Hours before free agency began, the spotlight, for once, was on linemen.
Colts star center Jeff Saturday, a three-time Pro Bowler, agreed to a three-year deal to remain in Indianapolis.
Saturday's agent, Ralph Cindrich, confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on Thursday night. He didn't disclose financial details, but said the deal will make Saturday one of the highest-paid centers in the NFL.
The move came a day after the NFL salary cap increased from $123 million to $127 million. It was also a day after the Colts officially released Marvin Harrison, freeing up $6 million under the salary cap.
Getting the opposite treatment was Derrick Dockery, who was released by Buffalo. Two years ago, Dockery, a run-of-the-mill guard, left the Washington Redskins for a seven-year, $49 million deal with Buffalo. He was one of several interior linemen who got record-breaking deals that season.
When he was cut by the Bills, Dockery was $28 million short of fulfilling the contract. He was a casualty of both his so-so play and the current economic climate, in which only the top free agents are likely to strike it rich.
"If the money doesn't go to one particular player, it should go to getting one or two or three players who make your team a better club," said Tennessee general manager Mike Reinfeldt, sounding as though he might be resigned to losing one of the premier free agents in this year's class — All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth.
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