NFL's Grubman doubts wild free agent spending

By Larry Fine

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Players dreaming of a free agency bonanza in 2010 may be in for a rude awakening, NFL executive vice president Eric Grubman said on Monday.

The club owners' decision in May to end their labor agreement with the players' union means no salary cap for 2010 but Grubman said wild spending was still unlikely.

"The players have for many years counted on the uncapped year as being something where unrestrained spending would be so staggering that owners would be fearful of it and it would bring the owners to their knees," he said at the Reuters Media Summit.

"I think the economic situation and cash available to clubs ... may yield some surprises. It may not create the unrestrained spending the players have counted on," added the NFL's top business executive.

Grubman said the nature of the league, whose teams carry 53-man rosters, suggested it would escape the type of free-agent bidding wars seen in baseball that have driven up salaries.

"If you spend a tremendous amount of money on a few marquee players and either they don't perform or somebody gets hurt, that value proposition is really at risk," he said.

"Maybe it doesn't work in football. Maybe it does work in baseball, by adding the great pitcher or great batter or two."

BIG-NAME TALENT

Some owners, notably Jerry Jones of the Dallas Cowboys and Daniel Snyder of the Washington Redskins, have shown an eagerness in the past to add big-name talent.

"Will somebody do it? I don't know ... but is that the way to win football games on a long-term basis? It hasn't been. It's been to get your bench strength," added Grubman.

"Look at the (New York) Giants and (New England) Patriots, unheralded players and you fill in, fill in, fill in and fill in and the team wins."

Grubman also sees an expanded season, most likely in 2011, with one or two games added to the 16-game schedule.

"I would say there is a consensus to move to an expanded season." he said.

"I don't believe a consensus has formed between 17 or 18 games. I would expect something to emerge in the next few months."

Grubman also sees neutral Super Bowl sites in years to come that could include foreign locations.