The Franchise Tag explained [merged]

[Patsguy05]

Can someone please explain the whole "franchise tag" thing to me? Thanks.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Re: Can someone please explain

There are lots of explanations on the Web if you google: nfl "franchise tag." this is as good as any:

http://www.askthecommish.com/freeagency/

 

[Patsguy05]

Re: Can someone please explain

That was helpful. Thanks!

 

[PaulThePat]

Franchise Tagging

OK...I've looked around the web and I'm still struggling to come to terms with what "tagging" a player is all about. Over in the UK we simply don't get any real discussion on the ins and outs of player moves and I want to know more. Is it possible for a fellow pats fan to speak slowly, using small words and no jargon and let me know:

* What is it ?
* Why do you do it ?
* Will we be doing it ?

PaulC :bricks:

 

[PaulThePat]

Re: Can someone please explain

There are lots of explanations on the Web if you google: nfl "franchise tag." this is as good as any:

http://www.askthecommish.com/freeagency/

Jings...I'm even more confused now. Just when you thought it couldn't get anymore complicated I now see you can apply an "Exclusive" or "Non Exclusive " tag

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I think that this is right and maybe more simple:

Lets say you have a very good player who is a free agent, you don't want to lose him, but for whatever reason you haven't been able to agree on a long-term deal. You can apply:

exclusive franchise tag: Assigning him this keeps him from talking to anyone at all. He gets a huge 1-year payday (average of top 5 salaries at his position, calculated at the end of the current free agency period, fully guaranteed, or a 20% increase over his last years' salary, whichever is greater)

non-exclusive franchise tag: Assigning him this lets him talk to anyone, but if they sign him then they give you two first round picks. This is a huge price, so it effectively takes him off the market. He gets a huge 1-year payday (average of top 5 salaries at his position, calculated based upon last years' salaries, fully guaranteed, or a 20% increase over his last years' salary, whichever is greater)

transition tag: Assigning him this lets him talk to anyone, and if they sign him then they give you nothing, but you can match their offer. You might also be able to work out a trade-- match the offer, trade him, then get something back. If nobody signs him to a long-term deal, then he gets a decent 1-year payday (average of top 10 salaries at his position, calculated based upon last years' salaries, fully guaranteed, or a 20% increase over his last years' salary, whichever is greater)

 

[PaulThePat]

Thanks for that explanation...makes it a bit clearer. This being the case what sort of tag would the Pats potentially look to apply to Moss ?

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I would just add to that that the Transition Tag has been rendered useless because of the other teams ability to write poison pill clauses into their offer that the current team simply cannot match (like guarantees and incentives or escalators that trigger if the player plays X number of games in the existing teams state of residence...). The same can be done with RFA's, but at least in that case there is compensation. The league officially frowns on the use of poison pill clauses, but has not yet officially reached an agreement with the Union that would eliminate them.

The other thing to remember is teams seldom sign a tagged player to an offer sheet because the compensation is pre set prohibitively high (except perhaps for a franchise caliber QB or DE which is why they would likely end up with the exclusive tag), yet tagged players still move. When tagged players change hands it is usually because the tagging team wanted or was willing to trade the player for something less, often because they know they cannot or will not re-sign that player, and the teams interested approach them to find out just what they would be willing to take in exchange beneath the prescribed tag comensation.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Thanks for that explanation...makes it a bit clearer. This being the case what sort of tag would the Pats potentially look to apply to Moss ?

probaly the non-exclusive franchise tag-- slightly lower salary (last year's numbers vs. this years numbers), and the 2 pick compensation would be effective in preventing interest.

As valuable as Moss is, 2 first round picks would be a huge price to pay.