Quarterback Scramble Starts For Nfl Teams
Buffalo has its quarterback of the future in Rob Johnson. Baltimore got its quarterback for the present Saturday in Jim Harbaugh.
Everybody else?
In the first two days of free agency ‘98, prime players like Robert Brooks (Green Bay), Todd Steussie (Minnesota), Eric Swann (Arizona) and Ken Harvey and Tre Johnson (Washington) have elected to stay put as teams use the extra $10 million in cap room from the new television contract to re-sign their own.
For with a couple of exceptions - such as wide receiver Yancey Thigpen of Pittsburgh and defensive lineman John Randle of Minnesota - there weren’t many free agents left who can immediately turn a team’s fortunes. Thigpen signed a five-year, $21 million contract Saturday with Tennessee, becoming the highest-paid receiver in NFL history and leaving Randle as the most desired player.
In fact, most free agents who will move will be solid players to fill specific needs, like Allen Aldridge, the starting middle linebacker for Denver in the Super Bowl who signed with Detroit Saturday.
“They are key components to our team,” general manager Charley Casserly of the Redskins said of Harvey and Johnson. “They made a decision to stay home and forego free agency, to stay here where they are comfortable, where they wanted to play.”
That makes quarterbacks the prime commodity.
Harbaugh, who was expendable in Indianapolis because he had a $4 million contract, went to the Ravens for third- and fourth-round picks in April’s draft. The Colts also sent their fourth-rounder to Baltimore in a deal that helped put an end to the speculation that ex-Buffalo Bill quarterback Jim Kelly would return to the field as a Raven. Kelly announced Saturday that he has decided to remain retired and spend more time with his ailing son.
The price the Ravens paid for a front-line quarterback was cheap, but it’s better than nothing - the Colts, who have the first pick in the draft, probably would have released Harbaugh without the deal to draft or trade for a new starter.
Buffalo gave up first- and fourth-rounders for Johnson, not a high price for a team that was dismal on offense last season.
The Harbaugh trade could set off a chain reaction involving Vinny Testaverde, Kerry Collins, Neil O’Donnell and the two college quarterbacks who will go 1-2 in the draft - Peyton Manning of Tennessee and Ryan Leaf of Washington State.
It starts with Testaverde, the Ravens’ starting quarterback last season.
“Vinny is still a Raven at this time,” coach Ted Marchibroda, the Ravens’ coach.
But probably not for long - if the Ravens can’t trade him, they’ll release him and he may end up with the New York Jets, where he could compete with Glenn Foley for the starting job. That would mean the Jets would trade or release O’Donnell, signed two years ago for $25 million over five years.
The Colts, who hold the first pick in the draft could take either Manning or Leaf. But they are also considering trading the pick to Carolina for a package including Collins, who was drafted by Bill Polian, the new Colts’ president.