Could Mankins and Brady receive a career exemption from the franchise tag
 

I was just reading that Peyton Manning and Drew Brees are trying to negotiate a career exemption from the franchise tag. My understanding is they need to sign off on the new CBA since they are plaintiffs in the anti trust suit against the NFL. Reggie White received such an exemption in 1992 when he was the lead plaintiff in the anti trust suit from the 1987 filing.

Do you think Mankins and Brady would be in line to receive such exemptions as well? Both are listed as plaintiffs in the anti trust suit. I am sure this issue is more important to Mankins since he is currently carrying the franchise tag.

Re: Could Mankins and Brady receive a career exemption from the franchise tag
 

I doubt it for this market but I was thinking about this recently and believe that there should be such a mechanism for veteran players. Imo teams should be able to use the franchise designation for one new deal, and I would be fine with it still being applied 2 years running under the current rules, however i think that after a player has signed two multi year deals with a team and has had the franchise on them after their rookie deal expired that they should be exempt from further use of the tag. I don't think it is fair to Brady or Manning or any other player that they can never have any say on where they play, and if they spent 8-10 years playing for their original team and wanted to back to their hometown team or play in a certain city or for a certain franchise that they have earned that right and shouldn't be denied an opportunity where they may feel they have a chance for a ring or where they want to live and raise their families.

If after 8-10 years a team doesn't have enough good will with a star player to get a deal done without locking them down then they really shouldn't have the right to deny them their opportunity to go out on the real free market.

Re: Could Mankins and Brady receive a career exemption from the franchise tag
 

I think that the contract that Brady just signed is the last one he will have with this team.

Re: Could Mankins and Brady receive a career exemption from the franchise tag
 

I would agree only if Brady is retiring. If not, I believe he stays with the Pats..

Re: Could Mankins and Brady receive a career exemption from the franchise tag
 

FWIW I got a chance to listen to Schefter on Mike and Mike Friday and he said while he doubts it'll happen, the players debated with the owners for about 2-4 hours about that issue. So he said it was definitely discussed and doesn't think it'll happen.

Re: Could Mankins and Brady receive a career exemption from the franchise tag
 

I don't quite understand the reason why they feel entitled in the settlement. Were the circumstances any different back then with Reggie White?

Re: Could Mankins and Brady receive a career exemption from the franchise tag
 

I disagree that Brady will stay a Pat for his entire career if he decides to play for the Patriots after the end of this contract. Two major reasons.

1. BB has shown time after time he will only pay for future performance. He has let go of players who had great seasons the previous season if he feels their best years are behind them. Great examples are Ty Law, Willie McGinest, and Mike Vrabel. The big caveat is if BB feels Brady will give him the best value at the position at that time.

2. Most great players have a hard time retiring and end up playing for another team at the end of career. Brett Farve was actually more of the norm than the exception. Many teams are willing to pay these big name players money if it means putting people in the seats. Montana and Unitas played for other teams at the end of their careers.

Re: Could Mankins and Brady receive a career exemption from the franchise tag
 

That unfortunately is going to be the reality.

Re: Could Mankins and Brady receive a career exemption from the franchise tag
 

I doubt it will happen. The who concept of free agency and the franchise tag were foreign concepts to the NFL. The salary cap for nearly the first decade was only used to keep elite players. Back in 1993, a guy like Mankins probably wouldn't have gotten franchised.

At the time of the agreement in 1993, giving Reggie White an exemption from the franchise tag wasn't considered as big as of a deal as it would be today. In fact, the Patriots didn't even use the franchise tag for nearly the first decade it was available (Adam Vinatieri was the first Patriot to receive it in 2002).

Re: Could Mankins and Brady receive a career exemption from the franchise tag
 

Brady is a once in a lifetime type player. Law, McGinest, Vrabel were never the unanimous best 1 or 2 best players in the leaugue, not even close. They also played positions that required speed and young legs to some extent. You can't compare a 35 yo LB or CB to a 35 yo QB.

I think your caveat will hold true. Unless Hoyer, Mallett or someone else give the Pats a better chance to win over Brady than they won't replace him. I don't see that happening for a very long time.

The Favre and Montana situations were unique. I hated seeing SF choosing Young over Montana and I wasn't even a fan of the team.

I also believe that BB has got to hold Brady a little bit above everyone else he has ever coached because Brady's of production and commitment. Not to mention I don't see Kraft letting Brady go to another team. I don't see him playing for another team.