With franchise tag deadline looming, major names coming off the market quickly

by JasonB on Feb 19, 2009 11:03 AM EST in Philadelphia Eagles News

The deadline for teams to use their franchise tag on pending free agents is today at 4pm. Stories are flooding in about major free agents being tagged and therefore taken off the market.

Take these games off your wishlist:

Antonio Bryant, WR - Tampa Bay

Terrell Suggs, LB - Baltimore Ravens

Darren Sproles, RB - San Diego Chargers

Karlos Dansby, LB - Arizona Cardinals

Oshimogho Atogwe, S - St Louis Rams

There's also reports that the Titans will use the franchise tag on TE Bo Scaife and not Albert Haynesworth.

The Eagles will reportedly not be using their franchise tag on any impending free agents.

All eyes will now turn toward Carolina to see which of their two premier free agents, Jordan Gross & Julius Peppers, gets the tag.

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Titans thinking with Scaife is like the Eagles with Smith last year. No, he’s that all that great, but it’s pretty inexpensive to pay the franchise value for a tight end, so it’s worth it to keep him.

SportsDork.com

by BFH on Feb 19, 2009 11:10 AM EST reply actions

Can’t say I’m to surprised those are all guys that are pretty important to their teams.

Think Suggs is going to be pissed getting franchised for the second year in a row?

I wanted Atogwe if the Eagles didn’t resign Dawkins … which I’m still concerned they haven’t done yet.

"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"

by Whodie126 on Feb 19, 2009 11:21 AM EST reply actions

If the Eagles have plans to re-sign Thomas and Dawkins, you may see them wait to announce it until the last moments before free agency. Any disadvantage you can force on the other teams, and all that.

On the other hand, I could be full of crap.

SportsDork.com

by BFH on Feb 19, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions

With Chargers signing Sproles are they not looking at the RB position in the draft now? A lot of mocks had them drafting a RB. Could be a good year for the Eagles if they chose to go that route.

by IgglesFanDeployd on Feb 19, 2009 11:28 AM EST reply actions

carolina is reportedly close to a long term deal with gross and will tag peppers so he can’t just walk to in conference rivals(reportedly 2 of the 4 teams he wants to go to). i am betting the franchise him and send him to dallas seeing as dallas is one of the teams he wants to play for. i would be surprised if we got either peppers or gross.

by 0sirys on Feb 19, 2009 11:51 AM EST reply actions

Dallas has the picks too ...

First, second, 2 thirds, 2 fourths, fifth, 2 sixths, and a seventh round.

My guess is Carolina will want at least a first rounder since they don’t have one. Panthers only have like 5 picks I think 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th.

"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"

by Whodie126 on Feb 19, 2009 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

Roy Williams

Dallas gave up their first, third, and sixth round pick for him

by NFC-BEAST on Feb 19, 2009 12:11 PM EST up reply actions

DUH

fuck I just had an idiot moment … thanks.

"I need to do a better job of putting players in the right position to perennially come up short of expectations"

by Whodie126 on Feb 19, 2009 12:18 PM EST up reply actions

wow whodie your always so reliable…..well except for drafting

by NickPampani on Feb 19, 2009 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

Add Dunta Robinson to that list

and rumour has it Nnamdi may be nearing a long term deal with Oakland

by NFC-BEAST on Feb 19, 2009 12:18 PM EST reply actions

only if he has rocks in his head

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Feb 19, 2009 12:33 PM EST up reply actions

Nnamdi is widely considered the best corner in football meaning hell command even more than what we gave asante samuel last year. i dont see the eagles making that move.

by njh3293 on Feb 19, 2009 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

Nnamdi is the best

by NickPampani on Feb 19, 2009 1:47 PM EST up reply actions

Why??

Why would you sign a long term deal with Oakland? I know its a business and about the money, but really, you wanna play for Al Davis for the next 4-5 years? I’d rather take less money and keep my sanity…

by PoppiDamus on Feb 19, 2009 2:28 PM EST up reply actions

i would rather go to the eagles

by NickPampani on Feb 19, 2009 2:30 PM EST up reply actions

now what?

gross is out, peppers is most likely a no for both price and politics.

with ~$40 mil to spend, where does that money go? some might go to mcnabb in a new contract, but it sure would fit nicely into a new contract for boldin. you think it’s now more of a possibility because of the lack of FAs?

if boldin is a no-go, i guess you might as well throw some money at housh in a 3 year deal, resign tra and i’d also like to spend some cash to pry leonard weaver away from seattle. then it’s all about taking a tackle in the first round draft.

i just don’t know how to use up all that money usefully. i need suggestions and speculation!

http://poorsportsblog.blogspot.com/

by PoorSports on Feb 19, 2009 12:52 PM EST reply actions

TJ Houshmanzadeh. Then, whatever decent OT is out there.

Bleeding Green Nation - Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Feb 19, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions

Stacy Andrews. Brothers on the same team, what could be better. We would have to make sure Shawn and Stacy get along though, Shawn is clearly the better player, so we need to keep him happy.

by Clyde Simmons on Feb 19, 2009 3:09 PM EST up reply actions

Seattle just used their tag on LB Leroy Hill, I’d be very happy if we were able to bring in Weaver

by NFC-BEAST on Feb 19, 2009 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

Just because the Eaglse have the money

Doesn’t mean we’re going to go spend it — that’s not the way it works. The quality of FA’s just got cut to almost nothing with these tags.

E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!

by Joe_D on Feb 19, 2009 1:32 PM EST up reply actions

Actually

they DO have to spend a decent chunk of it or else it goes bye-bye!

check of this post on the igglesblog for the details.

they’ll have around 8 million to spend or lose. that’s in addition to whatever cap space they have or else.

http://poorsportsblog.blogspot.com/

by PoorSports on Feb 19, 2009 3:44 PM EST up reply actions

McNabb

His contract will Most Likely save us more money. the primary reason for extending his conract isnt for money. its more likely because he wants more years. at his age he is looking twords retirement and would rather say hey ill stay longer for less money so i can retire here. they will spread out his garentees and give him some more incentives. so our cap would most likely go down 1 or 2 million considering he is on his last 2 years of his HUGE franchise contract

by NickPampani on Feb 19, 2009 1:53 PM EST up reply actions

its official

gross is off the market. the panthers would be foolish to not tag peppers even if he is gonna be a baby about it

by 0sirys on Feb 19, 2009 1:39 PM EST reply actions

and seconds after that they tagged peppers , both players off the market

my top FAs are weaver and housh

by 0sirys on Feb 19, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions

Nnamdi Signed

ESPN’s John Clayton reports that the Raiders have reached agreement on a three-year, $45 million contract with Nmamdi Asomugha. $26 million is guaranteed.

by NFC-BEAST on Feb 19, 2009 2:12 PM EST reply actions

jesus… that’s insane… that team is just a bunch of screwups

"I tried to run him over but Eli had his big boy pads on and he kind of stopped me from getting in the end zone. The next time I’ll try to jump over his head.’’ - Asante Samuel

by foos05 on Feb 20, 2009 8:08 AM EST up reply actions