Franchise tags: There may not be as many as you think.

[Coachnorm]

Take Arizona for instance. With Larry Fitzgerald and Calais Campbell sewed up there may not be anybody else who is talented enough to be worthy.

The Pathers have a guy in Munnerlyn who is talented enough for tag money but they are in cap hell so probably not.

Ravens might tag Flacco and make him prove it again.

Bills have Byrd and an offensive tackle that may be tag worthy in Andy Levitre. Offensive Linemen are generally expensive to tag as the positions are salary unique in the the very best make great money (expensive tag as a result) while the rest are in the working for peanuts category. :smile:

 

[mudloggerone]

I've read a few articles about teams that can't or want be FT' ing any of their players.

 

[Coachnorm]

Bengals Lineman Andre Smith is an interesting candidate.... do you let him go via Free Agency and face an immediate void in the O line to fill or tag him for a year just to have an extra year to dig up a replacement?

 

[Phicinfan]

From what I gather, teams are wanting to play chicken here with the players. Alot of teams are in cap heck. So the FT will cost too much in some cases. So they feel they can let the guy go out and work the field and get them signed for cheaper.

Bit risky if you ask me, but who knows. The thought of Welker in cincy opposite A.J. would be absolutely nasty.

 

[mudloggerone]

Wow PhiCin, they'd be scary.

 

[Coachnorm]

You are right Mud there may not be all that much Tag action at all.

Browns and Cowboys may not tag anybody at all.

Denver on the other side of the coin is sure to tag OT Ryan Clady

 

[Coachnorm]

Bit risky if you ask me, but who knows. The thought of Welker in cincy opposite A.J. would be absolutely nasty.

Stimulating... just to imagine it.

 

[mudloggerone]

Saints are over the projected cap by $10M so they're unlikely to be able to apply it to anyone either. They are however trying to re-do several contracts.

 

[Coachnorm]

Saints are over the projected cap by $10M so they're unlikely to be able to apply it to anyone either. They are however trying to re-do several contracts.

You bring up a good point here as more and more teams are working a lot harder than they used to to get in front of contracts and resign players with greater cap planning than before. If they have a couple of key players they may front load one guys contract and back load another guys in order to get both signed. Cap management by many teams has gotten much better (especially the better teams). So you may see less and less Franchise Tags as teams get better and better at Capology 1.01

 

[mudloggerone]

It's getting to where having a great Cap Specialist is almost as important as a great coach.

 

[Coachnorm]

It's getting to where having a great Cap Specialist is almost as important as a great coach.

You are right.. cap management is becoming a great artform. The old school thinking screw him, we will not even talk to the player this year and tag him isn't smart football anymore. You have to keep talking with everybody as the smart teams may redo 4-5 contracts to keep 2 key players.

 

[mudloggerone]

Team owner John Mora says that the NYG probably will not use the FT this season.

 

[Miller]

Cincy has a couple options on their tag....Andre smith is one, but the name I am hearing is Michael Johnson, onef their young and talented de's.

 

[mudloggerone]

Ian Rapoport reports the Falcons are not expected to use the franchise tag.

 

[mudloggerone]

Rams GM Les Snead confirms that the team will not use the franchise tag.

 

[mudloggerone]

Bucs GM Mark Dominik ruled out the possibility of using the franchise tag this offseason.

 

[mudloggerone]

Browns CEO Joe Banner says the team will not use the franchise tag.