49ers Clubhouse

The Press Democrat

Streets' free-agent status could favor 49ers

February 24, 2003

By MATT MAIOCCO
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
The free-agent signing period does not begin until Friday but the 49ers might have already scored.
The 49ers had assumed that receiver Tai Streets would be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but a recent NFL ruling determined that their No. 2 wideout is a restricted free agent, the Fox Web site reported.
The distinction could mean less money for Streets, who would have been considered one of the top receivers on the open market, and it increases the chances of the 49ers retaining him for at least another season.
The 49ers will be able to match any club's offer sheet to retain Streets as long as they make a qualifying offer by Thursday.
The team would receive draft-pick compensation if it chooses not to match any offer.
A player with four or more accrued seasons can become an unrestricted free agent when his contract has expired. The NFL collective bargaining agreement defines an accrued season as being "on full pay status for a total of six or more regular season games ... (but) shall not include games for which a player was on ... the Reserve (physically unable to perform) list as a result of a non-football injury."
Streets was on the 49ers' roster for four games in 1999, his rookie season, after being activated from the reserve/non-football injury list. Streets sustained a ruptured Achilles' tendon while playing pickup basketball before his first NFL season.
Streets and his agent are appealing the NFL ruling, according to the report.
The 49ers drafted him in the sixth round of the 1999 draft and signed him to a five-year contract. The final two years of his contract voided when he reached 30-percent playing time.
Streets had not been much of a factor for the 49ers until last season when he replaced J.J. Stokes in the starting lineup. Streets was the team's second-leading receiver with 72 catches for 756 yards and five touchdowns.
The 49ers now have only one significant unrestricted free agent with whom to negotiate: defensive end Chike Okeafor, who started all 16 games last season and was second on the team with six sacks.
The organization heads into the 2003 league season in relatively good salary-cap shape. The 49ers need to clear approximately $6.5 million in cap space in the next four days. General manager Terry Donahue said those decisions will not be solidified until Wednesday or Thursday.
"We've been playing around with these issues since November," Donahue said. "We have a lot of different scenarios to dealing with these issues."
Stokes will survive the initial salary-cap purge, Donahue said.
Stokes, who is scheduled to make $2.25 million, makes too much to be a backup, but the team does not gain any cap relief by cutting him.
"I think he'll be with the team next week," Donahue said.
Stokes would almost assuredly have to accept a large pay cut for a second straight year to remain with the 49ers. Two other players who might be faced with pay cut-or-else ultimatums are defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield and offensive lineman Dave Fiore. If the team were to release both players, it could save approximately $4.7 million.
NOTE
Donahue placed the odds at 50-50 of the 49ers holding training camp at University of the Pacific in Stockton this summer. The 49ers and UOP officials will meet late this week or next week to discuss the arrangement. The alternative to Stockton would be for the 49ers to hold training camp in Santa Clara. Donahue declined to say whether practices would be open to the public if the team were to move out of Stockton, where they've held summer camp since 1998.

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By MATT MAIOCCO
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

The free-agent signing period does not begin until Friday but the 49ers might have already scored.

The 49ers had assumed that receiver Tai Streets would be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but a recent NFL ruling determined that their No. 2 wideout is a restricted free agent, the Fox Web site reported.

The distinction could mean less money for Streets, who would have been considered one of the top receivers on the open market, and it increases the chances of the 49ers retaining him for at least another season.

The 49ers will be able to match any club's offer sheet to retain Streets as long as they make a qualifying offer by Thursday.

The team would receive draft-pick compensation if it chooses not to match any offer.

A player with four or more accrued seasons can become an unrestricted free agent when his contract has expired. The NFL collective bargaining agreement defines an accrued season as being "on full pay status for a total of six or more regular season games ... (but) shall not include games for which a player was on ... the Reserve (physically unable to perform) list as a result of a non-football injury."

Streets was on the 49ers' roster for four games in 1999, his rookie season, after being activated from the reserve/non-football injury list. Streets sustained a ruptured Achilles' tendon while playing pickup basketball before his first NFL season.

Streets and his agent are appealing the NFL ruling, according to the report.

The 49ers drafted him in the sixth round of the 1999 draft and signed him to a five-year contract. The final two years of his contract voided when he reached 30-percent playing time.

Streets had not been much of a factor for the 49ers until last season when he replaced J.J. Stokes in the starting lineup. Streets was the team's second-leading receiver with 72 catches for 756 yards and five touchdowns.

The 49ers now have only one significant unrestricted free agent with whom to negotiate: defensive end Chike Okeafor, who started all 16 games last season and was second on the team with six sacks.

The organization heads into the 2003 league season in relatively good salary-cap shape. The 49ers need to clear approximately $6.5 million in cap space in the next four days. General manager Terry Donahue said those decisions will not be solidified until Wednesday or Thursday.

"We've been playing around with these issues since November," Donahue said. "We have a lot of different scenarios to dealing with these issues."

Stokes will survive the initial salary-cap purge, Donahue said.

Stokes, who is scheduled to make $2.25 million, makes too much to be a backup, but the team does not gain any cap relief by cutting him.

"I think he'll be with the team next week," Donahue said.

Stokes would almost assuredly have to accept a large pay cut for a second straight year to remain with the 49ers. Two other players who might be faced with pay cut-or-else ultimatums are defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield and offensive lineman Dave Fiore. If the team were to release both players, it could save approximately $4.7 million.

NOTE

Donahue placed the odds at 50-50 of the 49ers holding training camp at University of the Pacific in Stockton this summer. The 49ers and UOP officials will meet late this week or next week to discuss the arrangement. The alternative to Stockton would be for the 49ers to hold training camp in Santa Clara. Donahue declined to say whether practices would be open to the public if the team were to move out of Stockton, where they've held summer camp since 1998.

Tell us what you think on the new 49ers Clubhouse message board.