Here is the first installment of a three-part series previewing the NFL’s free-agency period, which opens March 5 amid great uncertainty due to the brewing labor war. Next Saturday, I take a look at offensive linemen, tight ends and defensive linemen.

In an obvious PR ploy designed to send a message to the players the league is allegedly tightening its belt, the owners gave Roger Goodell a nearly four-year contract extension but no raise in base pay from his $2.9 million base salary. Of course, unstated was that Goodell can more than make up for it in bonuses and other incentives.