Redskins might rework deals

In the event a new collective bargaining agreement cannot be struck between the NFL and its players union, several Washington Redskins players will restructure their contracts to provide the team with salary cap relief.

The Redskins have confirmed only one reworked contract — that of quarterback Mark Brunell on Wednesday. After talks between the league and players union broke off Thursday, cornerback Shawn Springs said he had redone his contract.

The agents for Renaldo Wynn and Jon Jansen confirmed yesterday that if a new CBA is agreed upon, the restructured deals are voided. The same is believed to be true for Brunell, Springs, Clinton Portis and Randy Thomas.

The new deadline to cut players is 6 p.m. tomorrow and free agency starts Monday at 12:01 a.m.

If there is no deal, the 2006 salary cap is $94.5 million. If there is a deal, the salary cap could be anywhere from $105 million to $110 million depending on terms of the agreement. The Redskins started the week with $115 million committed to 2006 salaries.

Rick Smith, Jansen’s agent, said yesterday the Redskins contacted him about a week ago and termed the talks “pretty easy.”

“They have a plan and they’ll get it done,” he said. “They weren’t desperate. I don’t know why there was this big doomsday [outlook] for them. They’ll get to where they need to get.”

Peter Schaffer, the agent for Wynn, said talks between him the Redskins were seamless.

“There were no negotiations,” he said.

If the salary cap is $105 million, the Redskins are likely to still cut veterans Matt Bowen ($2 million savings), Cory Raymer ($985,000), Brandon Noble ($1.7 million), Walt Harris ($2 million), Tom Tupa ($232,000) and possibly Patrick Ramsey ($1.688 million), James Thrash ($750,000) and Taylor Jacobs ($176,000).

Either way, no front-line starters are expected to be released.

Ramsey is the most notable of the possible cuts. The New York Jets’ interest in Ramsey may be waning — they’re expected to pursue unrestricted free agent quarterback Jon Kitna. If the Redskins are unable to trade him, they face a decision whether to cut him and create cap space or hold onto him and try to trade him before the NFL Draft on April 29.

Just being at the exact cap number — whatever it ends up being — would still hurt the Redskins. The team would like to retain unrestricted free agents Ryan Clark, Rock Cartwright and Robert Royal, but at the right price. And enough money has to be available to tender restricted free agents Derrick Dockery, Chris Clemons and Ade Jimoh, if the Redskins choose.

Regardless of where the salary cap ends up, there will be plenty of new — and probably young — faces on the Redskins this fall.

Linebacker Marcus Washington acknowledged Thursday the need to carry over the momentum from last season’s 11-7 season, which included the team’s first playoff appearance and postseason win since the 1999 season.

Story Continues →