CARLISLE, PA. — CARLISLE, Pa. -- Even though the Washington Redskins lost Wilber Marshall and Gary Clark in the free-agent market, they'll still have the second-highest veteran payroll in the NFL this year, according to an NFL Players Association salary survey.
The survey, which includes veteran signings as of July 30, lists the Redskins' veteran payroll as $40,317,750. That's second only to the San Francisco 49ers' $41,359,500 payroll.
General manager Charley Casserly declined to confirm the figures, but said, "I'm not going to dispute it."
He added: "Where would we have been if we had Wilber and Gary and all those other guys?"
His answer was at about $45 million, which is why the Redskins decided to trade Marshall and declined to match the $2 million figure Clark got from the Phoenix Cardinals.
They also lost cornerback Martin Mayhew and two defensive linemen, Fred Stokes and Jumpy Geathers.
Despite those losses and their decision to drop out of the bidding for Reggie White, their payroll climbed $9 million because free agency bid up the salaries for all their unsigned starters and three of the free agents they signed -- Carl Banks, Al Noga and Tim McGee -- are among the six highest-paid players on the team.
All this means the Redskins will have a lot of payroll slashing to do next year when the salary cap kicks in.
The Redskins won't know what the cap figure will be until a new TV contract is negotiated, but the general estimates are in the $35 million range. Since almost $5 million of that has been earmarked for benefits and another $2 million for the rookie pool, the teams probably will have less than $30 million to spend on veterans.
"We're going to have a lot of big decisions," Casserly said. "We're going to have to make some adjustments."
Defensive lineman Jason Buck, whose $800,000 salary was omitted from the survey, already has been told he'll have to take a pay cut next year to remain. Several other veterans, including Art Monk, Joe Jacoby, Jeff Bostic and Monte Coleman, may not be able to return.
The Redskins have tried to prepare by front-loading contracts this year. Several players signed contracts that drop in 1994 (Tim Johnson, for example, drops from $2.1 million this year to $1.5 million in 1994), but the Redskins still face problems.
They've got 12 players down for $1 million or more next year for a total of more than $16 million. That's more than half of their veteran cap money.
The Redskins figure to lose some players, but Casserly says they'll cope with the system and remain a top team.
"I still think it'll come down to the ability to coach players and scout players," Casserly said. "I think we'll be there in the playoffs at the end of the year and have a good team in the future."
It will be more difficult, though, for the Redskins to replaced injured players. They decided not to bid for Gary Zimmerman of the Minnesota Vikings when Jim Lachey went down last week. They're hoping Mo Elewonibi can do the job.
But next year, they couldn't even consider a Zimmerman.
Coach Richie Petitbon said: "That's going to be a nightmare. If what happened to us this week happened to us next year when you're right at the cap, how do you replace a Lachey? It's going to be tough."
Although the salary cap will make the teams more cost conscious, the free agency system that went with it increased the salaries for the top players.
As of July 30, there were 39 players whose contracts averaged $2 million or more. Last year, there were only 16. That doesn't even count such players as Banks and Johnson of the Redskins who'll make $2.1 million this year even though their contracts don't average $2 million.
Since the survey was conducted, Stan Humphries, the quarterback of the San Diego Chargers, signed a new deal for more than $3 million a year and a few holdouts, notably Emmitt Smith, will top that figure when they sign.
But Steve Young, the injured quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, figures to remain the highest-paid player in 1993. His five-year deal at an average of $5.35 million (including $5,750,000 this year) makes him the first player ever to make more than $5 million a season.
NOTES: Rookie Sterling Palmer suffered a knee sprain yesterday and although it's supposed to be minor, he joins three other defensive linemen -- Buck (ribs), Johnson (ribs) and Shane Collins (shoulder) -- on the sidelines. . . . Top draft pick Tom Carter practiced yesterday and will make his debut Sunday night in Pittsburgh. . . . Petitbon will close camp today.
SALARY BY POSITION
Average salaries include the average of all the base salaries for the length of the contract plus signing, roster and reporting bonuses, but not incentive bonuses (salary figures are in millions of dollars).
QUARTERBACKS
Steve Young, San Fran. ...... 5.350
John Elway, Denver .......... 4.775
Dan Marino, Miami ........... 4.200
Warren Moon, Houston ........ 3.563
Bobby Hebert, Atlanta ....... 3.467
RUNNING BACKS
Thurman Thomas, Buffalo ..... 3.375
Barry Sanders, Detroit ...... 1.790
Eric Metcalf, Cleveland ..... 1.738
Neal Anderson, Chicago ...... 1.650
Rod Bernstine, Denver ....... 1.500
WIDE RECEIVERS
Jerry Rice, San Francisco ... 2.550
Gary Clark, Phoenix ......... 2.000
Sterling Sharpe, Green Bay .. 1.533
Mike Sherrard, N.Y. Giants .. 1.588
Mark Jackson, N.Y. Giants ... 1.500
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Will Wolford, Ind. .......... 2.550
Kurt Lowdermilk, Indianap. .. 2.150
Luis Sharpe, Phoenix ........ 1.956
Harry Swayne, San Diego ..... 1.833
Bill Fralic, Detroit ........ 1.800
TIGHT ENDS
Keith Jackson, Miami ........ 1.500
Ferrell Edmunds, Seattle .... 1.353
Derek Brown, N.Y. Giants .... 1.150
Howard Cross, N.Y. Giants ... 1.067
Mark Bavaro, Philadelphia ... 1.050
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Reggie White, Green Bay ..... 4.250
Bruce Smith, Buffalo ........ 3.375
Wayne Martin, N. Orleans .... 2.525
Pierce Holt, Atlanta ........ 2.500
Steve Emtman, Ind. .......... 2.264
LINEBACKERS
Derrick Thomas, K.C. ........ 3.063
Wilber Marshall, Houston .... 2.900
Lawrence Taylor, N.Y.G. ..... 2.525
Mike Johnson, Cleveland ..... 2.169
Al Smith, Houston ........... 2.169
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Tim McDonald, San Fran. ..... 2.500
James Hasty, N.Y. Jets ...... 1.875
Ronnie Lott, N.Y. Jets ...... 1.800
Chuck Cecil, Phoenix ........ 1.750
Deion Sanders, Atlanta ...... 1.506
KICKERS
Morten Andersen, N.O. ....... 1.050
Nick Lowrey, Kansas City .... 0.612
Dean Biasucci, Indianapolis.. 0.600
Steve Christie, Buffalo ..... 0.542
Matt Bahr, N.Y. Giants ...... 0.540
PUNTERS
Sean Landeta, N.Y. Giants ... 0.777
Rich Camarillo, Phoenix ..... 0.560
Rohn Stark, Indianapolis .... 0.460
Reggie Roby, Miami .......... 0.459
Harry Newsome, Minnesota .... 0.438
$2 MILLION CLUB
Veterans whose annual salaries average $2 million or more VTC (salary figures in millions of dollars):
Player, team ...... ...... P ..... Sal.
Steve Young, S.F. ........ QB .... 5.350
John Elway, Denver ....... QB .... 4.775
Reggie White, G.B. ....... DL .... 4.250
Dan Marino, Miami ........ QB .... 4.200
Warren Moon, Hou. ........ QB .... 3.563
Bobby Hebert, Atl. ....... QB .... 3.467
Joe Montana, K.C. ........ QB .... 3.433
Bruce Smith, Buff. ....... DE .... 3.375
Thur. Thomas, Buff. ...... RB .... 3.375
Jim Harbaugh, Chi. ....... QB .... 3.250
R. Cunningham, Phila. .... QB .... 3.100
Derrick Thomas, K.C. ..... LB .... 3.063
Mark Rypien, Wash. ....... QB .... 3.000
Cody Carlson, Hou. ....... QB .... 2.950
Wilber Marshall, Hou. .... LB .... 2.900
Jim Kelly, Buffalo ....... QB .... 2.864
Boom. Esiason, N.Y.J. .... QB .... 2.792
Neil O'Donnell, Pitt. .... QB .... 2.758
Will Wohlford, Ind. ...... OL .... 2.550
Tim McDonald, S.F. ....... DB .... 2.550
Jerry Rice, S.F. ......... WR .... 2.550
Phil Simms, N.Y.G. ....... QB .... 2.525
Law. Taylor, N.Y.G. ...... LB .... 2.525
Wayne Martin, N.O. ....... DL .... 2.525
Pierce Holt, Atlanta ..... DL .... 2.500
Jeff George, Ind. ........ QB .... 2.500
Steve Beuerlein, Pho. .... QB .... 2.500
Jim Everett, Raiders ..... QB .... 2.483
Bernie Kosar, Clev. ...... QB .... 2.329
Jeff Hostetler, Raiders... QB .... 2.333
Steve Emtman, Ind. ....... DL .... 2.264
Quentin Coryatt, Ind. .... LB .... 2.189
Mi. Johnson, Clev. ....... LB .... 2.169
Al Smith, Houston ........ LB .... 2.169
Kurt Lowdermilk, Ind. .... OL .... 2.150
Chris Miller, Atlanta .... QB .... 2.033
Cornelius Bennett, Buff... LB .... 2.000
Wade Wilson, N.O. ........ QB .... 2.000
Gary Clark, Phoenix ...... WR .... 2.000
NFL TEAM PAYROLLS
1. San Francisco ... ........ $41,359,500
2. Washington ...... ........ $40,317,750
3. Buffalo ......... ........ $39,132,538
4. New York Giants .......... $38,533,500
5. New Orleans ..... ........ $36,334,500
6. Green Bay ....... ........ $35,352,500
7. Phoenix ......... ........ $35,205,500
8. Kansas City ..... ........ $35,115,500
9. New York Jets ... ........ $34,960,700
10. Cleveland ...... ........ $34,387,557
11. Miami .......... ........ $34,206,350
12. Atlanta ........ ........ $33,993,666
13. L.A. Raiders ... ........ $33,332,000
14. Indianapolis ... ........ $33,228,500
15. Chicago ........ ........ $31,986,000
16. Detroit ........ ........ $30,744,000
17. Denver ......... ........ $30,405,110
18. Houston ........ ........ $29,664,500
19. L.A. Rams ...... ........ $28,409,000
20. Tampa Bay ...... ........ $28,277,500
21. Minnesota ...... ........ $26,686,133
22. San Diego ...... ........ $26,211,750
23. Philadelphia ... ........ $26,211,000
24. Pittsburgh ..... ........ $26,125,583
25. Seattle ........ ........ $25,679,500
26. Dallas ......... ........ $24,708,900
27. New England .... ........ $20,065,888
28. Cincinnati ..... ........ $19,190,750