So does middle linebacker, a vacancy that opened up by cutting Mike Barrow in a salary-cap move and not filled by any free agents or draft picks.

Much of that had to do with the coverage of cornerback Aaron Glenn, who was made available to the expansion Houston Texans in a salary-cap move during the off-season.

Scott Gragg, a starter at offensive tackle for the Giants the last four years, was released yesterday in a salary-cap move.

Davis was waived by the Redskins in a salary-cap move after last season and drew little interest among N.F.L. teams during free agency.

Fraser was traded to the Colorado Rapids in a salary-cap related move before the 2001 season.

Sehorn signed a one-year, $1 million free-agent deal with the Rams in the off-season after being released in a salary-cap move by the Giants.

Reed, 37, played 15 years with the Buffalo Bills before being released after the 1999 season in a salary-cap move.

Another gem fell into Donahoe's lap when the Patriots released safety Lawyer Milloy in a salary-cap move just days before the regular season.

Porter, released by the Steelers last week in a salary-cap move, has 60 career sacks.

He won the Super Bowl with the San Francisco 49ers in the 1994 season but was released by the team in a salary-cap move last month.