Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2003 | 9:32 a.m.
One would not think Frank Haege could relax on today's opening of the Arena Football League's free-agent signing period.
The Las Vegas Gladiators' head coach is not stressing over the big day, though, because the team already made its big offseason splash by trading for quarterback Clint Dolezel. Also, the hardest work of making contacts and completing negotiations is mostly finished.
"A lot of the work has been done, so now it's a matter of sending out contracts and waiting for them to come back," Haege said.
The longest wait for Las Vegas is for offensive specialist Mike Horacek, who still is not a lock to return. The team once thought it had a three-year deal in place for Horacek to re-sign, but that is apparently not the case anymore.
Haege now feels that it will not be a quick process to finalize a contract for Horacek, who led the AFL with 127 receptions and paced the Gladiators with 1,585 yards and 36 TDs last season.
"Obviously, getting Mike Horacek back is important, priority No. 1," Haege said. "It's a negotiation. We'll see where that leads."
Sixteen of last year's Gladiators are free agents. The team is targeting WR/DB Coco Blalock, FB/LB Chris Pope, OL/DL Karl Bates, and OL/DL Wilky Bazile as the players it most wants to retain.
The quarterback tandem of Jay McDonagh and Todd Hammel is unlikely to return. Haege already informed McDonagh that the team will not go after him and Hammel could attract interest around the league as a backup.
Outside of its own talent pool, Las Vegas is mainly looking to upgrade its offensive and defensive lines. That group suffered a big loss in the Dolezel trade when OL/DL Paul LaQuerre was dealt to Grand Rapids.
"All the way across the line, we want to get a little bit better," Haege said.
The Gladiators hope to do so without spending big money. The league's base salary cap last year sat at $1.64 million. With Dolezel under contract for between $100,000 and $150,000, and Horacek possibly re-signing for at least that salary range, the team will need to work some creative finances to fill out its roster with both quality and quantity.
"The problem is that all the players think that free agency means more money," Haege said. "It doesn't."
The Gladiators were to begin sending out contracts this morning. By the time they are returned and approved through the league office, the team does not expect to officially confirm any signings until early next week.
The league's 19 teams will see 226 players head into free agency this year. That guarantees plenty of turnover throughout the AFL.
"Teams are going to have a lot of different faces next year," Haege said.
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