NFC

Sporting News, The, Feb 21, 2000 by Mark Schlabach, Joe Menzer, Lee Shappell, John Mullin, Mickey Spagnola, Tom Kowalski, Tom Silverstein, Don Banks, Jeff Duncan, Neil Best, Mark Eckel, Jim Thomas, Mike Triplett, Roy Cummings, Paul Woody

Arizona

'BACKER CONCERNS: Unrestricted free-agent MLB Ron McKinnon says the team has no inside track on retaining his services. It made a four-year offer averaging just under $2.4 million that he turned down. McKinnon is hopeful of getting an average closer to $4 million.... The team is looking for depth at outside linebacker, where it will be even thinner until it knows the fate of starter Zack Walz, who is coming off ACL surgery. Free agent Carlos Emmons, who had SLX sacks for Pittsburgh, has expressed interest. The team also got backup James Folston to sign a two-year extension.... The team is losing free-agent RB Adrian Murrell. The team likes back Michael Pittman, its multi-talented muscular third-year player, but he has been injury-prone.

UPGRADING: The team has expressed interest in Rams free-agent C Mike Gruttadauria. Both of the club's centers, Aaron Graham and Mike Devlin, are unrestricted free agents.... The club, with only Terry Hardy under contract at tight end, plans to bring in free agent Troy Drayton, the best of the affordable tights end on the market. Drayton, who has a history of sore knees, caught 32 passes for Miami last season. The team also offered a contract to TE Chris Gedney, who missed last season after colon surgery. He has passed a physical. --Lee Shappell

Atlanta

QUICK WORK: The team addressed its two biggest needs on the first day of the free-agent signing period when it signed CB Ashley Ambrose and WR Shawn Jefferson. Ambrose was perhaps the top free-agent cornerback on the market. The Falcons attempted to sign Ambrose last summer, but he chose the Saints, who cut him this month. The signing allows Ronnie Bradford to move to free safety, where starter Eugene Robinson likely won't return. Bradford played right cornerback the past two seasons but started his pro career as a free safety with the Broncos. Jefferson should complement veteran Terance Mathis and speedy Tim Dwight and give strong-armed QB Chris Chandler a deep threat. Jefferson caught 40 passes for 698 yards for the Patriots last season.

FILLING VOIDS: The Falcons, who were about $2.5 million under the cap after signing Ambrose and Jefferson, are all but guaranteed not to re-sign DE Chuck Smith, who led the team with 10 sacks in 1999. The team is prepared to let Patrick Kerney, a first-round pick in '99, start in Smith's left end spot next season. A starter also is needed at right end because Lester Archambeau hasn't been re-signed. Possible candidates for that vacancy are the Saints' Brady Smith, the Cowboys' Kavika Pittman, the Packers' Keith McKenzie and Anthony Cook of the Redskins. --Mark Schlabach

Carolina

GETTING LEGAL: The team began the free-agent period with a flurry of moves trying to cut a $6.5 million surplus over the league's salary cap. Veteran DBs Steve Lofton and Roderick Mullen and 37-year-old QB Steve Bono were released. The club also declined to offer contracts to K Richie Cunningham, who replaced injured John Kasay late last season, and CB Michael Swift. Eight other players agreed to contract restructuring, including backup QB Jeff Lewis and DT Sean Gilbert, the team's highest-paid player. Coach George Seifert says the salary-cap manipulation puts them in position to think about signing free agents.... Seifert says he believes S Tim McDonald and LB Lee Woodall, released by the 49ers, still can play at a high level. Woodall possibly could replace retired Kevin Greene at outside linebacker.

WAIT AND SEE: Backup RB Fred Lane possibly could be among the players cut, especially after his recent arrest on drug possession and weapons charges. But Seifert says he is waiting to see what happens when Lane, who has maintained his innocence, makes a court appearance March 2.... Seifert confirms the team is making serious efforts to re-sign both DT Tim Morabito and backup FB Chris Hetherington. Morabito started all 16 games, and Hetherington emerged as a solid special-teams contributor. --Joe Menzer

Chicago

THE END: The signing of Seahawks DE Phillip Daniels was the goal of the franchise, the player the team wanted more than all of the possibilities except the Jaguars' Tony Brackens in terms of upside and price. Daniels' five-year deal for $24 million was what the Bears wanted to pay and gives them a big-picture plus: DTs Jim Flanigan and Mike Wells are signed for the next four years, along with Daniels' five, so the core of a young line is in place. Russell Davis, coming off a rookie season at end, will be tried at tackle, and he is around for three more years. The team wants Daniels on the field from start to finish, allowing it to pick its spots for Clyde Simmons, who wore down late last season.... The club filled another top need by signing Bills free-agent CB Thomas Smith to a five-year, $22.5 million deal.

BACKING OFF: RB Edgar Bennett's release was expected because he had a $150,000 roster bonus due and didn't fit into the club's plans. He was the team's best all-around back but wasn't the best at any one thing and had lost too much pop as a runner, though he is an excellent receiver. The club hopes Curtis Enis can come back with his knee 100 percent, along with change-of-pace RB James Allen, an exclusive-rights free agent. Don't be surprised if the Bears pick a running back in the mid to late rounds of the draft. --John Mullin