Cap-strapped

Texans to reap fruits what big spenders sowed

With the NFL expansion draft for Houston less than a week away, look for the massive salary-cap problems of two playoff contenders to jump-start the Texans franchise.

Because the Jacksonville Jaguars stand $27 million over the salary cap, they've been forced to put one of the game's best left tackles -- the now-healthy Tony Boselli -- on the market with his $7.6 million cap figure for 2002. Boselli is a near-lock to be Houston's first overall pick and will give the team a solid left tackle for the next three or four seasons. Jaguars defensive tackle Seth Payne is also being seriously considered by the Texans; he's on the expansion list because Jacksonville wants to dump his $3.2 million cap number.

In Baltimore, the Ravens are in the league's second-worst cap condition, with a $22 million deficit that must be cut. Look for the Texans to look hard at two vital Raven cogs, linebacker Jamie Sharper and receiver/returner Jermaine Lewis. Their combined cap value this fall will be $7 million. There's no question that the Texans will be better immediately because of the cap problems of several mismanaged teams.

Offense is key in Tampa

Now for the latest in the soap opera known as the Tampa Bay coaching situation. After spurning defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis for the head-coaching job last week, the Bucs have turned their attention to pro and college offensive minds.

Look for the Glazer family's final list of candidates to include four bright offensive coaches: University of Washington head coach Rick Neuheisel, Brigham Young head coach Gary Crowton (formerly of the Bears), Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and Philadelphia quarterbacks coach Brad Childress.

The Glazer family has made it clear, through their bungled handling of the coaching search, that they want an offensive coach to turn around one of the league's most consistently underachieving offenses. That's the road they're taking now.

New Orleans' chemistry experiment

Don't look for new San Diego head coach Marty Schottenheimer to be very chummy with his Saints' counterparts this offseason. Schottenheimer had his eyes on New Orleans offensive coordinator Mike McCarthy, who has fallen out of favor with Saints GM Randy Mueller over the club's poor offensive performance in 2001.

Schottenheimer contacted New Orleans to ask permission to talk to McCarthy about an elevated position of assistant head coach/offensive coordinator. But because teams in the NFL do not have to grant permission for assistant coaches to interview for jobs other than head-coaching jobs, the Saints turned down Schottenheimer's request.

Reasonable decision, you might say. Except that New Orleans has hired a quarterback coach, Mike Shepherd, who will pressure McCarthy for his job this season. McCarthy would have loved the San Diego opportunity. It'll be interesting to watch how the chemistry of the rebuilt New Orleans staff works out this fall.

Sports Illustrated senior writer Peter King covers the NFL beat for the magazine and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.

 

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