HOT STOVE, NFL-STYLE, IS COOKING.

Byline: BILLY WITZ

Unless you're a Cheesehead, a member of the immediate family or someone who wiles away the hours by studying NFL game film, you've probably never heard of Mike Wahle.

Wahle, 27, plays guard and some tackle for the Packers and has never been to the Pro Bowl - unlike Green Bay's other free-agent guard, Marco Rivera. But when the NFL free agent market opens for business today, Wahle will be one of the hottest commodities.

One NFC personnel director told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel that Wahle is probably the No. 1 player available as a free agent, preferring him ahead of players such as cornerbacks Samari Rolle and Ty Law, and receivers Plaxico Burress and Derrick Mason.

The newspaper reports speculation is that Wahle, who is valued for his versatility, toughness and age, will fetch a deal with a signing bonus between $10 million and $15 million.

Wahle's case is an example of how, in the salary cap era, teams place an increasingly high value on free-agent acquisitions.

Although foundations are still built through the draft and uncovering undrafted gems, the work that commences today and also takes place in June - when teams are forced to jettison some veterans to get under the salary cap - can make or break seasons.

The Eagles finally got to the Super Bowl after making a big splash last March by signing free-agent defensive end Jevon Kearse and trading for receiver Terrell Owens.

Also, the Chargers' signings of guard Mike Goff and linebackers Steve Foley and Randall Godfrey, and their June trade for tackle Roman Oben hardly caused a ripple last year, but they were key moves in the team going from 4-12 to 12-4.

To see what happens when teams don't spend or trade wisely, just see the Redskins. Owner Dan Snyder annually throws money at some of the NFL's biggest names - from Deion Sanders and Bruce Smith to Clinton Portis and Mark Brunell - but it's yielded only one playoff appearance in six years.

This second season is driven by the start of the NFL's fiscal year, which begins today, when contracts expire and teams are forced to release veterans or restructure their contracts to fit under the salary cap.

``This is the time of year when you're putting your football team together and changes are taking place,'' Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said. ``People are let go, you've got free agencies coming on, contracts get restructured. If you're talking about an active time of year, this is it.''

All this activity, such as the Raiders' acquisition of Randy Moss, which will be announced today, has helped keep the NFL on the front page, giving the league a hot stove league that's considerably warmer than baseball's.

Although it seems a relatively lean market in terms of elite free agents, there is plenty of grist for the mill, such as:

Where will two of the league's best cornerbacks, Rolle and Law, end up?

Rolle, released by the Titans in a salary cap purge, is expected to visit Kansas City and, depending whose sources you believe, Washington will make a play for him.

Law's case is a little trickier, since he's recovering from the broken foot that ended his season. Among the possibilities: joining Romeo Crennel in Cleveland, the Chiefs if they strike out with Rolle, or Indianapolis if the price is right. If somebody's willing to pay high for Law, it could be the Raiders or Cowboys.

How ugly will it get in Indianapolis and Oakland for the two franchise players, running back Edgerrin James and cornerback Charles Woodson?

After the Colts slapped a franchise tag on free agent James to restrict his options, he hired a new agent, Miami-based Drew Rosenhaus, to try to facilitate a deal to his hometown Dolphins. New Miami coach Nick Saban has preached patience and that he is building for the future, but any deal for James - whose cost would come in draft picks - sends those plans out the window.

The Raiders are peeved (that's a polite word) that Woodson accepted their tender offer of $10.53 million when they put their franchise tag on him. The move all but ensures that Woodson will be dealt, but it also required the Raiders to dump more salaries by today.

If Terrell Owens is proof that a star receiver can put a team over the top, the failures of a long list notwithstanding, who will make a run at the top two receivers, Burress and Mason?

The Ravens, who a year ago thought they'd landed Owens, appear to be a likely destination for Burress. Another nice fit would be the Vikings, who are in the market for a replacement for Moss - and are $36 million under the cap.

Mason, who had 96 receptions this season in Tennessee, also has the same options as Burress but appears most interested in heading to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Will New England stand pat?

The Patriots always seem to make their mark in the offseason, landing key pieces such as Mike Vrabel, Ted Washington, and Corey Dillon. Thus far, they've cut Law, Roman Phifer and Troy Brown - the latter two significant clubhouse influences - just to get under the cap.

Ahead, they must take care of several restricted free agents (Stephen Neal, David Givens among them), award Tom Brady a new deal that should give cap relief, and most significantly, examine possible replacements for Tedy Bruschi.

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Photo:

(color) Little-known Mike Wahle could be the NFL's most coveted free agent.

Doug Pensigner/Getty Images

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TOP FREE AGENTS

- The Denver Post