LoKyBuckeye
I give up. This board is too hard to understand.
Interesting read.... cornerback has to be the most overpaid position but it nice to see a Buckeye at the top of the list. I had no idea that Antoine Winfield was making over 12 million per year. Good for him.
NFL plays pricey game of tag
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2005-02-20-franchise-players_x.htm#salaries
By Larry Weisman, USA TODAY
Pay 'em now or pay 'em later. That's the decision facing NFL teams considering whether to use their franchise tag on their hot commodities. The deadline is Tuesday, and perhaps 10 players will find themselves receiving one-year offers that will pay them no less than the average that the top-five individuals at their position earned in 2004. If the player is already at that level, the tender bumps the salary an automatic 20%.
By James A. Finley, AP
At the least, the tag essentially takes the player out of the free agency market and gives the club more time to negotiate a long-term deal. If nothing else, it buys the player for one year at a figure not friendly to the salary cap, which should be about $86 million this season. (Related item: Highest-paid players)
In signing a player to a longer contract, the team can pay a signing bonus up front and write off that value over the ensuing years, penciling in lower base salaries that escalate toward the end of the deal. That keeps the cap number lower. But in some cases the team simply chooses to conserve the cash, pay the higher base salary (all of it guaranteed) and take the cap hit.
This is what the New Orleans Saints wrestle with in tagging defensive end Darren Howard again.
"We've got a lot of time and effort invested in him, and we don't want to see it go to waste," general manager Mickey Loomis says. "He had a really good year for us last season, and we want to keep as many good players here as we can."
Players given the franchise designation by their club and who'll receive a one-year contract offer at no less than the average of the top-five players at their position or a 20% increase over their previous year's salary:
Corey Simon, DT, Philadelphia; Orlando Pace, OT, St. Louis; Rudi Johnson, RB, Cincinnati; Drew Brees, QB, San Diego; Julian Peterson, LB, San Francisco.; John Abraham, DE, New York Jets; Darren Howard, DE, New Orleans.
Others who may be tagged by 4 ET Tuesday:
Shaun Alexander, RB, or Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle; Donovin Darius, S, Jacksonville; Jerry Porter, WR, or Charles Woodson, CB, Oakland; Adam Vinatieri, PK, New England.
The numbers present a mixed bag for the club and the player.
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Walter Jones, franchised for three consecutive years, earned almost $18 million in that span. But the contract he agreed to last week includes about a $16 million signing bonus and will pay him about $26.7 million over the next three seasons. By getting wrapped up early, the Seahawks assure themselves he will attend training camp (he has held out annually to protest the franchise tag) and gain some cap room.
St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace, already named their franchise player, will earn $8.4 million if he doesn't do a long-term deal. This is his third go-round as the franchise player, and he earned $12.75 million over his first two turns. Throw in the 2005 number, and he pulls down $21.18 million for three years; last year he rejected a seven-year deal valued at more than $42 million.
Howard earned $6.5 million in 2004 on the franchise tag and would get $7.8 million this year.
While a shot at a bidding war for Howard's services would be ideal, "I don't mind him being franchised for those numbers," says his agent, Gary Wichard. "The franchise number for 2006 is going to be around $9.36 million. If they want to franchise him over the course of three years, that's $23 million-plus for him. If they do it for two years, he earns $14.3 million and then we're out in free agency in 2006. If he has another double-digit sack year and they want to keep him around, he'll have made $23 million and change. He can't lose."
Howard can if he is injured. A signing bonus is money in the bank, vs. earnings based on performance season after season. But after a couple of years of the franchise tag, the gross dollars start to even out.
The comparison: Jevon Kearse, signed as an unrestricted free agent last year by the Philadelphia Eagles, earns $23.75 million in the first three years of his contract (including $12 million in signing bonus). If Howard gets franchised a third time in 2006, he'd walk away with $23.66 million over three years. The difference is he has to walk.
NFL's best-paid players
The NFL's best-paid players at each position in 2004, for purposes of calculating franchise and transition designation contract offers. Figures include prorated signing bonus, other bonuses and base salary. The franchise number is the average of the top-five salaries; transition number is the average of the top-10.
Cornerback
Antoine Winfield, Minn. $12,400,000
Ty Law, N.E. $9,601,365
Samari Rolle, Tenn. $8,313,335
Patrick Surtain, Mia. $7,884,371
Daylon McCutcheon, Cle. $5,883,333
Aaron Glenn, Hou. $5,416,666
Dre' Bly, Det. $5,300,000
Sam Madison, Mia. $5,180,931
Chad Scott, Pitt. $4,785,000
Ronde Barber, T.B. $4,614,000
Franchise $8,816,000
Trans ition $6,938,000
Defensive end
Courtney Brown, Cle. $7,549,666
Trevor Pryce, Den. $7,116,667
Michael Strahan, NYG $6,578,285
Jevon Kearse, Phi. $6,535,000
Simeon Rice, T.B. $5,550,000
Patrick Kerney, Atl. $5,164,285
Bertrand Berry, Ariz. $5,000,000
Aaron Smith, Pitt. $4,510,666
Jason Taylor, Mia. $4,249,583
Leonard Little, St. L. $3,900,000
Franchise $6,666,000
Transition $5,615,000
Defensive tackle
Gerard Warren, Cle. $6,010,000
Kevin Carter, Tenn. $5,881,669
La'Roi Glover, Dal. $4,700,000
Orpheus Roye, Cle. $4,687,500
Bryant Young, S.F. $4,388,549
Seth Payne, Hou. $4,175,000
Kris Jenkins, Car. $3,805,118
Jamal Williams, S.D. $3,767,400
Pat Williams, Buff. $3,634,000
Dewayne Robertson, NYJ $3,315,355
Franchise $5,134,000
Transition $4,436,000
Linebacker
Ray Lewis, Balt. $6,928,571
Brian Urlacher, Chi. $6,157,142
Jamie Sharper, Hou. $6,125,000
LaVar Arrington, Wash. $5,630,877
Derrick Brooks, T.B. $4,907,083
Donnie Edwards, S.D. $4,650,000
Peter Boulware, Balt. $4,528,333
Takeo Spikes, Buff. $4,300,000
Anthony Simmons, Sea. $4,000,000
Dexter Coakley, Dal. $3,968,666
Franchise $5,950,000
Transition $5,120,000
Offensive line
Jonathan Ogden, Balt. $9,101,989
John Tait, Chi. $8,535,000
Chris Samuels, Wash. $8,349,920
Leonard Davis, Ariz. $5,575,416
Larry Allen, Dal. $5,558,333
Jon Runyan, Phi. $5,500,000
Tom Nalen, Den. $5,099,500
Will Shields, K.C. $4,966,666
Matt Lepsis, Den. $4,900,000
Willie Anderson, Cin. $4,421,428
Franchise $7,424,000
Transition $6,201,000
Punter/kicker
Adam Vinateri, N.E. $2,091,177
Ryan Longwell, G.B. $1,900,000
Sebastian Janikowski, Oak. $1,753,833
Mike Vanderjagt, Ind. $1,608,500
Olindo Mare, Mia. $1,581,175
Jeff Wilkins, St. L. $1,522,500
Joe Nedney, Tenn. $1,460,000
Jason Hanson, Det. $1,430,000
Brad Maynard, Chi. $1,350,000
Jason Elam, Den. $1,295,000
Franchise $1,787,000
Transition $1,599,000
Quarterback
Brett Favre, G.B. $9,533,333
Peyton Manning, Ind. $8,301,666
Michael Vick, Atl. $7,892,857
Donovan McNabb, Phi. $7,861,055
Brad Johnson, T.B. $6,800,000
Rich Gannon, Oak. $6,428,570
Steve McNair, Tenn. $5,690,417
Matt Hasselbeck, Sea. $5,500,000
Aaron Brooks, N.O. $5,233,333
Chad Pennington, NYJ $5,069,431
Franchise $8,078,000
Transition $6,831,000
Running back
Marshall Faulk, St. L. $7,277,856
Edgerrin James, Ind. $6,734,122
LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. $6,666,666
Tiki Barber, NYG $6,053,333
Ahman Green, G.B. $4,882,000
Curtis Martin, NYJ $4,707,021
Jamal Lewis, Balt. $4,613, 896
Warrick Dunn, Atl. $3,983,333
Emmitt Smith, Ariz. $3,750,000
Clinton Portis, Wash. $3,725,833
Franchise $6,323,000
Transition $5,239,000
Safety
Darren Sharper, G.B. $5,833,332
Marcus Coleman, Hou. $5,503,889
Mike Minter, Car. $5,343,750
Shaun Williams, NYG $4,157,737
Lawyer Milloy, Buff. $4,000,000
Darren Woodson, Dal. $3,550,000
Robert Griffith, Cle. $2,912,500
Troy Vincent, Buf. $2,750,000
Mike Brown, Chi. $2,706,666
Aeneas Williams, St. L. $2,500,000
Franchise $4,968,000
Transition $3,926,000
Tight end
Tony Gonzalez, K.C. $3,831,370
Marcus Pollard, Ind. $3,109,166
Kyle Brady, Jax $2,846,250
Kellen Winslow, Cle. $1,950,000
Freddie Jones, Ariz. $1,696,668
Jeremy Shockey, NYG $1,647,667
Dan Campbell, Dal. $1,557,000
Reggie Kelly, Cin. $1,450,000
Jay Riemersma, Pitt. $1,433,333
Daniel Graham, N.E. $1,428,750
Franchise $2,687,000
Transition $2,095,000
Wide receiver
Randy Moss, Minn. $8,630,327
Marvin Harrison, Ind. $8,082,880
Isaac Bruce, St. L. $7,640,709
Eric Moulds, Buf. $7,245,000
Terrell Owens, Phi. $7,243,333
Jimmy Smith, Jax $6,349,333
Derrick Mason, Tenn. $5,802,500
Muhsin Muhammad, Car. $4,508,117
Rod Smith, Den. $4,502,928
Amani Toomer, NYG $4,135,000
Franchise $7,768,000
Transition $6,414,000
Note: The salaries of players who played under the one-year franchise tender are excluded from the franchise calculations for the next season under the terms of the NFL's labor agreement. There were six players last year on those contracts:
Donovin Darius, S, Jax $4,113,000
Julian Peterson, LB, S.F. $6,074,000
Darren Howard, DE, N.O. $6,503,000
Orlando Pace, OT, St. L. $7,020,000
Walter Jones, OT, Sea. $7,084,800
C. Woodson, CB, Oak. $8,781,000
Source: NFL Players Association
NFL plays pricey game of tag
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/2005-02-20-franchise-players_x.htm#salaries
By Larry Weisman, USA TODAY
Pay 'em now or pay 'em later. That's the decision facing NFL teams considering whether to use their franchise tag on their hot commodities. The deadline is Tuesday, and perhaps 10 players will find themselves receiving one-year offers that will pay them no less than the average that the top-five individuals at their position earned in 2004. If the player is already at that level, the tender bumps the salary an automatic 20%.
By James A. Finley, AP
At the least, the tag essentially takes the player out of the free agency market and gives the club more time to negotiate a long-term deal. If nothing else, it buys the player for one year at a figure not friendly to the salary cap, which should be about $86 million this season. (Related item: Highest-paid players)
In signing a player to a longer contract, the team can pay a signing bonus up front and write off that value over the ensuing years, penciling in lower base salaries that escalate toward the end of the deal. That keeps the cap number lower. But in some cases the team simply chooses to conserve the cash, pay the higher base salary (all of it guaranteed) and take the cap hit.
This is what the New Orleans Saints wrestle with in tagging defensive end Darren Howard again.
"We've got a lot of time and effort invested in him, and we don't want to see it go to waste," general manager Mickey Loomis says. "He had a really good year for us last season, and we want to keep as many good players here as we can."
Players given the franchise designation by their club and who'll receive a one-year contract offer at no less than the average of the top-five players at their position or a 20% increase over their previous year's salary:
Corey Simon, DT, Philadelphia; Orlando Pace, OT, St. Louis; Rudi Johnson, RB, Cincinnati; Drew Brees, QB, San Diego; Julian Peterson, LB, San Francisco.; John Abraham, DE, New York Jets; Darren Howard, DE, New Orleans.
Others who may be tagged by 4 ET Tuesday:
Shaun Alexander, RB, or Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seattle; Donovin Darius, S, Jacksonville; Jerry Porter, WR, or Charles Woodson, CB, Oakland; Adam Vinatieri, PK, New England.
The numbers present a mixed bag for the club and the player.
Seattle Seahawks offensive tackle Walter Jones, franchised for three consecutive years, earned almost $18 million in that span. But the contract he agreed to last week includes about a $16 million signing bonus and will pay him about $26.7 million over the next three seasons. By getting wrapped up early, the Seahawks assure themselves he will attend training camp (he has held out annually to protest the franchise tag) and gain some cap room.
St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Orlando Pace, already named their franchise player, will earn $8.4 million if he doesn't do a long-term deal. This is his third go-round as the franchise player, and he earned $12.75 million over his first two turns. Throw in the 2005 number, and he pulls down $21.18 million for three years; last year he rejected a seven-year deal valued at more than $42 million.
Howard earned $6.5 million in 2004 on the franchise tag and would get $7.8 million this year.
While a shot at a bidding war for Howard's services would be ideal, "I don't mind him being franchised for those numbers," says his agent, Gary Wichard. "The franchise number for 2006 is going to be around $9.36 million. If they want to franchise him over the course of three years, that's $23 million-plus for him. If they do it for two years, he earns $14.3 million and then we're out in free agency in 2006. If he has another double-digit sack year and they want to keep him around, he'll have made $23 million and change. He can't lose."
Howard can if he is injured. A signing bonus is money in the bank, vs. earnings based on performance season after season. But after a couple of years of the franchise tag, the gross dollars start to even out.
The comparison: Jevon Kearse, signed as an unrestricted free agent last year by the Philadelphia Eagles, earns $23.75 million in the first three years of his contract (including $12 million in signing bonus). If Howard gets franchised a third time in 2006, he'd walk away with $23.66 million over three years. The difference is he has to walk.
NFL's best-paid players
The NFL's best-paid players at each position in 2004, for purposes of calculating franchise and transition designation contract offers. Figures include prorated signing bonus, other bonuses and base salary. The franchise number is the average of the top-five salaries; transition number is the average of the top-10.
Cornerback
Antoine Winfield, Minn. $12,400,000
Ty Law, N.E. $9,601,365
Samari Rolle, Tenn. $8,313,335
Patrick Surtain, Mia. $7,884,371
Daylon McCutcheon, Cle. $5,883,333
Aaron Glenn, Hou. $5,416,666
Dre' Bly, Det. $5,300,000
Sam Madison, Mia. $5,180,931
Chad Scott, Pitt. $4,785,000
Ronde Barber, T.B. $4,614,000
Franchise $8,816,000
Trans ition $6,938,000
Defensive end
Courtney Brown, Cle. $7,549,666
Trevor Pryce, Den. $7,116,667
Michael Strahan, NYG $6,578,285
Jevon Kearse, Phi. $6,535,000
Simeon Rice, T.B. $5,550,000
Patrick Kerney, Atl. $5,164,285
Bertrand Berry, Ariz. $5,000,000
Aaron Smith, Pitt. $4,510,666
Jason Taylor, Mia. $4,249,583
Leonard Little, St. L. $3,900,000
Franchise $6,666,000
Transition $5,615,000
Defensive tackle
Gerard Warren, Cle. $6,010,000
Kevin Carter, Tenn. $5,881,669
La'Roi Glover, Dal. $4,700,000
Orpheus Roye, Cle. $4,687,500
Bryant Young, S.F. $4,388,549
Seth Payne, Hou. $4,175,000
Kris Jenkins, Car. $3,805,118
Jamal Williams, S.D. $3,767,400
Pat Williams, Buff. $3,634,000
Dewayne Robertson, NYJ $3,315,355
Franchise $5,134,000
Transition $4,436,000
Linebacker
Ray Lewis, Balt. $6,928,571
Brian Urlacher, Chi. $6,157,142
Jamie Sharper, Hou. $6,125,000
LaVar Arrington, Wash. $5,630,877
Derrick Brooks, T.B. $4,907,083
Donnie Edwards, S.D. $4,650,000
Peter Boulware, Balt. $4,528,333
Takeo Spikes, Buff. $4,300,000
Anthony Simmons, Sea. $4,000,000
Dexter Coakley, Dal. $3,968,666
Franchise $5,950,000
Transition $5,120,000
Offensive line
Jonathan Ogden, Balt. $9,101,989
John Tait, Chi. $8,535,000
Chris Samuels, Wash. $8,349,920
Leonard Davis, Ariz. $5,575,416
Larry Allen, Dal. $5,558,333
Jon Runyan, Phi. $5,500,000
Tom Nalen, Den. $5,099,500
Will Shields, K.C. $4,966,666
Matt Lepsis, Den. $4,900,000
Willie Anderson, Cin. $4,421,428
Franchise $7,424,000
Transition $6,201,000
Punter/kicker
Adam Vinateri, N.E. $2,091,177
Ryan Longwell, G.B. $1,900,000
Sebastian Janikowski, Oak. $1,753,833
Mike Vanderjagt, Ind. $1,608,500
Olindo Mare, Mia. $1,581,175
Jeff Wilkins, St. L. $1,522,500
Joe Nedney, Tenn. $1,460,000
Jason Hanson, Det. $1,430,000
Brad Maynard, Chi. $1,350,000
Jason Elam, Den. $1,295,000
Franchise $1,787,000
Transition $1,599,000
Quarterback
Brett Favre, G.B. $9,533,333
Peyton Manning, Ind. $8,301,666
Michael Vick, Atl. $7,892,857
Donovan McNabb, Phi. $7,861,055
Brad Johnson, T.B. $6,800,000
Rich Gannon, Oak. $6,428,570
Steve McNair, Tenn. $5,690,417
Matt Hasselbeck, Sea. $5,500,000
Aaron Brooks, N.O. $5,233,333
Chad Pennington, NYJ $5,069,431
Franchise $8,078,000
Transition $6,831,000
Running back
Marshall Faulk, St. L. $7,277,856
Edgerrin James, Ind. $6,734,122
LaDainian Tomlinson, S.D. $6,666,666
Tiki Barber, NYG $6,053,333
Ahman Green, G.B. $4,882,000
Curtis Martin, NYJ $4,707,021
Jamal Lewis, Balt. $4,613, 896
Warrick Dunn, Atl. $3,983,333
Emmitt Smith, Ariz. $3,750,000
Clinton Portis, Wash. $3,725,833
Franchise $6,323,000
Transition $5,239,000
Safety
Darren Sharper, G.B. $5,833,332
Marcus Coleman, Hou. $5,503,889
Mike Minter, Car. $5,343,750
Shaun Williams, NYG $4,157,737
Lawyer Milloy, Buff. $4,000,000
Darren Woodson, Dal. $3,550,000
Robert Griffith, Cle. $2,912,500
Troy Vincent, Buf. $2,750,000
Mike Brown, Chi. $2,706,666
Aeneas Williams, St. L. $2,500,000
Franchise $4,968,000
Transition $3,926,000
Tight end
Tony Gonzalez, K.C. $3,831,370
Marcus Pollard, Ind. $3,109,166
Kyle Brady, Jax $2,846,250
Kellen Winslow, Cle. $1,950,000
Freddie Jones, Ariz. $1,696,668
Jeremy Shockey, NYG $1,647,667
Dan Campbell, Dal. $1,557,000
Reggie Kelly, Cin. $1,450,000
Jay Riemersma, Pitt. $1,433,333
Daniel Graham, N.E. $1,428,750
Franchise $2,687,000
Transition $2,095,000
Wide receiver
Randy Moss, Minn. $8,630,327
Marvin Harrison, Ind. $8,082,880
Isaac Bruce, St. L. $7,640,709
Eric Moulds, Buf. $7,245,000
Terrell Owens, Phi. $7,243,333
Jimmy Smith, Jax $6,349,333
Derrick Mason, Tenn. $5,802,500
Muhsin Muhammad, Car. $4,508,117
Rod Smith, Den. $4,502,928
Amani Toomer, NYG $4,135,000
Franchise $7,768,000
Transition $6,414,000
Note: The salaries of players who played under the one-year franchise tender are excluded from the franchise calculations for the next season under the terms of the NFL's labor agreement. There were six players last year on those contracts:
Donovin Darius, S, Jax $4,113,000
Julian Peterson, LB, S.F. $6,074,000
Darren Howard, DE, N.O. $6,503,000
Orlando Pace, OT, St. L. $7,020,000
Walter Jones, OT, Sea. $7,084,800
C. Woodson, CB, Oak. $8,781,000
Source: NFL Players Association
