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.