Raiders' McGlockton Is A Free Agent

By CBSNews.com staff CBSNews.com staff

April 15, 1998 / 7:28 PM EDT / CBS Sportsline

The Oakland Raiders declined to guarantee a one-year contract for Chester McGlockton, a move that effectively left the Pro Bowl defensive tackle a free agent.

"Obviously, it's something that benefits Chester," Raiders senior assistant Bruce Allen said. "It gives him the freedom to see what is worth is on the open market. And it gives us an additional option if it doesn't work out."

Under an amendment to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, contracts tendered to a team's own free agents must be guaranteed even if a player is released during the year. The Raiders had until Monday to decide whether to guarantee their one-year, $4 million tender to McGlockton but decided against it.

McGlockton, a six-year veteran and four-time Pro Bowler, is now free to sign with any of the league's other 29 teams. Miami, Denver, and Kansas City are all said to be interested in McGlockton, who remains Oakland's franchise player.

If he is offered another contract before midnight Thursday, and the Raiders decline to match it, Oakland would be entitled to that team's second-round pick in this weekend's draft along with a compensatory pick following the completion of the first round.

Should an offer be made between midnight Thursday and July 15, the Raiders would get that team's first- and third-round picks in 1999.

If McGlockton doesn't find a new team by July 15, his only option would be to accept the Raiders' one-year tender, under which he would be paid the average of the top five 1998 salary cap figures at his position as of April 13. That figure would likely fall somewhere between $4 million and $5 million.

Relations between the Raiders and McGlockton have been strained. McGlockton, who was paid $1.2 million last season, hoped to cash in as an unfettered free agent this season after failing to get a longterm contract from the Raiders. But Oakland prevented that by naming McGlockton an exclusive rights franchise player. By adding the exclusive rights tag, McGlockton was prevented from negotiating with other teams unless he secured permission from the Raiders first.