Yes, even the Goliath of the entertainment world, the most powerful league in sports, is having to tighten its purse strings this spring -- relatively speaking, of course.

Several front office executives at the NFL Scouting Combine this week said the shaky economy will impact Free Agency, making an already dry market downright Sahara-like when it opens Friday.

In fact, the prospects for Free Agency appear so bad they're making the housing markets in California and Florida appear robust.

Atlanta General Manager Thomas Dimitroff did everything but empty his pockets as he announced to reporters that the Falcons will not be major players in Free Agency.

This statement came only a year after the Falcons broke the bank for free agent running back Michael Turner and kicker Jason Elam and only days after the club was linked to Albert Haynesworth, the prized free agent defensive tackle from Tennessee.

"I really believe that the precariousness of the economy is something that is really going to affect going out into Free Agency as a team and acquiring (players) as well as trying to decide who you want to sign and re-sign to substantial dollars on your team," Dimitroff said.

Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis noted that several teams have been forced to lay off employees in the wake of the downturn. How, he asked, can owners justify to their staffs those moves and then spend frivolously on, say, a backup guard?

"It's definitely going to have an impact," he said.

Several agents I spoke with scoffed at the notion that the NFL's billionaire boys club is hurting for cash. One even accused owners and executives of colluding in an effort to drive down salary costs.

"They want to pocket the money," one agent said.

Regardless, perception is reality, and in this case, it adds up to a tepid free agent market. Truth be told, there wasn't much to get excited about anyway.

Several potential prized free agents, such as Jordan Gross of the Panthers, the Raiders' Nnamdi Asomugha and the Giants' Corey Webster, never even hit the market, choosing instead to sign new deals with their teams. Fourteen others were designated as franchise players.

"Teams are doing a much better job of keeping their own guys, so there is a more limited group of free agents that are available," Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert said. "It's not that a certain team thinks a player is that valuable, but they have to protect themselves only because the alternatives aren't that great."

What's left is a watered down pool of talent notably lacking star power. Haynesworth clearly is the prize. He could command a deal in excess of the three-year, $45 million contract Asomugha received earlier this week.

Other than Haynesworth, though, it's a buyers' market.

"You always overspend in Free Agency, so you have to be careful," San Francisco General Manager Scot McCloughan said. "The thing about Free Agency is, it's a tool that you can use. And you can add starters and quality backups, even special teams-type guys, in Free Agency."

The potential for an uncapped year in 2010 is also a factor. Unless the NFL and the NFL Players Association reach an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, an uncapped year for team salaries will hit the league. That means players who are unsigned free agents with five years of experience or less would become restricted free agents.

"Considering our situation presently and the economy and the CBA situation, I think people are stepping back and really being cautious and really analyzing what's around the corner," Dimitroff said.

The guys that are really going to feel the pinch are second-tier free agents. Players such as Haynesworth and Derrick Ward are going to get their money. But second-level guys, and recent veteran cuts, such as Deuce McAllister, might have to wait until the summer to land a deal.

"I think the money is tighter, and at some point (NFL teams) are much more frugal with their money," Titans General Manager Mike Reinfeldt said.

Somehow, though, NFL teams will scrounge up enough pennies to make ends -- and wide receivers and linebackers -- meet.

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Jeff Duncan can be reached at jduncan@timespicayune.com or 504.826.3404.