Jim Prisching / AP

Who would have thought that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would be thrifty during an uncapped year of free agency, Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com writes.

After one weekend of free agency, we answer the top questions about the NFL market.

1. Where have all the Cowboys gone?
It was long presumed that, with the disappearance of the salary cap, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would behave like Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, spending as much money as necessary to ensure the purchase of a berth in a Super Bowl that will be hosted at Jones' brand-new stadium in 2011.

Even though the Cowboys fall within the confines of the "Final Eight Plan," they can still blow the budget for one unrestricted free agent, as long as his first-year salary exceeds $5.8 million.

But they haven't, and by all appearances they won't. The Cowboys have shown no interest in any of the available players. They've also shown no interest in locking up one of their own, receiver Miles Austin.

Though Austin, a restricted free agent, has been limited by the highest possible tender, which would require compensation in the amount of a first-round pick and a third-round pick in the 2010 draft, the Cowboys' decision not to lock him up for the long term leaves him exposed. It's a risk the Cowboys shouldn't have to take in the absence of a salary cap.

So what's going on? The Cowboys already have lined up significant cash commitments for 2010, due to contracts signed in the recent past based on the assumption that the salary cap will go away. Also, Jones still has that brand-new stadium to pay for, and the thinking is that he simply doesn't have the cash on hand that he would need in order to spend like everyone thought he would.

2. Optimism returns to Chicago, again
Last year, a trade that brought to Chicago the team's first franchise quarterback since Sid Luckman triggered a flood of euphoria.

Then, the season started.

In the wake of expectations that the organization failed to manage and the team failed to meet, the front office and the coaching staff found themselves in a situation so poisonous that offensive and defensive coordinator candidates with other options consistently opted to go elsewhere. A strong sense of gloom and despair developed.

In one day, the dark cloud was moved away. Hope has returned to Halas Hall, with the arrival of defensive end Julius Peppers, tight end Brandon Manumaleuna, and running back Chester Taylor.

But winning the offseason press conferences won't be enough this time around, and that's why general manager Jerry Angelo followed up last year's "all in" move by throwing the deed to his house and his car keys into the middle of the table.

The cards will be turned over come September, but is there any reason to think the moves will make the Bears any better?

The focal points remains the ability of Mike Martz to get the most out of Jay Cutler. If Martz can coax Cutler into playing like he did in Denver, then Angelo and company will have a chance to remain gainfully employed. If not, Cutler, Peppers, Manumaleuna, Taylor and every other player on the roster will be someone else's problem come 2011.

3. Dockett shouldn't be upset about Arizona exodus
In roughly a month, the Arizona Cardinals have lost a large chunk of their nucleus. Quarterback Kurt Warner has retired. Then, in one fell swoop, linebacker Karlos Dansby, safety Antrel Rolle and receiver Anquan Boldin were gone.

Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, who is never shy about making his feelings known via Twitter, has been venting about the developments.

He shouldn't be. All of the departures mean more money will be available to lock up him for the long haul.

Currently, Dockett is signed through 2011 at base salaries of $3.75 million and $4 million in the next two seasons. He has wanted a new deal for a while, and the Cardinals now have the money to give him one.

Of course, without a salary floor in place, they have no need to do anything other than squat on Dockett's rights. Besides, if they were willing to pay big money, Dansby and/or Rolle and/or Boldin would still be on the team.

So maybe Dockett's anger comes from the fact he's heading for the same outcome as the others — in order to get paid, he'll have to leave Arizona.

4. Vikings have some wiggle room; Colts don't
With the salary cap disappearing, the NFL's labor agreement places strict limitations on the ability of the best teams from 2009 to sign unrestricted free agents.

The "Final Eight Plan," applicable to the teams that played in the divisional round of the playoffs, places even tighter limits on the final four teams — the Saints, Colts, Vikings and Jets. Put simply, these franchises cannot sign an unrestricted free agent from another team until one of their own unrestricted free agents leaves.

For the Colts, who have only two unrestricted free agents and who already have re-signed one of them (linebacker Gary Brackett), the "Final Eight Plan" represents a set of Super Bowl loser handcuffs. They can sign no unrestricted free agent until kicker Matt Stover, who was unsigned throughout the entire 2009 offseason and into the regular season, inks a new deal. Even then, the Colts would be able to pay any new unrestricted free agent the same first-year salary that Stover receives.

For the Vikings, greater flexibility applies, thanks to the departures of running back Chester Taylor and offensive lineman Artis Hicks. Minnesota now can sign two unrestricted free agents from other teams, with first-year salaries matching those paid to Hicks and Taylor — and 30-percent growth moving forward.

But the Vikings aren't rushing to spend that money; through the first weekend of free agency, they have arranged a visit only with kicker Rhys Lloyd — and they have been linked to only one other player, Colts restricted free agent Marlin Jackson.

5. Redskins change their ways, dramatically
If the Cowboys were going to mimic the Yankees in the uncapped year, the Redskins were poised to make like the Red Sox.

But then came general manager Bruce Allen, who has been charged in part with the task of protecting owner Daniel Snyder from himself. To date, Allen has persuaded Snyder not to overspend. They've hosted a couple of offensive linemen, like Chad Clifton and Tony Pashos. Unlike past years, they didn't make them instant multi-millionaires.

Indeed, the only new player they've signed is a backup from Minnesota who hardly received a market-busting deal.

It's a stunning change in philosophy for the Redskins, and it came at the right time. If the uncapped year had unfolded in any other offseason, Snyder would have already spent $200 million.

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Jose Yau / AP

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