INDIANAPOLIS — The old hands won’t be forgotten while the youngsters hoping to land jobs in the NFL are going through the audition regimen at the NFL Scouting Combine this week.
Having player agents and front-office executives at the same venue makes an ideal setting for contract negotiations for teams that want to re-sign their free agents before the signing period begins March 13.
“There’s an opportunity for us to meet with a lot of the agents and do some negotiating in an efficient fashion,” Detroit Lions president Tom Lewand said. “Free agency and the draft are running parallel.
"We have an interest in keeping as many of our free agents as possible.”
As of Wednesday morning, the NFL had not informed teams of the exact numbers for the 2012 salary cap or the franchise tag as it applies to players at each position.
But the best estimate is the cap will be close to the $120 million limit of 2011. It might be, at most, $1 million higher.
The franchise tag carries a one-year guaranteed salary for a player designated by his team and can be used only once per offseason.
Defensive end Cliff Avril has drawn the most attention of the Lions who are eligible to become unrestricted free agents. He's the only player under consideration for the franchise tag, but the Lions have not tipped their hand about whether they intend to apply the tag before the March 5 deadline.
The tag for Avril is projected to carry a one-year salary of about $10.6 million, but the guaranteed salary goes into effect only if the player signs the tender offered when the tag is applied.
Avril was quoted over the weekend as saying he would consider holding out if the Lions put the franchise tag on him. Avril is seeking a long-term contract, which is understandable.
Carolina defensive end Charles Johnson, who has had a career similar to Avril’s, signed a six-year, $72 million contract last year to remain with the Panthers. Johnson’s contract included $30 million in guaranteed money.
Three other Lions starters —- linebacker Stephen Tulloch, cornerback Eric Wright and offensive tackle Jeff Backus — are scheduled to become free agents, as are backup quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Drew Stanton.
Hill has a stronger bargaining position than Stanton because he has been No. 2 behind starter Matthew Stafford the past two seasons. Stanton was stuck in the No. 3 spot last year and was not active for any games.
The Lions have an excellent working relationship among the quarterbacks, which is important, particularly with a young starter like Stafford. He turned 24 in February.
Hill said at the end of last season he wished to return if the Lions want him, and there's no indication they don’t.
“Shaun has value on and off the field,” Lewand said “We’d be hopeful of having him back.
"The same thing goes for Drew.”
