Redskins feeling pressure of cap

The Washington Redskins might find some of their key players too expensive to keep next season.

The Redskins already are about $1 million over next season’s $109 million salary cap with just 41 players under contract. Each team has 53 roster spots, and the 51 highest-paid players count against the salary cap. The Redskins are still 10 players shy of that number.

As a result, players like cornerback Shawn Springs, defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin, defensive ends Renaldo Wynn and Phillip Daniels and quarterback Mark Brunell — “core Redskins,” as coach Joe Gibbs calls them — all likely won’t return without a major reduction of their salary cap numbers through contract renegotiation.

The Redskins can restructure some contracts. That approach, however, would push the salary cap problem into the future, and it’s not feasible to take big cap hits on more than a couple of players each year.

The Redskins faced a similar situation after last season but managed not to cut or lose to free agency any player they wanted to keep. That success, however, was due in large part to a significant increase in the salary cap after the league signed rich, new television contracts and extended its collective bargaining agreement with the players association.

The increase in this year’s cap, however, is modest, and the offseason that begins next week appears likely to be more difficult.

The Redskins’ NFC East rivals — the Philadelphia Eagles, Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants — will have plenty of room under the salary cap to re-sign their own players and make free agent acquisitions. The Redskins, however, will have to make many personnel decisions based on considerations of money, not talent.

Springs ($7.3 million cap number) and Griffin ($6.16 million) have admitted to concern about their futures with the team. Both have a big cap number, both had injury-marred seasons and both are over 30.

Each, however, also remains among the most valuable players on the defense. Griffin still is the most feared player on the line, and the secondary was beaten badly over the first five games of this season when Springs was sidelined by a groin injury. That unit was blistered again by the St. Louis Rams on Sunday after Springs left the game because of a season-ending shoulder injury.

Gibbs said yesterday he plans for Springs to return, though not necessarily at cornerback.

“Shawn has a real future with us,” Gibbs said. “He can play a number of spots back there. We’re counting on him being part of our future.”

Jettisoning reliable veterans like Springs and Griffin would necessitate the signing of solid veteran replacements like cornerback Nate Clements (who played for the Buffalo Bills for Redskins assistants Gregg Williams and Jerry Gray) or using the valuable first-round draft choice on a player the team hopes can start immediately.

Brunell knows his $6.84 million cap number is prohibitive now that he no longer is a starter. That’s also true of Wynn ($4.03 million), who lost his job to newcomer Andre Carter, and receiver David Patten ($3.01 million), who has caught just one pass this season.

Gibbs and his assistants say they want to retain all their players other than safety Adam Archuleta, who signed a $30 million contract as a free agent this year but now rarely plays. But with just 41 players under contract, the Redskins must make some difficult choices to fit under the cap and reshape a roster that has produced just five wins.

Tackles Chris Samuels ($8.85 million) and Jon Jansen ($5.85 million) and guard Randy Thomas ($5.54 million) remain the foundation of the offensive line, but their contracts might have to be restructured.

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