49ers Clubhouse

FOXSports.com

Niners can keep Streets, thanks to NFL ruling

February 22, 2003

BY CLARK JUDGE
FOXSports.com
INDIANAPOLIS— San Francisco wide receiver Tai Streets, expected to be one of the top free-agent prospects next week, is off the market — and not because the 49ers re-signed him. An NFL ruling determined that Streets is a restricted free agent and not, as the 49ers once believed, an unrestricted free agent.
That means the club can protect Streets by making a qualifying offer and does not — at least for the moment — have to worry about losing its second-leading receiver .
Streets' agent, Ralph Cindrich, Friday confirmed the league ruling and confirmed that he filed a grievance last week on his client's behalf, seeking to have Streets declared an unrestricted free agent.
"There is a grievance that he had a five-year contract, and that the years '03 and '04 voided, so he becomes an unrestricted free agent," Cindrich said. "Their contention is that '02 didn't void, so that they still have rights under the collective bargaining agreement."
That, of course, is to be determined, but sources close to the situation don't believe Streets has a solid case and that he will remain with the 49ers. That will benefit a club that is $5.6 million over the projected cap of $75 million for the 2003 season and that was undecided which of its top two prospective free agents — Streets and defensive end Chike Okeafor — it would try to keep.
Now, the 49ers can concentrate on Okeafor.
"It all happened fast, and we knew we had to file a grievance," Cindrich said. "There's a lot of research we have to do, but can we get in front of a court and say, 'This is clearly the intent?' Yes."
But there has been no date set for a hearing, and with March 1 rapidly approaching it appears Streets will be with the 49ers when free agency begins. That won't make Streets happy. Last season, the 49ers attempted to re-sign him during the year but were rebuffed, with Streets preferring to take his chances in free agency.
It was then the 49ers discovered the glitch in the contract, approached the league and were notified that Streets is, in fact, a restricted free agent. Cindrich responded, notifying the league's management council and the NFL players association of his grievance.
Essentially, the problem is this: The 49ers contend that Streets has only three years experience (he did not play enough in 1999, Cindrich said, to qualify for one season's experience); Streets contends that the team's intent was that he complete a five-year deal, and now that the contract is voided because of a clause involving playing time, he should be declared an unrestricted free agent.
"It's pretty shaky," said someone familiar with the case.
Streets last year had the best season of his career, catching 72 passes and scoring five times. He was the team's second-leading receiver and ranked 12th in the NFC.

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

BY CLARK JUDGE
FOXSports.com

INDIANAPOLIS— San Francisco wide receiver Tai Streets, expected to be one of the top free-agent prospects next week, is off the market — and not because the 49ers re-signed him. An NFL ruling determined that Streets is a restricted free agent and not, as the 49ers once believed, an unrestricted free agent.

That means the club can protect Streets by making a qualifying offer and does not — at least for the moment — have to worry about losing its second-leading receiver .

Streets' agent, Ralph Cindrich, Friday confirmed the league ruling and confirmed that he filed a grievance last week on his client's behalf, seeking to have Streets declared an unrestricted free agent.

"There is a grievance that he had a five-year contract, and that the years '03 and '04 voided, so he becomes an unrestricted free agent," Cindrich said. "Their contention is that '02 didn't void, so that they still have rights under the collective bargaining agreement."

That, of course, is to be determined, but sources close to the situation don't believe Streets has a solid case and that he will remain with the 49ers. That will benefit a club that is $5.6 million over the projected cap of $75 million for the 2003 season and that was undecided which of its top two prospective free agents — Streets and defensive end Chike Okeafor — it would try to keep.

Now, the 49ers can concentrate on Okeafor.

"It all happened fast, and we knew we had to file a grievance," Cindrich said. "There's a lot of research we have to do, but can we get in front of a court and say, 'This is clearly the intent?' Yes."

But there has been no date set for a hearing, and with March 1 rapidly approaching it appears Streets will be with the 49ers when free agency begins. That won't make Streets happy. Last season, the 49ers attempted to re-sign him during the year but were rebuffed, with Streets preferring to take his chances in free agency.

It was then the 49ers discovered the glitch in the contract, approached the league and were notified that Streets is, in fact, a restricted free agent. Cindrich responded, notifying the league's management council and the NFL players association of his grievance.

Essentially, the problem is this: The 49ers contend that Streets has only three years experience (he did not play enough in 1999, Cindrich said, to qualify for one season's experience); Streets contends that the team's intent was that he complete a five-year deal, and now that the contract is voided because of a clause involving playing time, he should be declared an unrestricted free agent.

"It's pretty shaky," said someone familiar with the case.

Streets last year had the best season of his career, catching 72 passes and scoring five times. He was the team's second-leading receiver and ranked 12th in the NFC.

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