"We had one principal goal and that was to improve our football team in the draft and extend the players we could extend to long-term contracts," said Bucs general manager Rich McKay.
Of course, there are still teams that will spend big money on new players.
The Washington Redskins committed $57.4 million to gain a pair of defensive tackles, Dana Stubblefield (six years, $36 million) and Dan Wilkinson (five years, $21.4 million).
The Carolina Panthers spent $46.5 million over seven years for defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, who held out all of 1997 when he couldn't reach an agreement with Washington, and the Kansas City Chiefs signed another defensive tackle, Chester McGlockton, to a five-year, $30 million deal.
But other teams were reluctant to plunge into the market that way.
Bob Ackles, director of football operations for the Miami Dolphins, said his team was in the bidding for McGlockton, Randle and Gilbert but decided to pull out of the bidding for all three.
"It got to a point where we wondered if we were out of our minds," Ackles said. "It gets to a point where you wonder if this guy is really worth this much money."
The Dolphins, though, did lure guard Kevin Donnalley from the Tennessee Oilers with a four-year, $12.1 million offer because they want to stress the running game.
"We probably overspent in a lot of people's eyes, but he's a very good football player. It depends on what you're looking for sometimes," Ackles said.
"Teams are learning the system and managing the salary cap a lot better than they were in the first two or three years."
What they're learning is that it's often better to spend money to keep your own players than to bring one in from another team.
Salary caps
1993: Uncapped year
1994: $34.6 million
1995: $37.1 million
1996: $40.75 million
1997: $41.45 million
1998: $52.388 million
&
Free-agent movement
Category ...... 1993 ... 1994 ... 1995 ... 1996 ... 1997 ... 1998
Unrestricted .. 108 .... 121 .... 171 .... 99 ..... 85 ..... 110
Restricted .... 8 ...... 7 ...... 6 ...... 4 ...... 2 ...... 4
Transition .... 4 ...... 4 ...... 2 ...... 2 ...... 2 ...... 1
Franchise ..... 1 ...... 0 ...... 0 ...... 0 ...... 0 ...... 2
Totals ........ 121 .... 132 .... 179 .... 105 .... 89 ..... 117
Pub Date: 9/04/98
