Dwight Freeney has accused NFL owners of working together to prevent free agents securing high salaries during the current off-season.
The linebacker spent almost two months searching for a new team after coming to the end of his contract with the Indianapolis Colts, eventually signing a two-year deal with the San Diego Chargers worth $8.75m (£5.7m).
The 33-year-old told CBSSports.com: "I basically think the owners got together and decided not to spend the cash on free agents. I definitely think that's part of it. I think the owners made a pact. There's only 32 of them and none of them broke ranks. I think they all decided not to spend money.
"It takes one team to start things going, but what was strange was initially there was not one team. I've been in this business for several decades and there was never an off-season like this. Never.
"What you saw were guys getting small deals. I haven't seen anything like it. There was a lot of take-it-or-leave-it from teams. It was crazy. Even a guy like [Elvis] Dumervil didn't make as much money as he should have. He's in his prime."
Freeney has played 11 seasons in the NFL, having been a first-round Draft pick in 2002.
Sian Cowper
