It’s Franchise Tag Monday in The NFL
By Joe Tufaro
Today is the day when players around the NFL who had the Franchise Tag placed on them by their team either sign a long term deal, sign their Franchise Tag offer, or sit out for a while hoping it all works out for the best. Here is the list of players affected courtesy of PFT.
Unsigned
Chiefs: Receiver Dwayne Bowe.
Ravens: Running back Ray Rice.
49ers: Safety Dashon Goldson.
Bears: Running back Matt Forte.
Lions: Defensive end Cliff Avril.
Jaguars: Kicker Josh Scobee.
Signed franchise tender
Falcons: Cornerback Brent Grimes. (Signed the one-year, $10.4 million franchise tender on April 24.)
Redskins: Tight end Fred Davis. (Davis and the Redskins were engaged in talks about a long-term deal, but he’ll play this season for the one-year franchise salary of $5.4 million.)
Bengals: Kicker Mike Nugent. (Signed the one-year, $2.654 million franchise tender on April 25.)
Browns: Kicker Phil Dawson. (Signed the one-year, $3.81 million tender on March 13.)
Patriots: Receiver Wes Welker. (Welker said he’d like to sign a long-term deal, but talks between his camp and the Patriots were described as nonexistent.)
Cowboys: Linebacker Anthony Spencer. (Both sides said before the deadline that Spencer will play the 2012 season for the one-year franchise salary of $8.84 million.)
Signed long-term contract
Raiders: Safety Tyvon Branch. (Signed a four-year, $26.6 million deal on July 14.)
Eagles: Receiver DeSean Jackson. (Signed a five-year, $47 million deal on March 14.)
Cardinals: Defensive end Calais Campbell. (Signed five-year, $55 million deal on May 10.)
Broncos: Kicker Matt Prater. (Signed a four-year, $13 million deal on July 2.)
Saints: Quarterback Drew Brees. (Signed five-year, $100 million contract on July 13.)
Titans: Safety Michael Griffin. (Signed five-year, $35 million deal with $11.5 million fully guaranteed on July 1.)
Buccaneers: Kicker Connor Barth. (Signed four-year, $13.2 million deal on May 17.)
Giants: Punter Steve Weatherford. (Signed five-year, $12.75 million deal on March 16.)
Colts: Defensive end Robert Mathis. (Signed four-year, $36 million deal on March 5.)
Signing the Franchise Tag is certainly not a bad thing for the player, except it puts his free agency off for one more year, but being guaranteed the average salary of the top 5 players at your position usually eases the pain. As you can see the Giants handled their business early with Punter Steve Weatherford and have no pressing business this afternoon.