Browns' Veterans In Free Agent Limbo - What Will Team Need?

An appeals court ruling is expected today or tomorrow on whether to maintain or lift a stay on the NFL lockout.  If the stay is lifted, that means free agency must begin - but what will it look like and what will the rules be?  Now that there is no Players Union, some of the old free agency rules might be challenged by the Players Association as violations of anti-trust laws, such as franchise tags and free agent tenders.  The most likely route for the NFL to take is to keep the same rules that were in effect in 2010: no salary cap, no salary floor and unrestricted free agency after six years of service instead of four.

Those rules put a whole lot of players with 3, 4, or 5 years of service in a potentially bad position.  Apparently, for those players whose contracts have expired with their current team, but who have yet to reach 6 years of service, the team still retains their contract rights - or the right of first refusal if another team wants to sign the player. 

Browns' Free Agent Situation To Shape Draft Strategy?

Entering the off season, the Browns had 22 free unsigned free agents.  That's almost half of the 53 man roster. The Browns cut DT Shawn Rogers, DE Kenyon Coleman, LB David Bowens, LB Eric Barton, TE Robert Royal, and OT John St. Clair.  Prior to the expiration of the CBA, the Browns re-signed QB Seneca Wallace and MLB D'Qwell Jackson.  They later gave 2nd round tenders to CB Eric Wright and TE Evan Moore. The legitimacy of those tenders is unknown until a new CBA is reached.  Kicker Phil Dawson was franchised. These five players were obviously made a priority by the team, but what can we glean from the players they did not re-sign or tender?  A look at the Browns remaining free agents and the depth chart may give us some insight into the Browns' 2011 draft strategy.