The Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS - Tampa Bay general manager Rich McKay is somewhat surprised that many coaches don't favor radical changes to the NFL's overtime system.

"It's not a panacea," McKay, co-chairman of the league's competition committee, said Friday at the NFL scouting combine. "There may be unintended consequences any way you go. A lot of coaches say they're OK with the system we have."

That includes McKay's own coach, Jon Gruden, as well as Baltimore's Brian Billick.

There were a record 25 overtime games last season. Ten of them, or 40 percent, were won on the first possession by the team that won the coin toss, leading to proposals to give both teams at least one possession in the extra period.

Cleveland's Butch Davis, who coached at the University of Miami, said he doesn't want to see the NFL adopt the NCAA's overtime system, but he would accept one major change.

"The one proposal I've heard that I like is to leave it exactly the way it is, and if a team gets a field goal on its first possession, the other team gets a possession," he said.

CARDINALS: Arizona confounded other teams when it decided not to use its franchise designation on wide receiver David Boston or quarterback Jake Plummer. Both are considered to be among the best free agents at their position.

Coach Dave McGinnis said earlier this week he was hopeful Plummer would agree to a contract before free agency started. Cardinals vice president Rod Graves said he left Boston unprotected for two reasons: a serious knee injury last season and an arrest March 13 for driving under the influence of drugs.

"We recognize he is one of the top players in the NFL, but there are a lot of concerns," Graves said. "There are, were and still is concern in dealing with him, on and off the field, and we did not feel comfortable getting into a guaranteed contract situation with him."

The Cardinals are hoping other teams feel the same way, so Arizona can re-sign Boston for less than the $5.01 million it would have been charged against the salary cap with the franchise tag.

FALCONS: Cornerback Ashley Ambrose, receiver Shawn Jefferson and defensive tackle Shane Dronett were released to get the team more than $12 million under the NFL salary cap.

"You face tough decisions every year around this time," coach Dan Reeves said. "It's an unfortunate reality when you have to let some of your favorite people go."

Ambrose's release was the most surprising. The 11-year veteran, in his third season with the Falcons, missed only one game since the beginning of 1996, a stretch of 111 consecutive regular-season starts. But after entering last season tied for sixth in the NFL with 20 interceptions since 1997, Ambrose had only three picks, and his tackle total dropped from a career-best 63 in 2001 to 51 last year.

A bruised foot caused Jefferson to miss a Week 11 victory over New Orleans, just the second missed game of his 12-year career. His season highlights included a career-best effort at Pittsburgh (nine catches, 131 yards) and a 10-yard playoff TD catch at Green Bay.

Dronett, with 44 career sacks, didn't play last season after tearing a shoulder ligament while lifting weights in July. The 11-year veteran was out for all but three games in 2000 with a torn knee ligament.

PATRIOTS: New England released wide receiver Donald Hayes, a free agent who signed with the team last summer. Hayes caught 12 passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns last season.

RAVENS: Defensive end Michael McCrary hasn't announced his retirement yet, but coach Brian Billick implied it could happen soon.

"I'm limited in how I can comment on that," Billick said. "If Michael seems inclined to retire, that has to come from him."

STEELERS: Linebacker Larry Foote was charged with a misdemeanor after a brawl at a Michigan restaurant.

The Washtenaw County prosecutor's office charged Foote with a count of disorderly person, police Sgt. Angela Abrams said Friday.

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