NFL Marketplace Features a Strong Free-Agent Cast

Need a quarterbajck? Jim Harbaugh, the NFL’s leading passer this season, is available. So is the man who guided the Pittsburgh Steelers to the Super Bowl, Neil O’Donnell.

Is the linebacker corps a bit shaky? How would Bryan Cox, Kevin Greene or Cornelius Bennett look on the roster? They can be had, too.

Don’t forget about Eric Swann, Darren Woodson, Mark Chmura, Eric Davis, Aeneas Williams, Gary Zimmerman and Leslie O’Neal, all Pro Bowl players in 1995.

Free agency begins Thursday and the crop is exceptionally strong. Weak teams such as the New York Jets and Giants, Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars should be active participants. If Jimmy Johnson can free up some money, the Miami Dolphins be lively in the marketplace. And if Dallas and San Francisco can work their cap magic once again, Woodson and Davis might stay put, while other attractive players head to the Cowboys or 49ers.

“Darren would very much like to stay in Dallas, so if we could do a deal with the Cowboys in the next couple of weeks, we would do it,” says agent Lee Steinberg, who represents many of the marquee names on the market. “We have a long-standing relationship with the Cowboys and have been able to work through issues smoothly.”

Rarely do things go smoothly in free agency. Most coaches and personnel directors make it clear they believe the players you lose hurt much more than the guys you gain.

The 49ers would be hard-pressed to argue: The departures of running back Ricky Watters and cornerback Deion Sanders helped stop them from repeating as Super Bowl champions.

The flip side is what happened in Buffalo, where linebacker Bryce Paup signed, led the league in sacks and became the league’s Defensive Player of the Year.

“Everybody thought he could be a good player and would help us,” Bills defensive coordinator Wade Phillips says. “I don’t think anyone expected him to be the player of the year. But we’re glad he is.”

Teams willing to spend money--the expansion Jaguars and Carolina Panthers have plenty, as do the San Diego Chargers and Green Bay Packers--will find some savory items in free agency.

Just looking at the secondary, any free-spending team could wind up with Williams, one of the game’s best cover men, and Larry Brown, the MVP of the Super Bowl, on the corners. Or Davis and Phillippi Sparks.

Any club looking to rebuild its offensive line can turn to Will Wolford, Kirk Lowdermilk or Leon Searcy, all of whom played in the recent AFC championship game. If the defensive line is the priority, available are tackles Swann, Russell Maryland and Shane Dronett, ends O’Neal, Chris Doleman and Alonzo Spellman.

The one position seemingly lacking impact performers is running back. No Emmitts, Barrys or Marshalls around.

But Terry Allen, Rodney Hampton, Harvey Williams and Garrison Hearst each rushed for more than 1,000 yards in 1995, and would be strong additions for many clubs.

Much of the focus for the next few months will be on the available quarterbacks. Will O’Donnell remain with the Steelers now that offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt has joined the Jets, who need a passer? Will Pittsburgh open up the vault for O’Donnell, coming off his best season, while Kordell Stewart seemingly awaits an opportunity to supplant him?

“I think the longer I stay there, the more success I have,” O’Donnell said. “Even at Maryland, I was that type of player.”

Harbaugh had his best year and will command more money than he ever could have expected when the season began--and he was riding the bench behind Craig Erickson.

Like O’Donnell, Atlanta’s Jeff George and the Giants’ Dave Brown, Harbaugh would like to remain where he is. But that means the Colts will have to ante up several million dollars.

“He certainly deserves a raise,” Colts director of football operations Bill Tobin said. “Right now there’s at least 30 quarterbacks making more money than he is, and he finished the year as the top-rated quarterback in the NFL.

“Good things happen to good people and I’m happy for Jim, because he’s a good person, a good quality citizen and human being.”

And he’s about to join some rich company.