Patriots place franchise tag on K Stephen Gostkowski

Bruins29 said:

I am surprised they could not work out something long term for Ghost. 30 is young for a kicker. He must want megabucks.

Also, as stated, They tagged AV.

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You saw his SC commercial didn't you? Guy is all about business and knows his value.

Why is everyone assuming McCourty is gonna test free agency because of this?
This could just as easily mean the Pats and DMac are close to a deal, while Ghost isnt.

I really can't see McCourty leaving. Now I know that I will be crucified for saying this, but McCourty is more likely to stay than Revis...

I'm okay with the move after all we are probably one of three teams with a kicker who is pretty much automatic every point is important in the NFL. Hopefully Pats have a plan set up for McCourty and Revis

The one thing i have confidence in is the love and passion DMac has for the Pats, Bill and that secondary. That might trump some extra money offered by someone else.

English Patriot said:

You saw his SC commercial didn't you? Guy is all about business and knows his value.

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Yep, that is the problem when you have the best K in the league. He wants best K money. If they dont pay him now I assume this is his last year here. I would think they will start to look for his replacement. Possibly tagging him again next year if they cant find the right guy.

You have to have new hungry players on your team somewhere.

Bruins29 said:

I am surprised they could not work out something long term for Ghost. 30 is young for a kicker. He must want megabucks.

Also, as stated, They tagged AV.

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Gost's FT isn't much more than his 2014 salary, in terms of actual dollars. It's an easier fit into the salary cap than a $9 million number for McCourty. Now, they can completely ignore Gost for weeks/months, and get back to him later, without any significant problem. McCourty being tagged would have tied up millions.

varjao said:

As expected.

Question, to get a new deal done with Gostkowski how much the Pats would have to spend? Is it in the same ballpark comparing to what they have to pay now?

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The market is somewhere on the order of $4M a year. Maybe a bit lower, maybe a bit higher. They're not going to get him for $3M a year, and I can't see anyone giving him $5M a year.

Deus Irae said:

Gost's FT isn't much more than his 2014 salary, in terms of actual dollars. It's an easier fit into the salary cap than a $9 million number for McCourty. Now, they can completely ignore Gost for weeks/months, and get back to him later, without any significant problem. McCourty being tagged would have tied up millions.

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True, the tag is a good way to buy time. Plausible they work out a long term deal with him.

Ghost could have also wanted a very long term deal.

BradyFTW! said:

Don't like this. Everything else aside, in a year where the Pats don't have much extra money to go around, paying $4.5M for any kicker just seems like too much. I'd much rather see a mid-late round pick used on a kicker, and the remaining $4M or so in salary put toward keeping some of the existing re-signs that need to happen.

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Not surprised at all. He had the lowest franchise tag. He takes the load off special teams by
kicking the ball thru the end zone. Don't want an unreliable kicker.
I just hope the Patriots don't wait up too long for Revis to decide and lose everyone else.

I still would have rather tagged McCourty, but I am happy to have Gostkowski back.

Bruins29 said:

Yep, that is the problem when you have the best K in the league. He wants best K money. If they dont pay him now I assume this is his last year here. I would think they will start to look for his replacement. Possibly tagging him again next year if they cant find the right guy.

You have to have new hungry players on your team somewhere.

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That may well be, but other than injury insurance, the Pats have not had any real competition for Gostkowski since he won the job in 2006.

Pat Kirwin has said all along that the Pats would use the franchise tag on Ghostkowski. As he put it, "it's an easy tag to use..." It's all about the tag number at the position.

I think this is a good use of the tag. 4 mil for Ghost is in line with value. They can still work out a long term deal till July. McCourty being a very good player is not worth 9+ mil. Not good value. I want him back, but get Revis done first. Wilfork, Arrington, Mayo and Amandola must restructure/pay cut or should be cut. With Hightower status shaky Mayo is the most important restructure/paycut.

Revis I do not want to test the market, long term deal Now. McCourty may have to test the market and come back to Pats with what the market has set for a top tier safety. Then he must decide if a small discount to continue career success is in order.

I think with certain cuts and restructures we can keep both and work on Ghost for longer term. This is how it works, we have been down this road before. I trust BB

In our Hearts who would we rather have long term Revis or McCourty? I think the answer is easy Revis. Also what if the Patriots feel that their young Safeties have turned the corner? Things that make you go Hmmm! That said I would have used the Tag on McCourty instead of Ghost! Tagging a Kicker???

Just what I expected. They are going to try to keep McCourty and Revis and the only way to do that is not franchise McCourty.

Meanwhile the risk of letting Gost walk is high and the franchise tag number for kickers is low. No brainer really.

I love Gost but I do not love this move.. bleh.

English Patriot said:

Tagging a kicker? Whatever.

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It's extremely common leaguewide because it doesn't break the bank. In 2012 5 teams used the franchise tag on kickers.

Why are people assuming McCourty won't be back? I thought all along they'd use the tag on Gost but that they would still re-sign McCourty.

Still think he will be back.

The FS Tag is $9Mill?? now I undersand the move McCourty is not worth 9Mill a year I hope they can work a a reasonable cap friendly deal.

patchick said:

It's extremely common leaguewide because it doesn't break the bank. In 2012 5 teams used the franchise tag on kickers.

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Following up...just tallied up the past 5 seasons of franchise tags applied and the P/K tag was the single most used, even compared to umbrella positions like OL which encompass a lot more players.