Muhammad, Law cut due to salary cap
Cornerback Ty Law, the star of New England’s secondary through the first two of the Patriots’ three Super Bowls, and Muhsin Muhammad, Carolina’s standout wide receiver, were released from their respective teams on Friday. The two were salary cap casualties as teams prepared for the start of free agency on Wednesday.
The 31-year-old Law missed the second half of this season with a broken foot and his $12.5 million salary cap figure made him expendable, especially because the Patriots won a title without him. Muhammad, who made his first All-Pro team last season, had 93 catches for 1,405 yards and 16 touchdowns, but couldn’t agree to renegotiate a contract that would have paid him a $10 million roster bonus on Tuesday.
The releases of Muhammad and Law were not unexpected, although Muhammad, who will turn 32 in May, remains one of the league’s best receivers.
Other than kicker John Kasay, Muhammad was the senior member of the team and holds its receiving records with 578 catches for 7,751 yards receiving. He played in 115 games with Carolina, joining the Panthers in 1996 as a second-round draft choice.
Law had been the anchor of the secondary since he was taken in the first round of the 1995 draft. But his huge salary made him expendable.
Faulk agrees to pay cut with Rams
Marshall Faulk, resigned to a backup role with the Rams, has agreed to a pay cut in a restructured contract that will essentially guarantee he’ll end his career in St. Louis.
Faulk, an 11-year veteran who turns 32 today, just finished the third year of a seven-year contract. He would have made $6 million in salary and workout bonuses in 2005.
Under the new four-year deal, Faulk gets a $2 million signing bonus this year, and will earn $2 million in both 2005 and 2006, said his agent, Rocky Arceneaux. Arceneaux said the salary would average $3 million per year over the four years of the deal.
“His motive was not wanting to leave,” Arceneaux said. “Obviously with a backup, it’s hard to justify making $7 million a year.
Warren, Green told to seek trades
The Cleveland Browns have given disappointing defensive tackle Gerard Warren and troubled running back William Green permission to seek trades.
With the team switching to a 3-4 defense next season under new coach Romeo Crennel, the underachieving Warren, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2001 draft, may not fit into Cleveland’s plans any longer.
Crennel and general manager Phil Savage met with Warren earlier this week and told him he had until Wednesday to try and work out a deal with another team.
Scott, Riemersma let go
The Pittsburgh Steelers released cornerback Chad Scott and tight end Jay Riemersma in a pair of salary cap moves that had been anticipated since their season ended last month.
The Steelers were $500,000 under the salary cap at season’s end and, partly because of the numerous performance bonuses they paid following their 15-1 regular season, they needed to trim several contracts.
Woodson forcing Raiders’ hand
Four-time Pro Bowl cornerback Charles Woodson signed a $10.5 million tender Friday as the Oakland Raiders’ non-exclusive franchise player, perhaps trying to force a trade. By signing, Woodson puts the Raiders far over the salary cap.
“The actions of agent Carl Poston and Charles Woodson tell us that they must have reached a longterm deal with a team and we expect a trade very soon,” the Raiders said in a statement.
Jets, Redskins may swap receivers
The divorce two years ago was messy, and when Laveranues Coles left he was bitter.
But none of that will matter to New York Jets coach Herm Edwards if he can bring Coles back to New York. That potential reunion took a huge step toward becoming a reality on Friday as officials for the Jets and the Washington Redskins discussed a swap of disappointing receivers at the NFL scouting combine.
The Jets would get Coles, who has worn out his welcome in Washington, in exchange for Santana Moss. The deal cannot become official until Wednesday when the NFL’s trading period begins, though one Jets source seemed to think it was inevitable. It is contingent on the Redskins clearing enough room in their salary cap.