Jan. 25, 2001 By Len Pasquarelli SportsLine.com Senior Writer

TAMPA, Fla. -- That the 2000 season was a campaign dominated by strong defenses, a fact already demonstrated by the presence of the Baltimore Ravens and New York Giants in Super Bowl XXXV, was further reinforced Thursday when the NFL Players Association revealed the figures for franchise and transition free agents.

While the qualifying offer for a franchise quarterback reached a record $6.926 million, the next three highest positions were all on the defensive side of the ball and continued the escalating costs in that area. The one-year tender offer for a franchise defensive end rose to $5.39 million, for a defensive tackle to $5.084 million and for a linebacker to $4.762 million.

Those represent all-time highs for the respective positions.

"That's pretty appropriate, I'd say, given the way this season has gone," said Gene Upshaw, the NFLPA executive director. "It's always cyclical, but defense seems to be in control right now."

Union officials also confirmed reports from several weeks ago that the 2001 salary cap limit will be about $67.4 million, a raise of approximately $5 million over the 2000 figure. Each team will spend an additional $10.6 million on fringe benefits. Not surprisingly at a time when leaguewide revenues continue to rise, both are record amounts.

The 2001 franchise figures for other positions: offensive line, $4.509 million; running back, $4.222 million; cornerback, $4.179 million; wide receiver, $3.856 million; safety, $3.223 million; tight end, $2.107 million; and punter/kicker, $1.093 million.

The transition figures: quarterback, $5.776 million; defensive tackle, $4.335 million; offensive line, $4.214 million; defensive end, $4.177 million; linebacker, $4.054 million; cornerback, $3.78 million; running back, $3.673 million; wide receiver, $3.458 million; safety, $2.822 million; tight end, $1.804 million; and punter/kicker, $1.03 million.

The franchise figures represent the average of the 2000 salary cap values for the five highest-paid players at every position. A team that designates a free agent as a franchise or transition player dramatically reduces his mobility. The transition figure is the average of the top 10 cap values for players at each position.

If a team signs a franchise player, it must compensate his club with two first-round draft picks. A team that designates a player as a franchise free agent retains a right of first refusal. Such a player can sign an offer sheet with another team, but his original club can keep him by matching the contract.

Upshaw said that talks continue toward an extension of the collective bargaining agreement that now runs through the 2004 season. Upshaw and commissioner Paul Tagliabue have proposed an extension through the 2006 campaign, and league sources said they expect the move to pass in March, when league owners will likely vote on it.

The NFLPA hopes to raise the players' slice of the designated gross revenues from its current 64 percent to 67 or 68 percent. "But we're flexible on that," Upshaw said.

In this era of good will between the league and the NFLPA, union officials also revealed that they have agreed to share operating losses with the NFL on NFL Europe, with a ceiling of $10 million over the next two years.

Here is a look at the 14 players who had salary cap values of at least $5 million in 2000. Of the 14 players, six are quarterbacks:

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