2012 Tennessee Titans Franchise Tags

[Titans GM (Chris R)]

WR DeSean Jackson Franchise Tag
LeGarrette Blount is an RFA so I can put a level 3 RFA tender on Blount and not have it count as a franchise tag.
DB Michael Griffin Franchise Tag

[Rams GM (Josh)]

I don't think we are able to retain a RFA in this manner Chris.

From what I know the RFA still requires a Franchise tag to keep, therefore one of these three players is hitting the FA market. Maybe the commish should take a look at this, but that's what I think?

[Texans GM (Victor)]

If they are a RFA you dont have to franchise them.

[Chargers GM (Josh)]

Thanks Vic! So anyone who was an RFA doesn't need a franchise tag? Do you simply get to pick up their contract if they're extended?

[Broncos GM (Mark)]

How do you know if they are RFA? And how do you know what kind of tender you can put on them?

[Texans GM (Victor)]

According to rules, you get their contract. USUALLY players that were given 3yr contracts as rookies are considered RFA. RFA always have less than 4yrs in NFL at end of first contract. I dont know where Chris got the level 3 tender stuff from. In another NFL league I am in there are certain tenders you offer your RFAs to get compensation because they are bid on, but not here. Maybe Brian can clarify.

[Falcons GM & Commish (Brian)]

RFAs do not apply in any manner in our league. All comes down to how many years they have played in the NFL (1 year = 6 games played in a season or more).

If they have not yet played 4 seasons, they are protected and you inherit their real life contract up until that point. If they've played 4 years and then hit FA in our league, you must Franchise Tag them to keep them

Blount has only played 2 seasons and is thus protected for 2 more seasons by the Titans. The logic was a little off for our league's purposes, but the result is the same in that a Franchise tag is not needed

[Broncos GM (Mark)]

So my draft picks can be protected first four years in the league whether they have a four year deal or not?

[Falcons GM & Commish (Brian)]

Yep that's correct

[Jaguars GM (Loren)]

I don't think we take real life contracts on draft picks do we? There is a set amount based on pick position

[Broncos GM (Mark)]

I think we do use their real contract. If we can not find exact terms of contract then we use a set deal until contract in real life has clear details

[Rams GM (Josh)]

I think you hit it right on the head Mark.

[Texans GM (Victor)]

Actually, a PM was sent last year with a set amount depending on the draft pick. That figure is used until this year when most contracts for rookies is released. Then the actual figure is know, you use that number instead. Here is the PM :

(this was posted in the News in the Commissioner's Office and also in the Sports Talk Area where this was being discussed prior. It pertains to Rookie Contracts that are difficult to find for the first season.)

If you have not realized from going through the contracts of players on your team, real life NFL contracts are a little funky - they are very much based on signing bonuses that do not count towards a team's salary cap even though they do cost the owners money. Rookie contracts typically have huge signing bonuses. In other words, a team's payroll and a team's salary cap hit are not the same thing. It all gets pretty confusing due to the clever accounting methods used.

For our league's purposes, our Free Agent bidding employs an AAS (average annual salary) approach as stated in the rules. This obviously assumes there is no signing bonus. Rookies first season is typically not listed - FOR A PLAYER'S ROOKIE SEASONS ONLY, we will be doing a tier system of $1M for picks 1-5, $.8M for picks 6-10, $.6M for picks 11-32, $.4M for all 2nd round picks, and $.3M for all 3rd round picks ($.3M also for 4th-7th round picks for rookies drafted this season... next season our draft is only 3 rounds). After their rookie season, the contract's year by year breakdown should be evident.


IMPORTANT:

Please realize the impact of the salary structure on this league. Rookies -- even the best ones -- will most likely be very cheap relative to the older players who have later gone through Free Agency since Rookies will have their real life (no Signing Bonus included) salary for at least their rookie contract's end. Once players have hit Free Agency in our league, they will become much more expensive relative to those young Restricted players. Pay close attention to this as you plan your team and negotiate trades. You have been warned!

[Rams GM (Josh)]

Coming thru in the clutch, Victor. Nice.