It seems that NFL teams' salary-cap problems will be fuel for the Houston Texans.
The list of players in the expansion draft pool that the Texans will choose from on Feb. 18 is conspicuously loaded with players, some very accomplished, who have high price tags.
That's no problem for Texans head coach Dom Capers and general manager Charley Casserly, because the brand-new team has indicated it will take fewer than 30 players, so that it can sign some top-shelf (read, pricey) talent.
League guidelines allow Houston to select 30 to 42 players, or fewer players if their 2002 salaries total at least 38 percent of the Texans' $72 million-plus salary cap.
Among the players exposed are not only veterans who started this season but some who have appeared in the Pro Bowl.
Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Tony Boselli, a five-time Pro Bowl participant who recently passed a physical showing that both his surgically repaired shoulders are ready to rumble, is likely to be the first player the Texans take. He is set to be paid $4.5 million for 2002 and has a cap number (the salary and the prorated signing bonus combined) of $8.9 million.
Other Pro Bowl players on the list are Atlanta Falcons running back Jamal Anderson and quarterback Chris Chandler, New York Giants linebacker Jessie Armstead, New Orleans Saints quarterback Jeff Blake, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Tim Bowens, Carolina Panthers defensive tackle Sean Gilbert, New York Jets cornerback Aaron Glenn, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver/kick returner Jermaine Lewis, Tennessee Titans offensive guard Bruce Matthews, Jaguars wide receiver Keenan McCardell, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ed McDaniel, Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive guard Randall McDaniel, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Rob Moore, Denver Broncos linebacker Bill Romanowski, Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Sinclair, and Dallas Cowboys center Mark Stepnoski.
Let's see what kind of team can be lined up from this expansion list.
At quarterback, you have Buffalo's Rob Johnson, who is scheduled to be paid $4 million in 2002. He refused to restructure his deal, and the Bills, not terribly thrilled with his play last season, put him on the list. Other candidates are Blake ($2.75 million), Detroit's Charlie Batch ($2 million), and Chandler ($5.8 million).
At running back I would go with Detroit's James Stewart ($4.15 million) and Carolina's Tim Biakabutuka ($1.54 million). Anderson's rickety knees makes him a big risk at $5 million for 2002.
The wide receivers would be McCardell ($2.95 million) and Moore ($3.25 million), and add Lewis ($2.2 million) because he can also return kicks.
Indianapolis' Ken Dilger is the tight end ($1.64 million), with Boselli and Jaguars teammate Zack Wiegert ($1.375 million) at tackles. Stepnoski would be at center, with Matthews ($4.075 million) and the Saints' Wally Williams ($3.1 million) at the guards.
On defense, start with cornerbacks Glenn ($3.15 million) and the Titans' DeRon Jenkins ($2 million).
At the safeties go with the Giants' Sam Garnes ($1.7 million) and the Browns' Corey Fuller ($3.8 million).
There's a strong linebacker corps with Baltimore's Jamie Sharper ($1.5 million), Armstead ($4.2 million), and Romanowski ($2.2 million).
Up front you have defensive ends Rob Burnett ($3.4 million) of the Ravens and Marcus Jones ($1.5 million) of the Bucs, and inside would be Green Bay's Santana Dotson ($1 million) and Miami's Tim Bowens ($7 million).
That's a pretty fair lineup, but obviously, just by looking at the salaries, the Texans will not be able to choose all of them. They will probably look at upsides and downsides and pick from this group of 23 and augment their selections with some lesser-known names on the expansion list.
Plus there's the college draft, which will take place in New York on April 20 and 21, in which the Texans will take the first pick of all seven rounds, plus seven additional picks.
There are also a slew of free agents that will be available after March 1, but the Texans will have to compete with the rest of the 31 teams in trying to land the ones they want.
At the top of the list, at least by his own estimate, is former Minnesota wideout Cris Carter, second only to Jerry Rice in career receiving.
Carter wants to go out wearing a Super Bowl ring and listed teams such as Miami, Green Bay and Baltimore as possible stops for 2002.
Packers quarterback Brett Favre reportedly said he believed that Carter would not fit in at Green Bay, but Ravens coach Brian Billick, who was with Carter when he was offensive coordinator of the Vikings, has shown some interest.
Carter might also consider returning to Philadelphia, where he started his career, but head coach Andy Reid has shown a tendency toward youth since he took over the Eagles.
Reid, who was in Hawaii to coach the NFC all-stars for Saturday's Pro Bowl, said he was still keeping watch on the free-agent market and other personnel aspects of his job.
"Joe Banner is here," Reid said of the team's top executive, "so he and I talk. And Tom Heckert (director of player personnel) and I talk every day, so I'm staying up on that part of it on the personnel side.
"Well, you get an idea of the league right here. Now, granted, there's some 20-some odd players who pulled out of this thing. For the most part, you're dealing with the best players in the league right here and you have a pretty good idea of what's at what position. And we have enough players over here that you can kind of mix your guys in at each position and see how you're doing as far as talent goes."
The Jaguars, projected to be $23 million over the salary cap, will provide some real nuggets just to make their roster legal.
Linebackers Kevin Hardy and Hardy Nickerson, both first-rate bangers, are likely to be released, and placekicker Mike Hollis will be a free agent. Tight end Kyle Brady and defensive linemen Seth Payne and Renaldo Wynn are also on the list of possible cuts by Jacksonville.
Obviously, Eagles middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter will be highly sought after if the Birds allow him into the market.
The Rams will have to choose between middle linebacker London Fletcher, defensive end Leonard Little, and wideout Az-Zahir Hakim.
The Super Bowl champion Patriots have a long list of potential free agents, starting with cornerback Terrell Buckley.
Aware of his situation, Buckley, who recovered a crucial Rams fumble in the game, made sure after the title game to credit the Pats' depth at cornerback for the victory.
"We have four starters at cornerback," Buckley said. "Four can't start. Sometimes you have to leave your ego at home. That's what Terrance (Shaw) and I did this year. We did everything that Otis (Smith) and Ty (Law) did except start."
The Pats also will have to make decisions on linebacker Roman Phifer, kicker Adam Vinatieri, who made the winning kick for the title, running back Antowain Smith and linebacker Tedy Bruschi, who are set to become free agents in a couple of weeks.
Tampa Bay running back Warrick Dunn might also hit the market because the Buccaneers, facing cap problems, can't afford to pay Dunn, fellow running back Mike Alstott, and wideout Keyshawn Johnson.