That's like asking where the next tornado will happen in Oklahoma. Only the wizard knows that formula.
Right. Here's how it works: We tender him, and a team, knowing the compensation, can offer him a contract. He can choose to sign a contract with ONE team, just like any other free agent. The difference is, we can choose to match it. Once he signs a contract and we match it, he's locked in. All of the bargaining in RFA is done prior to the contract being signed, just like UFA. The only difference is that we still have the option of retaining him at the same rate.
Seriously doubtful with that Bart Scott signing. We definitely made out better in FA than we lost last season. I guess it depends on how the NFL treats the Coles issue. EDIT: As best I can figure, if the NFL doesn't treat Coles as a released player (remember, it was a strange arrangement), Scott cancels Coles, Leonhard cancels Barton, and that's it for our qualifying FAs signed. We lost, however, Mike Nugent as well. Since he barely played at all, we'd be pretty low on the list for a compensatory pick and at best would get a leg up on a UDFA with a late 7th rounder.
Got it.. thank you Ignatius (And 73klecko in another message) for clearing that up Since this is the case then I'd be on board with offering B. Smith his original round (4th) tender (1,176,000 $). A 2nd round tender would cost us 1,759,000 $ and I think no team would offer Smith that. Smith's market value right now is around 1.5 mill so probably some team would come along and offer him that (if we give him a 4th round tender) and we'll have to match it. It would still cost us less than the 2nd round tender. I don't think they'll try to put in some posion pills for a guy like B. Smith.
The tender amount is irrelevant to his contract number. A team can offer anything they want for him, regardless of the tender we sign him to.
Well yeah but if we give him a 2nd round tender for 1.7 mill dollars why would he sign with a team that offers him 1.5 dollars? I think no team will give him more than 1.5...
It's a year with open contracts and very little free agency to speak of. He came on strong at the end of the year and in the postseason. Some team will take a chance on him and offer him more than $1.5 million if they want him. Either way, there's a reason why franchised players still sign long term contracts for a lower initial value. If someone were to offer him $1.5 million for the first season, that value escalates and he's likely looking at 4 years $9 - 10 million for the life of a contract, with a chunk of that coming in the form of a signing bonus. I'd imagine he signs that to secure his future.
Could be wrong, but you're probably recalling how pissed all the Jet fans were when they didn't tender Coles with a 1st and a 3rd. I remember there were a lot people here complaining that they threw away getting that 3rd when the higher tender was barely more expensive.
In an uncapped year I would think it would make sense to give everybody worth a damn the highest tender. Then Tanny could trade them if he likes - why not be in control of the players destiny if there aren't any cap implications? If the only answer is money - then buck up woody!
