51.   The affiliation allows the Mexican team to sign a player and then gives the Pirates exclusive access to him, Sirignano said.

52.   The designation meant another team could sign him, but Cincinnati was owed two first-round draft picks as compensation unless the Bengals agreed to a trade.

53.   The league fears that many teams will sign players for the mere purpose of trading them.

54.   The most important loophole in its salary cap lets a team sign its own free agent for whatever it is willing to pay.

55.   The producers got lucky when the team signed Darryl Strawberry to a contract.

56.   The team also signed defensemen Jassen Cullimore and Craig Rivet.

57.   The team did sign free agent Mark Rypien.

58.   The team recently signed former Boston University punter Brad Costello.

59.   The team also signed former New York Giants draft pick Stacy Dillard, a defensive tackle, and eight other players to free agent contracts.

60.   The team also signed running back Dino Philyaw, defensive end Jason Simmons and punter Greg Ivy.