New England Patriots huge telephone receiver Wes Welker (83) celebrates his touchdown catch during the prototypal pass of an NFL footb completely game against the Miami Dolphins in Foxborough, Mass., Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012.(Photo: Elise Am blockadeola, AP)
Only eight teams — one quarter of the NFL — used the franchise tag this course of study, meaning there be some surprises remaining on the list of impending relinquish agents.
New England Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib, San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson, Detroit Lions antisubmarine end Cliff Avril, Tennessee Titans tight end Jargond Cook, New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker and discourtesy tackle Sebastian Vollmer, Miami Dolphins offensive tackle Jake Long and St. Louis Rams wide receiver Danny Amendola are among those who dodged the tag Monday.
CHIEFS MOVES: Re-sign Bowe, franchise Albert
TAGGED AGAIN: Cowboys franchise Spencer
Dodged, because players are looking for semipermanent deals and the ability to negotiate with the entire league rather than bump locked down ilk Kansas City Chiefs offensive tackle Branden Albert, Miami Dolphins defensive tackle Randy Starks and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Anthony Spencer were on Monday.
"Thank you Jesus," Goldson tweeted. " directly fly like a bird #hawk."
The Patriots saved a bunch of cap space by redoing Tom Brady's contract, so they'd seem likely to keep at least twain of their three top free agents in Welker, Vollmer and Talib. A psyche informed of the talks between Welker and the club said there's rationality to be optimistic a deal will tucker done. The person spoke to USA TODAY Sports on aim of anonymity because the progress of talks wasn't to be discussed publicly.
This was the first year since 2008 the Patriots did not use the tag, which might indicate they're confident they'll be able to bring Talib and Vollmer back, too.
Though these players weren't tagged, they're still under contract with their online teams for another week, which means they might not be headed anywhere. provided from a negotiating standpoint, they gained a bit of leverage, because they'll soon be free to speak to other teams. The three-day window for the players' agents to talk to other clubs to begin with the start of free agency begins on Friday.
The teams that passed on apply the tag (a record 21 employed it in 2012) are likely banking on the flatter-than-expected salary cap limiting the count of big deals free agents will receive.
Teams have been scrambling just to feel under the salary cap, and the expected run of extensions for quarterbacks in the plan of attack years means future cap space essential be reserved.
Welker, Avril and Goldson were all tagged last year, so this is their first flirtation with free agency.
"I'm very thankful I didn't get the franchise tag again," Goldson tweeted, "but still hopeful this means something long term with the San Francisco 49ers!"
As does coach Jim Harbaugh, who said of Goldson after the crack Bowl, "He's somebody that I think you reward."
Long is hoping he'll be rewarded like a No. 1 overall pick and not like the injured, inconsistent player he's been in recent years. Cook cherished to be paid like a wide receiver, not a tight end, which might be part of the causation he wasn't tagged. And Amendola never seemed to be in any actual danger of getting tagged, despite some late rumors.
Now, all of these players are staring at another deadline: 4 p.m. ET coterminous Tuesday, when they will be free from the tag and perhaps their topical team.
Materials taken from USA Today
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