| The dreaded franchise tag has reared its ugly
head again this week. It is a term that is universally feared among NFL players. Yesterday,
OTs Tarik Glenn (Colts), Flozell Adams (Cowboys) and Walter Jones (Seahawks), LBs Jason
Gildon (Steelers) and Jeremiah Trotter (Eagles), S Kwamie Lassiter (Cardinals), TE Tony
Gonzalez (Chiefs) and PKs Jason Elam (Broncos) and Adam Vinatieri (Patriots) were
designated as their teams’ franchise players.
Players have hated the franchise tag since its inception. Just when they think they
will be free to hit the free-agent market and cash in, their options become severely
limited. Being franchised basically means a player is stuck. He can negotiate with other
teams, but not many clubs will be willing to hand over the two first-round draft picks
required as compensation for signing a franchised player.
But I say being franchised is not that bad of a deal. For starters, you are guaranteed
of making the average of the top five salaries at your position. What’s wrong with
that?
If you wanted to guarantee to pay me the average of the five highest-paid sports
journalists’ salaries in America, I would be absolutely thrilled. Please, PFW bosses,
franchise me!
For Glenn, Adams and Jones, being franchised means they will earn a salary of $4.92
million in 2002 if they play for the one-year tender. Not exactly chump change.
The linebackers who were franchised will earn even more. They get $5.515 million for
one year’s work. Lassiter, the lone safety that was franchised, is due $3.342
million. Gonzalez may get a tad screwed, having to play for $2.288 million. He’s
worth much more than that. And the kickers, they are worth $1.241 million as franchise
players.
But it’s not like all of these guys will have to play for that amount. It’s
very likely that they will eventually agree to terms on a long-term contract, which will
include the ever-popular signing bonus. In fact, by being franchised, the player’s
bargaining power has actually increased. Most of the teams with franchise players
don’t want to absorb the big cap hit next season that would result from paying their
franchise player such a high base salary. They would prefer to sign the player to a
long-term deal with a signing bonus and a low base salary.
For example, having Gildon on the books for $5.515 million is a little cumbersome.
He’s certainly worth every penny, but that’s a pretty high cap figure. If the
Steelers sign him to, say, a six-year, $36 million contract with an $8 million signing
bonus and a $600,000 base salary for 2002, Gildon will count only $1.93 million vs. the
cap. That’s much more palatable.
So monetarily, being franchised isn’t that bad of a deal. Players do complain
about being locked up with the same team, when perhaps they would rather play elsewhere.
That is a reasonable gripe. But perhaps the player should be thankful.
The majority of NFL players generally have a greater chance of success when they stick
with the same team. How many times have you seen a big-name free-agent player flop with
his new team. He performs very well in City A, but once he gets to City B, he has a hard
time adjusting to his new teammates and learning a new system. Had he simply stayed put in
City A, he’d be comfortable and playing at his usual high level.
All in all, it may be somewhat of an inconvenience, but being franchised isn’t
nearly as bad as some of these guys make it out to be. Who knows, once these guys learn
the benefits of being franchised, maybe more of them will be asking for the franchise tag. |
