Franchise Tags
The “franchise tag†in the NFL is something that each team has the ability to use if negotiations with a free agent to be aren’t really progressing very well. The franchise tag means a player must be offered a one-year contract for an amount equal to or greater than the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position as of a date in April of the “current” year in which the tag will apply, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater. There are exclusive and non-exclusive tags. Non-exclusive allow players to talk with other teams but also give their current team the ability to match any offers tendered.
Here is the updated list of players who have received franchise tags:
~ DE Charles Grant – New Orleans Saints
~ K Josh Brown – Seattle Seahawks
~ LB Lance Briggs – Chicago Bears
~ CB Asante Samuel – New England Patriots
~ DE Justin Smith – Cincinnati Bengals
~ DE Dwight Freeney – Indianapolis Colts
~ DT Cory Redding – Detroit Lions
Cuts
Every year there are cuts coming from every team. Players who didn’t perform up to their abilities or just have to be cut because of salary reasons. There are those that NFL fans know are going to lose their jobs, but every once in a while the unexpected bombshell hits us.
Here’s a look at just a few of the big names to lose their jobs and February isn’t even over yet:
~ QB Aaron Brooks – Oakland Raiders (HA!)
~ RB/KR Chad Morton, LB Carlos Emmons, T Luke Petitgout, and LB LaVar Arrington – New York Giants
~ DB Tebucky Jones – New England Patriots
~ DB Troy Vincent – Washington Redskins
~ DE Al Wallace – Carolina Panthers
~ RB Kevan Barlow – New York Jets
~ DB Dexter Reid – Indianapolis Colts
This list will be updated as more players start to hit the unemployment office.
Other News
~ QB Peyton Manning has agreed to help take a pay cut on his roster bonus due in March; in order to help the Colts’ salary cap.
~ The Cleveland Browns won the NFL draft coin flip and will pick third in April’s draft while the Tampa Bay Bucs will pick fourth.
~ Thanks to off field problems on a consistent basis, CB Adam “Pac-Man†Jones could possibly not be on the Titans’ roster next year. The team’s new GM, Mike Reinfeldt was asked about Jones’ status with the team and replied, “I would assume there is that potential.â€
~ In a bit of shocking news, Jaguars’ coach Jack Del Rio has announced that Byron Leftwich will be his starting QB next year. Leftwich did not play in 10 games last year due to a bum ankle, and many thought back-up David Garrard played well enough to take over. Del Rio says there will be no competition in training camp eve because Leftwich is the starter.
~ Bears’ RB Thomas Jones has asked the team for a trade.
~ RB Corey Dillon has asked the New England Patriots to trade or cut him, or he could also be looking at retirement. Dillon says the itch to play football right now isn’t there, but his agent says they are looking to talk to other teams.
~ Chargers’ RB Ladainian Tomlinson, 2006 NFL MVP, lost his father Friday in a car accident after the truck he was riding in blew a tire and flipped over.
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