... starting running back Ronnie Brown's option for 2010, making him a restricted free agent when the offseason begins March 5.

The option, which would add a sixth-year to Brown's deal and give him a base salary of $5 million in 2010, was written into Brown's contract to allow the parties to avoid restricted free agency should the league go into an uncapped year.

Due to the likely lack of an extension on the Collective Bargaining Agreement when the new league year begins in two days, players with four or five years of NFL service such as Brown will be restricted free agents rather than unrestricted free a...

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