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Denver Broncos: LB Al Wilson is no longer the team's franchise player, because Tuesday he signed a long-term deal to remain in Denver. The Broncos issued the largest signing bonus ever for a defensive player ($11 million) to keep the former Tennessee star, and also gave him a seven-year contract worth $42 million. The signing bonus is two-tiered, but is still very hefty. Wilson's salary-cap figure for the coming season will be between $1.5 million and $2 million according to the Denver Post.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The club is approximately $400,000 over the 2004 salary cap, but LB Derrick Brooks and DE Simeon Rice appear ready to restructure their current deals to give some relief. Brooks' agent, Roosevelt Barnes, and Rice's agent, Leigh Steinberg, have talked with the Bucs about re-doing their deals. "We haven't made any progress yet,'' Barnes told the Tampa Tribune. "But we've got a few days left to do something before the start of the calendar year. We're hoping we can do something to help out. I think we should be able to get something done before [March 3]." Steinberg said talks "are ongoing."

Indianapolis Colts: DL Brad Scioli was in a giving mood Tuesday and he helped the club by restructuring his deal to free up cap space. The Indianapolis Star reports Scioli agreed to have his 2004 base salary of $1.3 million lowered to $535,000 with the difference being made up in a $779,500 signing bonus. The move saved the Colts $623,100 against the '04 cap, which goes into effect March 3. Overall, eight Colts restructured their contracts, saving the team approximately $7.3 million.

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