Q: With free agency looming, I have no idea what a lot of terms mean. Can you please tell me what the difference between a restricted and unrestricted free agent is? What the heck is the "franchise tag" and how does it work? -- Eddie Sapien, Glendale, Ariz.

Mort: Eddie, let me give it a try. A restricted free agent is a player who has three years of experience without a contract. Depending upon the level of a contract tender a club offers a restricted free agent, it would cost another club a draft pick, or draft picks, to sign that player. It is rare for a restricted free agent to change teams.

A true unrestricted free agent has four years or more service with an expired contract. He is totally free if there is no "franchise" or "transition tag" placed on him. A franchise tag has two designations. One designation guarantees the player a one-year salary equal to the average of the top five paid players at his position from the previous season. Under this designation, that player can only move teams if he is signed to an offer sheet by another club willing to give up two No. 1 draft picks (this last happened when Carolina signed Sean Gilbert of the Redskins). Even then, the original team has the opportunity to match the offer if it wants to keep the player.

The other franchise designation blocks the player from receiving any offer, but the club must guarantee him the average salary of the top five players at his position for the upcoming season. A transition tag merely gives the original club a chance to match any offer. There is no compensation involved if it chooses not to match under the transition rules. Hope I didn't confuse you, Eddie.

	Michael Vick is expected by many to be the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft.

Mort: Marco, John Butler certainly believes in having a featured back. Norv Turner has always had success running the football; his offense usually features a guy who can bang it between the tackles. I would suspect they will scan the free-agent market (but not for a high-priced RB) as well as possibly draft a back. Remember, Stephen Davis was a third-round pick for Norv and the Redskins. Then again, the Chargers don't currently have a third-round pick this year.

Q: Will the Browns draft offensive linemen and address the tailback situation in free agency or will they go for free agent offensive linemen and draft David Terrell or Deuce McAllister? Could the Browns go from bad to good in a hurry like some other teams have recently? Lastly, I would like to say that Tim Couch is going to have a great year! -- Dave, Cleveland, Ohio

Mort: Dave, I hate to give you the stock answer, but the Browns are still a work in progress. And when you are drafting in the top five, you better draft the best football player on the board, regardless of position. Now, if it's a virtual tie between two or three players, then you pick a need. The Browns certainly could use a big, physical WR like Terrell. They need a big-time back. They need a more stout defensive tackle. As for the bad-to-good issue, sure, the Browns could make real progress. I think Butch Davis will be an outstanding coach who should inspire the players. But, again, the AFC is a deep conference and the AFC Central is a tough, deep division.

Q: Now that the Bills have given Doug Flutie the starting Job, do you think there's a chance that Buffalo will put together a deal that includes Rob Johnson, their first-round pick, and maybe someone else to the Chargers for the first overall pick? Chargers GM John Butler was a fan of Johnson, wasn't he? -- Chad Finken, Chicago

Mort: Chad, as I note in "Mort Shorts," Tom Donahoe says that report about Flutie being the guy is not true. Nor is it true that Johnson is the guy. That decision is coming next week. However, Donahoe also is on record as saying that the odd man out will not be traded because the team would take a severe salary-cap hit. It's too bad the owners and union won't massage the rules to give teams the opportunity to get something for a talent they have invested in; write your congressman!

Q: Why are people already complaining about Michael Vick? Didn't we all complain about McNabb two years ago, saying he's not a drop-back passer and only a scrambling QB? Granted, McNabb played a healthy four years at a multi-offense at Syracuse. Vick will take time to get ready but he will be a good QB in the right system. Next question: Can the Bills retain Marcellus Wiley and some other key free agents? -- Chetan Rakieten, Elbridge, N.Y.

Mort: Chetan, McNabb is a good reminder. I guess people always prefer to find a chink in someone's armor, as opposed to looking for reasons why he (Vick) might be a success. As for the Bills, Wiley probably will be a free agent. The Bills don't feel comfortable putting the franchise tag on him. A transition tag would be ideal (where they can match any offer), but it is not available to them this year.

Q: With Matt Millen taking over in Detroit, what is the national view of this change? Here, we hear great things are on the way. However, after 35 years of getting my heart ripped by this team, I have a wait-and-see take on it. -- Steve Wright, Eastpointe, Mich.
Mort: Steve, I think that's what everybody is doing with Matt Millen and the Lions -- wait and see.

Q: I am a diehard Bears fan and was extremely disappointed in last season's performance, particularly the offense. Do you think the problem was the complicated offense or was there something else wrong? I know many people blamed Cade McNown, but I don't think that blame was truly warranted. What do the Bears need to do to start becoming a contender? -- Shaun O'Brien, Grand Junction, Colo.

Mort: Shaun, I don't think it was the complicated offenses that Gary Crowton (now at BYU) ran with the Bears. Remember, it's the same offense (in its first year) that bred all the optimism about the Bears. I can't say it was all McNown's fault, but I believe he may have been a source of the problem. Based on talking to defensive coordinators in the NFC Central, they think McNown is trying to play beyond his talent. In fact, one coach told me, "McNown plays like he's trying to win the Super Bowl on every play." I guess that could speak to McNown's competitive spirit, but it's a problem. Cade also has not built up much good will with his teammates. Now, the Bears also had key injuries at the WR spot (Bobby Engram and Marcus Robinson), which hurt. They need to establish their running game -- is James Allen the answer? I do think we will see the Bears rebound as a contender this year. A lot of new talent was on board, so they should be better adjusted in 2001.