The NFL's free agency flea market begins tomorrow, but the Steelers have no plans to sell or buy.

What once was called the league's second wave of free agency has flattened out to become almost an afterthought for most teams. June 2 is the first day teams can release a player, usually an overpaid veteran whose value has faded, and delay the hit on their salary cap into future years.

Last year, for example, the Steelers released linebacker Jason Gildon, who had three seasons remaining on his contract, on June 2. The Steelers plan to release no one tomorrow. And, unless another team cuts a player of particular interest to them, they have no plans to sign anyone.

"At this point in time, we don't anticipate making any changes,'' said Kevin Colbert, the Steelers' director of player personnel. "But we always leave ourselves open to any player who may present themselves in the remaining weeks before training camp."

In other words, never say never. Last year, for example, starting outside linebacker Clark Haggans' hand was broken a week before training camp opened. That prompted the Steelers to sign linebacker James Harrison, who had been planning to get on with his life's work. Harrison developed into the team's top backup outside linebacker and now is the No. 1 backup at three of the four linebacker positions.

Early in the free agency era, which began in 1993, activity around June 2 was higher than it is now. Signing bonuses are prorated for salary cap purposes, but if a player is released before June 2 his remaining prorated portion counts that year.

If the Steelers had released Jason Gildon June 1 instead of June 2, he would have counted $3.9 million against their cap in 2004. Instead, he counted $1.3 million last year and will count $2.6 million this year.

The Steelers were in the same boat with cornerback Chad Scott this year, but chose a different path with him than the one they took with Gildon. Scott, signed through 2006, was released in February so the final two years of his prorated bonus ($1.8 million) count this year. The Steelers could have waited until tomorrow to cut him and Scott would have counted $900,000 this year against their cap and $900,000 next year, but they preferred to wipe him off the books in 2005.

Their hand also was forced in the Scott matter because he was due a $200,000 bonus if he remained on the roster March 2. Agents have used that tactic when negotiating contracts to force teams to make decisions on players earlier in the year, giving the player more time to hook on elsewhere.

"Apparently teams are doing a better job of managing their cap situation," Colbert said. "And a lot of players would have been cut in June are now being released earlier in March."

NOTES -- The Steelers resumed their practice sessions yesterday. They will practice through June 9, then break until training camp July 31 at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.