When the clock strikes midnight tonight, the NFL’s much anticipated free agency period will begin without a salary cap for the first time since a cap was implemented in 1994. This uncharted territory for the league has some a bit uneasy as to what to expect from teams this offseason. Obviously there will still be some big spenders as always from Daniel Snyder ’s big fat bankroll with the Washington Redskins to his divisional rival with the Dallas Cowboys in Jerry Jones. Perhaps the most pressing question is not which team will spend the most, but which will spend the least.

Some of the league’s notoriously frugal teams may be inclined to just sit back and rake in the dough from their revenue this year while putting out a sub-standard on field product. These are unknown circumstances in the realm of the league as while there is no cap on how much teams can spend there is in turn also no floor. With the impending possibility of a lockout in 2011 plenty of owners will be reluctant to shell out any cash via long-term contracts with the prospect of no income to pay that salary next year.

Although the free agent crop as it currently stands is a bit thin due to many teams tendering their younger potential free agents with a restricted tag under the collective bargaining agreement’s provision for an uncapped year, it is likely that many marquee names on the down side of their careers with declining production will be added to that list. With no salary cap that means there are no penalties for dumping ugly contracts so teams will be looking to get out from under crazy deals while they can without suffering the consequences.

This is the unattractive business side of the league that we all love so much and if they don’t get their act together at the bargaining table we may be without it come this time next year. Both sides remain hopeful that something can get worked out in the coming months, but with the overall numbers still so far apart between the NFL Player’s Association and the owners, things still look awfully bleak for football in 2011.

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