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NEW YORK (AP) -Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez is scheduled to have surgery Wednesday to repair the patella ligament in his left knee.

Last week, we began a semi-regular feature designed to feed you a digestible amount of the pending changes to the way the NFL’s offseason will work when the salary cap is eliminated next month. We started off by addressing the way franchise and transition tags will work, and Tuesday our SportsNation chat gave us an opportunity to review the “Final Eight” plan.



This plan is one of several ways the NFL will restrict player movement in the uncapped scenario. The eight teams that played in the divisional round of the playoffs won’t be able to sign an unrestricted free agent unless one or more of their own unrestricted free agents sign elsewhere. In addition, the four teams that played in the championship round will be further limited in that the free agent they sign must be a player with a “comparable” salary to the one they lose.



(The four teams that lost in the divisional round will have some additional flexibility, but those rules aren’t relevant in the NFC North.)



All of which compelled Zack to ask this question during Tuesday’s chat:

How big a role do you think that letting Chester Taylor leave would allow the Vikings to sign an outside free agent could factor in a decision to resign him or not?

I thought that was a compelling question and one that emphasized the new layers of strategies teams will be faced with this year. In this particular case, Taylor is an unrestricted free agent who is a valuable backup but might attract starter-caliber money on the open market. He is also an asset who would allow the Vikings to add a key component at another position if they want.



In essence, then, the Vikings would be faced with a trade situation. Would the free-agent player be important enough to mitigate Taylor’s departure? And would the contracts match up to satisfy the “comparable” requirement?



(I’ve yet to see or hear a firm definition of what “comparable” means, but the best guess is that the deals must have similar first-year compensation.)



With all that said, I don’t know if there is a player the Vikings might target who would compel them to let Taylor leave. It’s possible they’ll need his free agent “slot” to replace quarterback Brett Favre, but that’s a discussion for another day.

Free agent Daunte Culpepper has hired attorney David Cornwell as an adviser to be his “ears, eyes and a voice if necessary.”

One thing about those Oakland Raiders: If you perform well for them, they will reward you handsomely.



ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the team and free-agent kicker Sebastian Janikowski just agreed to a new contract that will keep him with the team for four more years. Schefter reports Janikowski will receive $16 million in the deal with $9 million in guarantees, which would be the richest kicking contract in NFL history.



Last year, Oakland kept cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and punter Shane Lechler (who got the same deal as Janikowski) off the market by giving them both record deals.



It is no surprise Oakland signed Janikowski. The two sides have long been working on a deal. Had he not been given an extension, Oakland likely would have given him the franchise or transition tag. This is a much better deal for Janikowski. He will average $4 million a year, which is more than a million dollars better than what the franchise tag is worth for kickers.



The guy has a huge leg. He nailed a 61-yarder last season and it wouldn’t shock me if he someday hit a 64-yarder to set a new NFL record. Along with Lechler and long-snapper Jon Condo, Janikowski completes perhaps the best trio of kicking specialists in the NFL. It was important for Oakland to keep him.



Still, the record deals Oakland keeps doling out have to be somewhat worrisome. It is going to catch up to the team at some point. Asomugha, Lechler and Janikowski are all great players, but frankly, they haven’t helped Oakland win consistently. All three players have been on Oakland’s roster during the past seven seasons in which Oakland has set an NFL record by losing at least 11 games in every season. It’s not these players’ fault, but they haven’t been difference-makers.



Sooner or later, Oakland has to get dividends for its expenditures. That leads us to Oakland’s next financial project: signing defensive end Richard Seymour.



He is an unrestricted free agent. Oakland has no choice but to keep Seymour, who’ll be looking for big money. Oakland traded its first-round pick to New England in 2011 for Seymour last September.



The Raiders can’t allow him to walk. If a new deal isn’t signed, Seymour will be given the franchise or transition tag.



It’s another offseason of big-money spending for Oakland. Will it ever pay off?

Raiders agreed to terms with K Sebastian Janikowski on a four-year, $16 million contract. The deal includes $9 million guaranteed.

An early look at the free-agent situation in the NFC West.



Note: These projected lists reflect notable unrestricted free agents for each team. The NFL will not issue an official list of free agents until the signing period begins March 5.



Arizona Cardinals



Unrestricted free agents: LB Karlos Dansby, LT Mike Gandy, OLB Chike Okeafor, K Neil Rackers, NT Bryan Robinson, WR Sean Morey, TE Anthony Becht, DE Bertrand Berry, LT Jeremy Bridges, CB Ralph Brown, FB Dan Kreider, QB Brian St. Pierre, S Matt Ware, LB Monty Beisel.



Key figures: The more than $17.7 million Arizona has paid to Dansby over the past two seasons should suffice as a parting gift if, as expected, the linebacker leaves in free agency. Dansby could be leading an exodus. Okeafor turns 34 in March and could be on his way out. Berry announced his retirement. Morey has had concussion problems. Gandy’s return probably depends on whether he’s willing to stay for less than the $5 million he earned last season. Safety Antrel Rolle does not appear on the list, but he would hit the market when free agency begins if the Cardinals decline to pay a $4 million roster bonus.



San Francisco 49ers



Unrestricted free agents: WR Arnaz Battle, CB Dre’ Bly, NT Aubrayo Franklin, CB Walt Harris, RT Tony Pashos, FS Mark Roman, LT Barry Sims, LB Jeff Ulbrich, LB Matt Wilhelm, CB Keith Smith.



Key figures: The 49ers have been proactive in re-signing their own players. That explains why relatively few big names appear on this list. The franchise tag appears well suited for Franklin, the only marquee UFA on the 49ers’ list this offseason. Tagging Franklin at the $7 million franchise rate makes sense heading into labor uncertainty. Why spend lavishly on a long-term deal? Franklin has played at a high level consistently for only one season, and a lockout could keep him off the field in 2011. Re-signing Sims for depth would make sense. Ulbrich, meanwhile, has retired and joined the Seahawks’ coaching staff.



Seattle Seahawks



Unrestricted free agents: DE Cory Redding, CB Ken Lucas, K Olindo Mare, LB D.D. Lewis, FB Justin Griffith, LT Damion McIntosh, SS Lawyer Milloy, LS Kevin Houser, LS Jeff Robinson.



Key figures: New coach Pete Carroll is on the record saying he likes what he’s seen from Redding. Mare is coming off an outstanding season. Lucas has the size Seattle’s new leadership wants in its cornerbacks. Milloy played for Carroll in New England. There isn’t much more to say about this relatively nondescript group, and it’s unclear how much the new regime will value these UFAs. Unrestricted free agency isn’t the only road out of Seattle this offseason. The team will probably part with a few established players who haven’t lived up to their salaries because of injuries and other factors. Patrick Kerney and Deion Branch come to mind.



St. Louis Rams



Unrestricted free agents: DE Leonard Little, DE James Hall, LB Paris Lenon, QB Kyle Boller, S Clinton Hart, LS Chris Massey, TE Randy McMichael.



Key figures: Boller, 28, is the only player on the Rams’ list younger than 30. Franchise player Oshiomogho Atogwe and starting tackle Alex Barron become only restricted free agents under rules governing the uncapped year, explaining their absence from the Rams’ UFA list. It’s unclear how seriously Little and Hall figure into the team’s plans for 2010. Chris Long‘s emergence late last season should make it easier for the team to move on without them, but the aging defensive ends did combine for 27 starts and 11 sacks last season.

An early look at the free agency situation in the NFC North.



Note: These projected lists reflect notable unrestricted free agents for each team. The NFL will not issue an official list of free agents until the signing period begins March 5.



Chicago Bears



Unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Darrell McClover, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.



Key figures: Defensive end Mark Anderson and safety Danieal Manning are two key players who would have joined the list of unrestricted free agents if the NFL weren’t on track for an uncapped offseason. The Bears can block both from moving now. Ogunleye is unlikely to return if he’s seeking significant money. The Bears want to re-sign Tinoisamoa, even after his injury-shortened 2009 debut. Peterson’s eight-year run with the team might be coming to a close.



Detroit Lions



Unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, offensive lineman Damion Cook, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons, linebacker Larry Foote, tight end Will Heller, cornerback Anthony Henry, cornerback Will James, offensive lineman Jon Jansen, safety Marquand Manuel, quarterback Patrick Ramsey.



Key figures: The Lions have a total of 20 unrestricted and restricted free agents, a product of the extended roster tryouts they held throughout the 2009 season. The biggest name among their UFAs is Foote, who seems unlikely to return and should be replaced by DeAndre Levy. Culpepper will seek offers on the open market, but it’s not out of the question he could return as Matthew Stafford‘s backup. James had some moments in 2009 and might be worth a return engagement.



Green Bay Packers



Unrestricted free agents: Offensive tackle Chad Clifton, running back Ahman Green, linebacker Aaron Kampman, nose tackle Ryan Pickett, offensive tackle Mark Tauscher.



Key figures: The Packers have a notable list that includes four starters and would have included six more if not for the uncapped year. Clifton will be 34 this summer and Tauscher will turn 33, and it’s time for the Packers to begin a succession plan at both positions. T.J. Lang figures as Tauscher’s replacement, but Tauscher was actually playing better than Clifton at the end of 2009. Kampman seems unlikely to return as a linebacker in the 3-4, especially while he rehabilitates a knee injury. Pickett could be phased out by B.J. Raji.



Minnesota Vikings



Unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Artis Hicks, defensive lineman Jimmy Kennedy, receiver Greg Lewis, cornerback Benny Sapp, running back Chester Taylor.



Key figures: Taylor is perhaps the most valuable backup tailback in the league, considering his abilities as a receiver and third-down converter. He will be 31 when the 2010 season begins, but figures to get some attention if he enters the free-agent market. The Vikings want him back, but probably won’t devote a huge salary to him with starter Adrian Peterson approaching the expiration of his contract. Sapp probably made himself some money with a credible replacement of injured starter Antoine Winfield.

An early look at the free-agent situation in the NFC East.



Note: These projected lists reflect notable unrestricted free agents for each team. The NFL will not issue an official list of free agents until the signing period begins March 5.



Dallas Cowboys



Unrestricted free agents: G Montrae Holland



Key figures: The Cowboys don’t have a huge interest in retaining Holland, a man who’s never really challenged for playing time. But Dallas has a long list of restricted free agents because of the likely scenario of an uncapped 2010 season. Wide receiver Miles Austin is obviously the biggest name on the list. The Cowboys would like to get a long-term contract done, but Austin’s going to be asking for big money after his breakout season. For now, the Cowboys will likely sign Austin to the highest tender, which would pay him roughly $3 million in 2010. There’s also a chance Dallas will try to work something out with restricted free agent Marcus Spears. Owner Jerry Jones has been very complimentary of Spears’ work in ’09, so we’ll see if he receives an extension. It will also be interesting to see whether the Cowboys reward safety Gerald Sensabaugh for a fine ’09 season. He’s seeking a multiyear extension. But with the potential of a lockout in 2011, negotiations are up in the air.



New York Giants



Unrestricted free agents: QB David Carr, LB Danny Clark, P Jeff Feagles, DT Fred Robbins



Key figures: The Giants would like an upgrade at the backup quarterback position, but it’s not like there are a bunch of reliable candidates floating around. It will be interesting to see how much progress Rhett Bomar makes this offseason. Coach Tom Coughlin loves what Clark brings to the locker room, but the player looked slow in coverage and he’s a progress stopper at this point in his career. It’s time to let him move on. Feagles can punt until he’s 50 — and he might give it a try. Robbins was benched late in the season, so the writing’s on the wall with him. His production has tailed off the past two seasons because he’s been asked to stay on the field too much.



Philadelphia Eagles



Unrestricted free agents: DE Jason Babin, S Sean Jones



Key figures: The man who’s missing a major payday (for a fullback) is Leonard Weaver. He was an All-Pro for the Eagles and he would be an unrestricted free agent if not for the uncapped season in 2010. The Eagles now hold the hammer in negotiations — and they’ve been known to use it at times. Babin is a decent pass-rush specialist, but he sort of faded down the stretch. Jones is a capable backup, but he should not be in the starting mix. Philadelphia would be wise to work something out with restricted free-agent guard/center Nick Cole. He’s a versatile player who bailed out Andy Reid when the Stacy Andrews experiment didn’t pan out in ’09. And no matter his status as a restricted free agent, it’s time to get something done with Jason Avant. He’s quietly carved out a very important niche in this offense.



Washington Redskins



Unrestricted free agents: LS Ethan Albright, OT Levi Jones, DE Phillip Daniels, C Casey Rabach, P Hunter Smith, G Mike Williams, DE Renaldo Wynn, P Todd Yoder



Key figures: Cornerback Carlos Rogers is a restricted free agent, but he’s looking for a new destination. It will be interesting to see what Mike Shanahan and Jim Haslett choose to do with Rogers. Will they try to get him back on the right path or see if they can deal him for a mid-round draft pick? This unrestricted list doesn’t have a lot of juice. Rabach could certainly help a team at center, but he didn’t set the league on fire in ’09. It’s probably time to move on without aging players such as Wynn and Daniels. I enjoyed the Williams weight loss story, but it’s hard to imagine him being part of the rebuilding process at Redskins Park.



This we’ll be the dullest free-agency period in years, but we’ll be here to cover all the non-action.