General manager Bruce Allen expects to be busy fielding calls as NFL free agency gets underway on Friday morning.

"We're going to be active on the phones, talking to the prospects, sharing stories with guys we have competed against and unable to talk to," Allen said during a Thursday evening press conference at Redskins Park.

Of course, this approach is not new to the Redskins, who have been among the most active teams in free agency in the last decade.

Whether the Redskins' new front office is willing to spend aggressively or stay patient as they reconstruct the roster this offseason is an open question.

Allen said that owner Daniel M. Snyder imposed no financial restrictions on free agent signings this offseason. The NFL is operating without a salary cap in 2010.

"We have a game plan that we have shared with ownership and they have not only embraced it but hope we execute it," Allen said. "Our goal is to execute our game plan."

Allen indicated that spending last week in Indianapolis for the NFL Scouting Combine helped clarify the team's needs.

On Thursday, the Redskins released 10 players, including several big-name veterans such as Randy Thomas, Antwaan Randle El and Cornelius Griffin.

That would seem to open up plenty of roster spots for free agents, if that's the direction the Redskins choose to go.

Media reports this week linked the Redskins to several high-profile free agents, but Allen would only say that team officials were looking forward to the process.

"I think [the media reports] are a compliment to the organization," he said. "There's a lot of enthusiasm surrounding the Redskins. I think our new coaching staff is very inviting to free agents and I'm hopeful we can take some phone calls tonight as well as make them."