By Ferd Lewis
Advertiser Columnist

As an All-State football player at St. Louis School and an All-American at the University of Washington, Olin Kreutz had an instinctive knack for being in the right place at the right time.

Whether it was to deliver a punishing pancake block or, like the time against Oregon, recover a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown, timing and leverage have been everything.

Now, however, they are a positively golden combination.

The NFL free agent shopping season began Friday and Kreutz, a 6-foot-2, 285-pound All-Pro center, is a much-in-demand commodity. In terms of business, he is Longs on a Sunday; Macy's the week before Christmas.

The line forms at the right and, please, take a number. Between phone calls, his agent, Mike Bartelstein, says, "a lot of teams" already inquired the first day. "A half dozen, at least."

Next to coming off a Super Bowl victory or winning the lottery, it is hard to see how things could be much sweeter. Or how all his hard work and perseverance could pay off any more.

"It has all been like a dream," Kreutz says. "I don't know what else I could ask for."

Kreutz got married yesterday and now has an opportunity to sign a contract that will provide for his future. Though it might delay the honeymoon.

Indeed, here he is young (24), talented (coming off a Pro Bowl), healthy (started all 16 games) and, as an unrestricted free agent, available. "He has everything you look for in a free agent, a young age and huge upside potential," Bartelstein said.

All that remains to be determined is where he is going, how high the bidding will reach, and whether he'll take his money in gold bullion or a bank draft.

Kreutz can pick and choose among suitors and locations. There are the Chicago Bears, for whom Kreutz has played these past four seasons. There are the Miami Dolphins, whose vice president of player personnel, Rick Spielman, first drafted Kreutz for the Bears; offensive line coach Tony Wise, who tutored Kreutz at Chicago; and Dave Wannstedt, who used to be head coach for the Bears.

Then, there are the expansion Houston Texans who, at $30 million under the $71.1 million salary cap, have the kind of available cash to make Kreutz a multi-millionaire if not the highest paid center in the league.

For now, just call Kreutz the free agent center of attention.