Franchise Tag Could Affect 2011 Futures of Several NFL Teams

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Kahnawake, QC, February 7, 2011 — Under the current collective bargaining agreement in the NFL, teams can keep a valuable player off the free-agent market by slapping the franchise tag on that player. Most players don’t like it because even though it gives them the average of the top five highest-paid players at their position, it doesn’t allow them to test the market and get a long-term contract.

The franchise tag is a big point of contention in labor talks between the NFL and the NFL Players’ Association, with the current CBA set to expire in March. The NFL on reportedly has informed clubs that the franchise tag can be used for the 2011 season starting on Feb. 10. The NFLPA contends that the franchise designation is invalid because the current CBA is expiring on March 4.

NFLPA general counsel Richard Berthelsen said that the union is willing to file a grievance against the NFL on behalf of anyone who is designated a franchise player by their respective team.

“If we don’t have a deal for 2011, that means they don’t have the right to do it for 2011. It’s as simple as that,” Berthelsen said. “If they want to get together and do it anyhow, we can’t stop them from doing that. But the agreement doesn’t allow them to do that.”

Some of the big-name players expected to get franchise tags if long-term contracts cannot be reached include Philadelphia quarterback Michael Vick, Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning, Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley, Baltimore defensive tackle Haloti Ngata and New England guard Logan Mankins.

“The CBA hasn’t expired and the CBA has the right to franchise players so we are telling clubs that you have the right to franchise players and then depending on what the new agreement says, that will take into account,” NFL senior vice president and general counsel Peter Rucco said.

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