As the first season without a salary cap since 1993 enters its second week, a trio of teams have taken full advantage of the disappearance of a salary floor.
Per a league source, the Buccaneers, Chiefs, and Jaguars each have committed less than $90 million to player compensation in 2010.
Last year, the spending minimum exceeded $110 million per team. Some believe that a salary cap for 2010 would have approached $135 million. If so, the spending minimum would have been in the neighborhood of $120 million.
At the lowest are the Bucs, with only $80.8 million committed as of Friday, per a league source. The Chiefs have spent $84.5 million. The Jaguars are at $89.5 million.
The development translates to millions in savings -- and thus additional profit -- for these teams. The bigger question is whether it’s hurting them on the field.
Each of these three mattress-stuffing teams won in Week One.