Redskins Brass Vows To Move Forward In Free Agency Despite Salary Cap Penalties

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan and Exec VP & GM Bruce Allen "defiantly vowed to move forward with an offseason plan that is significantly altered by the loss" of $18M of salary cap space for the '13 season, according to Rich Campbell of the WASHINGTON TIMES. Allen, in his first detailed comments about the NFL's penalty for frontloading contracts in the uncapped '10 season, called it a “travesty of fairness.” Meanwhile, Shanahan "expressed frustration but vowed to make the best of the team’s financial limitations." The "weight of the penalty fell on the Redskins earlier" yesterday when they released CB DeAngelo Hall, who coaches "regarded as their best cornerback." Shanahan said that releasing Hall "saved the Redskins" $8M in '13 salary cap space, and got the club about $1M "under the cap" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 3/12). Allen said, "We were never warned that they were going to come back two years later and punish us." He added that the team is "not considering a lawsuit, but he declined to say what other options the team might pursue" (AP, 3/11). In DC, Mark Maske notes Allen "declined to specify how he thinks the Redskins might reclaim some of the salary cap space." Allen said the team had options and, “We’re just going to continue. We would like to know the truth and we’ll find it" (WASHINGTON POST, 3/12).

HEY, BIG SPENDER: In Miami, Adam Beasley writes for the "third consecutive offseason, the Dolphins are buyers." They "swung and missed the past two years." But this March, there is "hope ... that the Dolphins brain trust will get it right." The Dolphins have been "active in the three-day negotiating window with other teams’ free agents and their own." Talks this afternoon will "become real" with free agent WR Mike Wallace in what could be "a defining week" for Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland (MIAMI HERALD, 3/12). In Ft. Lauderdale, Omar Kelly notes whether the Dolphins can land Wallace "depends on how much every team is offering the 26-year-old, and which teams are involved in the bidding" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 3/12). Kelly, examining the role of the Dolphins ownership, writes under the header, "Steve Ross Can't Afford To Swing And Miss Again This Dolphins' Offseason." Kelly: "Fool Ross once and shame on the NFL. Fool Ross twice and shame on him. Fool him a third time ... and it is safe to conclude Ross and the people running his organization are imbeciles." He "swings for the fences, and that's admirable," but every agent "knows it, which makes him a target to be hustled and conned" (South Florida SUN-SENTINEL, 3/12).

THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS: Giants President & CEO John Mara yesterday acknowledged that his team is "taking a risk by giving restricted free agent" WR Victor Cruz a first-round tender worth $2.88M. In New Jersey, Art Stapleton writes there will be "continued speculation regarding Cruz’s change in representation as to whether" CAA's Tom Condon’s "presence will be a positive sign for a future with the Giants." That also "could be premature, considering Condon is one of the league’s top agents and likely will entertain other deals." Mara said that the Giants "might not be willing or able to give him what the market decides" (Bergen RECORD, 3/12). CBSSPORTS.com's Jason La Canfora cited sources as saying that the Patriots "would make a run at Cruz, but that was prior to Cruz changing agents recently and going" with Condon, who the Patriots "generally don't do business with" (CBSSPORTS.com, 3/11).