WHO WON? : NFL Teams Unsure of Impact After Free Agency

For the last two months, National Football League teams essentially have swapped special teams players, which should make for some exciting kickoffs next season.

Actually, the impact of this free agent activity--the final count had 229 of 619 unconditional free agents changing teams--is impossible to gauge until play begins this fall. The Washington Redskins spent much time and money (approximately $800,000 in signing bonuses) on the project, which ended at midnight Saturday.

The Green Bay Packers signed a league-high 20 players, although a new 80-man training camp limit means they might not have room for many upcoming draft picks. Major cuts could come after minicamp. The Kansas City Chiefs signed 17 free agents, the Redskins 15 and Cleveland 14.

The Houston Oilers suffered a mass exodus, losing 15 players. “Have you ever been hunting?” Oilers Coach Jerry Glanville asked. “Well, if they shoot a deer, they take a knife out and gut him. We’ve been gutted.”

Some teams grew disinterested. The Bears felt they shouldn’t sign other teams’ loose baggage. The Bears and Bengals picked up no one, though Chicago did deliver an offer sheet to Houston defensive end Ray Childress.

“The only winners,” Bears personnel director Bill Tobin said, “are agents, airlines, telephone companies and doctors.”

Good doctors actually were a necessity, considering most of the unprotected players were injured reserve types or hurt in some way. In Dallas, the Cowboys seemed certain wide receiver Mike Sherrard’s brittle leg--broken twice--would scare away interested teams and left him unprotected. Bet a San Francisco physician reportedly passed Sherrard on a physical and advised the 49ers to lure him. The final deal was close to $1.3 million over three years.

Regardless, there are those in the players’ union who find this reckless free agency to be a fraud, that the owners designed it to influence a Minneapolis federal judge in an upcoming antitrust trial. And the union, to back its argument, points out that protected players--the prominent quarterbacks and running backs in the league--stayed put.

“You know,” responded Giants General Manager George Young, “I can’t understand why the union is mad Dan Marino can’t be more of a millionaire than he already is.”

Actually, owners might not have lost much money with these signings. By reducing training camp rosters to 80, they’re saving cash that was spent on these free agents.

But was it advisable spending? According to sources, the two highest unrestricted free-agent contracts went to nose tackle Bob Golic (from Cleveland to the Raiders) and quarterback Gary Hogeboom (from Indianapolis to Phoenix). Both reportedly will earn $600,000 next season.

In the NFC East, the activity varied.

--Washington Redskins: Of the 15 players signed, it’s possible only one will start--punter Greg Horne. General Manager Bobby Beathard said last week he only expects former Rams lineman Fred Stokes ($125,000 signing bonus) and guard-tackle Ray Brown (formerly with Phoenix) to emerge as first-, second- and third-down contributors. The rest are special teamers, though Beathard said he hoped that tight end Mike Tice (Seattle) would bulk up and maybe play more.

The Redskins wouldn’t mind fast development from two new cornerbacks, Martin Mayhew (from Buffalo) and Eugene Profit (from New England). With cornerback Darrell Green on the trading block and cornerback Brian Davis having a history of injuries, both newcomers could find themselves in the thick of a New York Giants game. Also, wide receiver Stevie Hobbs (from Kansas City) runs a 4.4-second 40-yard dash and could emerge as their kickoff and punt returner, though he’s tiny.

And why all the long snappers? The team has three--Ralph Tamm (from the Jets), Mike Morris (from Phoenix) and last year’s starter, Dave Harbour. The coaches want someone who can not only snap, but also play a position, and Tamm and Morris have that capability. Harbour, meanwhile, wasn’t big enough last year to help out on the line, but this season he wants to try out as a blocking tight end.

--New York Giants:--At last report, they had signed only four-three defensive players and a long snapper. One is safety Greg Cox from the 49ers, and though he was merely a wedge-buster, Cox got $75,000 to sign and base salaries in the $200,000 range. Nose tackle Jim Burt, like the Redskins’ Russ Grimm, turned down a substantial raise (from the Packers) and will be welcomed back with a few other Giants who decided to stay put. “We’ll take ‘em all back,” Young said. “These guys don’t have leprosy or anything.”

--Phoenix Cardinals: They signed 11, the method being to tease players with their warm weather. One signee was Reggie McKenzie (from the Raiders), brother of the Redskins guard Raleigh McKenzie. Actually, the Redskins pursued Reggie McKenzie, too, but didn’t want to get in a bidding war because Raleigh McKenzie is a protected free agent and about to negotiate a new deal. If Washington had given a bundle to Reggie, starter Raleigh would’ve become more difficult to sign.

--Philadelphia Eagles: Coach Buddy Ryan keeps handing his right outside linebacker spot to ex-Bears. A year ago, Todd Bell converted from strong safety, but got steamrolled. Now, Ryan has signed Al Harris from the Bears, and Bell’s back in the secondary. Ryan thinks the Bears were silly to use Harris as a defensive end and predicts he’ll be a stellar linebacker in Philadelphia. Other signings (the Eagles had five) included speedy running back Mark Higgs from Dallas and punt returner Henry Williams from Canada.

--Dallas Cowboys: New Coach Jimmy Johnson says he was too busy evaluating his own players to see anyone else’s. Of Dallas’ five signings, two are ex-Redskins--center Eric Coyle and tight end Anthony Jones.