT Kelvin Pritchett
S Bracy Walker
GREEN BAY
CB-S Michael Hawthorne
QB Doug Pederson
DT Larry Smith
HOUSTON
CB Pat Dennis
DE Corey Sears
CB Jason Simmons
C Todd Washington
INDIANAPOLIS
LB Jim Nelson
QB Cory Sauter
JACKSONVILLE
T Sammy Williams
C Joe Zelenka
KANSAS CITY
CB William Bartee
TE Jason Dunn
TE Kendall Gammon
DE Eric Hicks
S Lyle West
S Jerome Woods
MIAMI
TE Ed Perry
P Matt Turk
S Shawn Wooden
MINNESOTA
TE Jim Kleinsasser
C Cory Withrow
NEW ENGLAND
S Je'Rod Cherry
LB Don Davis
RB Kevin Faulk
RB Patrick Pass
WR J.J. Stokes
NEW ORLEANS
RB Ki-Jana Carter
T Spencer Folau
C Jerry Fontenot
LB Derrick Rodgers
RB Lamar Smith
CB Fred Thomas
NY GIANTS
CB Ray Green
DE Keith Washington
NY JETS
K Doug Brien
G Brent Smith
OAKLAND
RB Chris Hetherington
PHILADELPHIA
DT Paul Grasmanis
PITTSBURGH
T Barrett Brooks
DT Kendrick Clancy
TE Matt Cushing
WR Chris Doering
LB Clark Haggans
RB Dan Kreider
S Mike Logan
C Mike Schneck
ST. LOUIS
S Rich Coady
P Sean Landeta
SAN DIEGO
C David Binn
RB Leon Johnson
CB Jerry Wilson
SAN FRANCISCO
DE John Engelberger
C Brock Gutierrez
S Ronnie Heard
TE Brian Jennings
K Todd Peterson
CB Ahmed Plummer
SEATTLE
WR Darrell Jackson
LB Isaiah Kacyvenski
P Tom Rouen
DT Cedric Woodard
TAMPA BAY
G Cosey Coleman
TE Rickey Dudley
TENNESSEE
TE Erron Kinney
QB Billy Volek
WASHINGTON
C Ethan Albright
C Lennie Friedman
LB Kevin Mitchell
G Daryl Terrell
3) 1 RESTRICTED free agent signed with a NEW team:
TEAM
PLAYER, FORMER TEAM
NEW ENGLAND
DE Rodney Bailey, Pittsburgh
4) 121 RESTRICTED free agents re-signed with their OLD team:
TEAM, PLAYER
ARIZONA
DT Marcus Bell
CB Renaldo Hill
WR Kevin Kasper
S Adrian Wilson
ATLANTA
K Jay Feely
G Kynan Forney
G Roberto Garza
LB Karon Riley
LB Matt Stewart
BALTIMORE
G Bennie Anderson
T Damion Cook
DE Marques Douglas
LB Edgerton Hartwell
C Joe Maese
G Casey Rabach
RB Alan Ricard
CB Raymond Walls
BUFFALO
QB Travis Brown
DT Ron Edwards
CAROLINA
LB Brian Allen
CB Jarrod Cooper
RB Nick Goings
RB Rod Smart
S Travares Tillman
CHICAGO
T Mike Gandy
DE Joe Tafoya
CINCINNATI
K Shayne Graham
WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh
RB Rudi Johnson
S Kevin Kaesviharn
T Victor Leyva
TE Tony Stewart
CLEVELAND
WR Andre King
G Paul Zukauskas
DALLAS
DT Willie Blade
RB Aveion Cason
T Javiar Collins
RB Troy Hambrick
C Matt Lehr
S Lynn Scott
LB Markus Steele
TE James Whalen
WR Randal Williams
DENVER
G Ben Hamilton
DE Reggie Hayward
LB Donnie Spragan
DETROIT
WR Scotty Anderson
LB Donte' Curry
P Nick Harris
QB Mike McMahon
WR Reggie Swinton
RB Stephen Trejo
GREEN BAY
CB-S Bhawoh Jue
LB Torrance Marshall
TE David Martin
HOUSTON
CB Jason Bell
DE Jerry DeLoach
TE Jabari Holloway
DB Marlon McCree
RB Moran Norris
CB Darrick Vaughn
INDIANAPOLIS
S Cory Bird
G Rick DeMulling
T Ryan Diem
DB Nicholas Harper
RB Dominic Rhodes
KANSAS CITY
P Jason Baker
LB Monty Beisel
RB Derrick Blaylock
LB Quinton Caver
DT Eric Downing
MIAMI
LB Morlon Greenwood
RB Travis Minor
QB Sage Rosenfels
MINNESOTA
CB Eric Kelly
NEW ORLEANS
S Steve Gleason
LB Sedrick Hodge
DT Kenny Smith
NY GIANTS
DT Lance Legree
QB Jesse Palmer
CB William Peterson
TE Marcellus Rivers
NY JETS
LB Jason Glenn
T Kareem McKenzie
DT James Reed
LB Quincy Stewart
LB Kenyatta Wright
OAKLAND
QB Tee Martin
T Chad Slaughter
PHILADELPHIA
LB Keith Adams
RB Correll Buckhalter
PITTSBURGH
DE Chris Hoke
CB Chidi Iwuoma
C Chukky Okobi
G Keydrick Vincent
ST. LOUIS
QB Marc Bulger
CB Jerametrius Butler
DE Bryce Fisher
TE Brandon Manumaleuna
SAN DIEGO
DE Otis Leverette
LB Zeke Moreno
LB Carlos Polk
SAN FRANCISCO
TE Eric Johnson
CB Jimmy Williams
WR Cedrick Wilson
SEATTLE
WR Alex Bannister
RB Heath Evans
LB Orlando Huff
C Dennis Norman
T Floyd Womack
TAMPA BAY
RB Jameel Cook
DT Chartric Darby
S John Howell
TENNESSEE
WR Drew Bennett
WR Eddie Berlin
WR Justin McCareins
DE Juqua Thomas
WASHINGTON
RB Bryan Johnson
WR Darnerien McCants
S-CB Ifeanyi Ohalete
LB Antonio Pierce
5) 1 UNRESTRICTED free agent with right of first refusal re-signed with his OLD team:
TEAM, PLAYER
NEW ENGLAND, RB Mike Cloud
6) 3 FRANCHISE players re-signed with their OLD teams:
TEAM, PLAYER
JACKSONVILLE, S Donovin Darius
NEW ORLEANS, DE Darren Howard
WASHINGTON, CB Champ Bailey
7) 1 TRANSITION player signed with a NEW team:
TEAM
PLAYER, FORMER TEAM
CHICAGO
T John Tait, Kansas City
