49ERS Teams copying Patriots' plan for free agents

San Francisco is one of many teams to cut back on spending.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
When the National Football League adopted free agency and a salary cap in 1994, teams pounced upon unrestricted stars like sharks circling a boating accident.
But the feeding frenzy eventually reminded free-spending NFL executives of another clich & eacute; -- there's no such thing as a free lunch.
The San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys discovered this after they won Super Bowl championships in the first two years of free agency.
Both teams -- already championship contenders -- loaded up on stars to ensure their victories in the 1994 (49ers) and 1995 (Cowboys) seasons.
The due bill arrived a few years later and both teams plummeted to the depths of the NFL standings after releasing many playoff-tested veterans to comply with the salary cap.
The 49ers and Cowboys succeeded by temporarily circumventing the cap by luring top-name players with huge signing bonuses that were pro-rated against future budgets.
Those days are over. After both franchises were gutted in the late '90s to pay off those expensive investments, many teams became more responsible with the cap.
"One of the things about free agency as you study it is that [rapid signings have] slowed down," said 49ers general manager Terry Donahue in a telephone interview from the team's headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif. "It's not the feeding frenzy it was when free agency first came into the league."
It's become rare to see teams sign players on the first day of free agency, Donahue said.
"The level of intensity is the same this year as it was in early years," said Donahue, who added that the formula that worked wonders for last year's New England Patriots is proving to be this year's model.
Patriot plan: Last year, the Patriots spent approximately $9 million to sign 17 free agents -- veterans nobody wanted and mid-level players with plenty to prove.
The Patriots surprised just about everyone by winning the AFC East, upsetting the Steelers at Heinz Field to capture the AFC Championship Game and stunning the world with a last-second victory over the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.
"Teams are looking at what New England did with moderately-priced free agents," Donahue said. "Teams are being very cautious.
"The Patriots found several starters for not a whole lot of money and teams are beginning to realize that is a pretty good way to go."
With one eye trained on retaining their own players, the 49ers front office has been searching for bargains this off-season. One reason is because the team still is paying off some of the signing bonuses from the mid-'90s.
"Last year, we signed two moderately-priced free agents in linebacker Derek Smith and defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield," Donahue said. "Both contributed much to our team chemistry and proved to be fine acquisitions."
Because the team ended the 2001 season only $3 million over the salary cap, the 49ers restructured six contracts to comply with the cap.
Then on the eve of the free agency season, the 49ers announced that quarterback Jeff Garcia had agreed to revise his contract, a move that gave the team approximately $3.5 million to spend on free agents.
Garcia's deal led to the retention of four teammates: center Jeremy Newberry, running back Garrison Hearst, fullback Fred Beasley and backup offensive lineman Matt Willig.
New deals: Almost as soon as the open season on football players began, Newberry signed a six-year contract with an estimated worth of $20 million including a signing bonus of $5 million.
Beasley was next. Hearst made visits to several NFL cities before signing a six-year deal.
"This means I'll probably finish my career [here], which is a great thing," Hearst said. "The team supported me through some tough times. They've been very good to me."
After suffering a broken ankle in the 49ers' 1999 playoff game in Atlanta, the running back sat out two full seasons and endured several surgeries before returning to action last fall.
Hearst surprised many last fall by rushing for 1,206 yards and four touchdowns on 252 carries. He also caught 41 passes for 347 yards and one touchdown.
"We all know what he as been through over the past few years, and for him to come back the way he did is a testament to his character," Donahue said. "He brings a wealth of talent and leadership to this organization and we are pleased to have him back."
Also since March 1, Donahue signed Willig, who played both guard and tackle the last two seasons, and gave a four-year contract extension to free safety Zach Bronson.
"In our minds, we had a fabulous off-season," Donahue said. "Of our five top [free agents], we kept four of them."
Two-for-one: Starting safety Lance Schulters is not returning. After five weeks of negotiations, the 49ers passed on Schulters in favor of Tony Parrish, giving the Bears free agent a five-year, $12 million contract.
Also last Tuesday, the 49ers signed former St. Louis Rams defensive lineman Sean Moran.
"Honestly, we feel like we didn't lose anything," Donahue said. "We were pretty much able to keep all our guys and we were able to exchange Parrish for Schulters, plus [save enough money to] get Moran."
"I can't imagine any off-season being better, except, of course, if we could have kept Schulters, but we are very happy to get Parrish," Donahue said.
"With Schulters, we were just unable to make a deal," Donahue said. "Essentially, we were able to get two players for what on was going to cost us to keep one. And eventually, this exchange may get us a third player."
With the 49ers' salary right near the cap limit of $71.1 million, the team's next moves are to consider releasing a veteran (perhaps 39-year-old guard Ray Brown) to pursue more mid-priced free agents and to prepare for the April 20 draft.
williams@vindy.com