Chalk it up to mass confusion, with a little bit of necessary bookkeeping thrown in for good measure.
Despite nearly five months of pent-up demand due to the lockout, the first day of free-agent negotiations around the NFL yesterday was intense but didn’t result in the tidal wave of handshake agreements and trades that many agents and league executives expected.
“They only finished the deal [Monday], so a lot of people had less than 24 hours to digest everything in it and get direction from the league,” an AFC GM told The Post yesterday. “You’re flying blind with some of it right now.”
The anticipated flood of deals appeared delayed in part because teams still aren’t entirely clear about all the rules in the new collective bargaining agreement.
As a result, most teams spent the first day after the lockout focused on getting their own financial houses in order and re-signing their own players as the league prepares to breathe deep and digest almost 500 free agents over the next week or so.
Veteran free-agent signings can’t become official until Friday, and the players in question can’t take the field until the Aug. 4 target date for the start of the new league year.
* The Vikings, according to the NFL Network, have agreed to acquire Donovan McNabb from the Redskins after one disastrous season in Washington. Money could be a stumbling block to the proposed trade, because McNabb wants franchise-QB compensation.
* Defensive end Charles Johnson landed an unexpectedly huge payday from Carolina and reset the market skyward for pass-rushing ends on the strength of essentially one good season — an 111/2-sack year in 2010. The eye-popper of a deal surely prompted alarm bells for the Giants and GM Jerry Reese, considering DE Osi Umenyiora — a much more accomplished player than Johnson — is demanding a raise or a trade.
* The Redskins agreed to re-sign Santana Moss, reportedly for three years and $15 million, but they still may be in the market for additional receivers, such as Jets wideout Santonio Holmes.
* The Cowboys cut wideout Roy Williams, running back Marion Barber and offensive linemen Leonard Davis and Marc Colombo.
* The Ravens informed tight end Todd Heap, running back Willis McGahee, nose tackle Kelly Gregg and wideout Derrick Mason that they will be cut.
* The oft-rumored deal of Eagles backup QB Kevin Kolb to the Cardinals for CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie didn’t happen, but Kolb still is expected to be dealt before the season.
* Seattle took itself out of the running for Kolb yesterday by agreeing on a deal with former Vikings QB project Tarvaris Jackson and allowing coach Pete Carroll to pursue a reunion with his former USC passer, famed NFL washout Matt Leinart.
* The Eagles let all of their prime free agents depart, including safety Quintin Mikell, LB Stewart Bradley and RB Jerome Harrison.
* The Rams, who are thought to be interested in former Giants wideout Plaxico Burress, pounced on Mikell with the promise of a four-year deal that included a surprising $14 million guaranteed.
* The Chargers lured LB Takeo Spikes from the 49ers and took a flier on oft-injured former Colts safety Bob Sanders.
* Jaguars grabbed former Bills LB Paul Posluszny with a six-year deal.
* The deepest position in free agency — cornerback — likely will need a few more days to shake out, according to league officials. The reasoning is that most of the top players at that spot, particularly potential Jets target Nnamdi Asomugha, are in line for huge paydays and reluctant to potentially cost themselves money by setting the market first.
bhubbuch@nypost.com
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