Updated: Feb. 23, 2006, 2:00 PM ET Seattle saves on cap while navigating holdouts By John Clayton / ESPN.com The Seattle Seahawks saved a little less than $600,000 of cap room by making Pro Bowl left guard Steve Hutchinson a transition player instead of a franchise player, but they may have an extra month or so of uncertainty.In a little bit of a surprise, the Seahawks didn't franchise Hutchinson. Part of the reason was the three holdouts they endured with Pro Bowl left tackle Walter Jones. The Seahawks franchised him three times but he held out until the start of the regular season. Franchise players have guaranteed contracts but there are normally limited negotiations. Teams have until March 17 to get a long-term deal without the team losing the franchise tag, but normally, few deals get done. By transitioning him, he's allowed to negotiate with any other team; the Seahawks have the right to match any offer; and the one-year tender isn't guaranteed. The transition tender is $6.391 million as opposed to the franchise number of $6.983 million. Hutchinson's agent, Tom Condon, can try to come back with an offer that might be hard for the Seahawks to match. Hutchinson was thought to be one of the best free agents hitting the market.The Seahawks will continue negotiating with him, but Hutchinson expects to make more than $6 million a year. The only guard to have earned such a lucrative pact was Dallas' Larry Allen. John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. > http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2342022
So are you going to post every story you can find about any player the Jets could possibly need? This has nothing to do with the Jets. Don't clutter up things in this forum.
if i come across a story/news that involves/concerns the jets; i will post it. if one/some/all of the mods/whoever is of the op that my post does NOT involve/concern the jets; they can : - move it to another forum or - delete it. :beer:
And post it on the other Jets message boards to see if you can get a rise out of them too? Given the Jets financial situation, this topic is no more than spam.
Looks like the Jets won't be getting this guy. Lions franchise right tackle Backus Feb. 23, 2006 CBS SportsLine.com wire reports ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Right tackle Jeff Backus was designated the Detroit Lions' franchise player on Thursday, allowing the Lions to match any offer that he gets. Backus will be offered a one-year contract worth the average of the top five salaries at his position, or $6.98 million. The team can continue to negotiate a long-term contract while Backus is not required to attend team activities until he signs the franchise tender. Backus also can sign with other teams, but the Lions can match a new team's offer or receive two first-round draft choices if they decide to let him go. Backus was drafted 18th overall by the Lions in 2001 and has played and started in 80 consecutive games at right tackle since joining the team.
Won't be getting Reggie Wayne either. Colts, Wayne agree to six-year, $39M deal Feb. 22, 2006 CBS SportsLine.com wire reports INDIANAPOLIS -- Reggie Wayne wanted to stay with a winner. The Indianapolis Colts' wide receiver agreed to a $39 million, six-year contract Wednesday, a move that makes him one of the NFL's highest-paid receivers and allows the Colts to use their franchise tag on another player if they choose. Wayne's deal includes a $13.5 million signing bonus. "He's thrilled, he could not think more highly of the owner, Jimmy (Irsay), Bill (Polian), and Coach (Tony) Dungy is someone he respects more than anybody he's ever been with," said Wayne's agent, David Dunn. "And he has the maturity to understand the importance of winning." Polian, the Colts' president, would not confirm the deal Wednesday afternoon after concluding a competition committee meeting at the NFL combine. But the Colts had no intention of letting Wayne get away. Reggie Wayne caught 83 passes this year. (Getty Images) Since their playoff loss to Pittsburgh last month, Polian had repeatedly made it clear Wayne's contract was his top offseason priority -- implying the Colts would not hesitate to use the franchise tag on their leading receiver from last season. Wayne caught a team-high 83 passes, one more than his Pro Bowl teammate, Marvin Harrison. It marked the first time in Wayne's five seasons that he led the team in receptions. The sides finally agreed to the deal Wednesday, less than 24 hours before the NFL's deadline to designate franchise players. But Wayne wanted more than money out of his contract. "He thinks in terms of enjoying the situation with the team and the offense he's familiar with," Dunn said. "And having Peyton (Manning) throwing you the ball and Coach Dungy doesn't hurt. He thinks it's a good situation." Wayne has caught 304 passes for 4,164 yards and 28 touchdowns in five seasons. He topped the 1,000-yard mark in 2004 and 2005 when he established himself as one of Manning's top targets. He caught a then-career-high 77 passes for 1,210 yards and 12 TDs in 2004 when he became part of the NFL's first receiving trio to top 1,000 yards and 10 TDs. He followed that with last year's 83-catch, 1,055-yard season as his role continued to expand. While Wayne could have fled the Colts for another team, where he could have avoided being overshadowed by Harrison, the Colts' career receiving leader, he opted to stay with a team that has won three straight AFC South titles and been to one conference title game.
As far as CBs go we can forget this guy. Vikings keep hold on CB Williams with transition tag Feb. 23, 2006 CBS SportsLine.com wire reports EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings named cornerback Brian Williams as their transition player on Thursday, which prevents him from becoming an unrestricted free agent. By league rules, the Vikings must tender Williams a one-year qualifying offer at the average of the 10 highest-paid players at his position or 120 percent of his 2005 salary -- whichever is greater. Williams will still be allowed to sign an offer sheet with another team, which Minnesota would have a week to match. The NFL's deadline for designating franchise or transition players was Thursday. Williams replaced an injured Fred Smoot, one of the Vikings' top free-agent signings last year, and started the last eight games. Williams played well enough to keep his spot when Smoot returned, relegating Smoot to the nickelback role. A fourth-round draft pick out of North Carolina State in 2002, Williams has started 48 of a possible 66 games in his career. He had 11 passes defended and four interceptions last season.
Nate Clements is out of the picture too. Bills keep Clements under control with franchise tag Feb. 22, 2006 CBS SportsLine.com wire reports BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Cornerback Nate Clements' plan to pursue a lucrative contract on the free agent market was put on hold Wednesday when the Buffalo Bills designated him their franchise player. The move was expected and allows the Bills to retain the rights to Clements by offering the five-year starter and 2004 Pro Bowl selection a one-year contract worth $5.89 million. "We consider Nate a valuable member of our defense and believe he will play an important role in re-establishing our defense as one of the toughest units in the league," general manager Marv Levy said in a press release. Levy added he remains optimistic the Bills can negotiate a long-term deal with Clements, who was considered one of the prime defensive backs on the market. Clements' agent, Todd France, said he was not surprised by the Bills' decision. Clements can stay away from team functions, including minicamps and training camp, until accepting the offer. That could mean Clements would miss valuable time learning the Bills' defensive philosophy under new coach Dick Jauron. The Bills have the right to pull back the offer at any time, which would make Clements an unrestricted free agent. Although the move makes Clements one of the NFL's top-paid cornerbacks next season, the salary is well below what he envisioned getting when free agency opens March 3. Clements created a stir during training camp last summer, saying he considered himself the NFL's best cornerback and wanted a deal similar to the seven-year, $63 million contract that included an $18 million bonus that Denver's Champ Bailey signed in 2004. Selected 21st overall in the 2001 draft out of Ohio State, Clements has 20 career interceptions and started 72 consecutive games since landing the starter's job midway through his rookie season. Also a threat returning punts, Clements leads the Bills with six career touchdown returns, including four by interception. Clements is coming off a down year. He finished third on the team with a career-low two interceptions -- the first time he failed to lead the Bills in that category -- and third with 127 tackles. Buffalo, which also struggled on offense, finished 5-11 and failed to make the playoffs for the sixth straight year.
Brady has surgery. Maybe we can get him cheap now. Patriots still vague after Brady has surgery Feb. 22, 2006 CBS SportsLine.com wire reports BOSTON -- Tom Brady had surgery last week, although the New England Patriots didn't say Wednesday what kind of operation their star quarterback had. Brady joked about the surgery at a golf tournament in Miami Beach, Fla., on Tuesday, saying he had to take it easy on hard swings. Brady did not play in the NFL Pro Bowl on Feb. 12. The 28-year-old quarterback was at the Super Bowl on Feb. 5 in Detroit, where he was part of the opening coin toss.
A couple of more defensive possiblities. Maybe the Jets can grab these guys. Browns cite cap, cut Lang, Lehan Feb. 23, 2006 CBS SportsLine.com wire reports CLEVELAND -- Kenard Lang, whose sack totals diminished when he was switched from defensive end to linebacker last season, was cut by the Cleveland Browns on Thursday as they worked to get down to the salary cap when free agency begins in a week. The Browns also waived defensive back Michael Lehan. Lang, 31, a nine-year veteran, lost 25 pounds to change position when new coach Romeo Crennel implemented the 3-4 defense in Cleveland. He recorded just two sacks and 43 tackles. "I think Kenard really tried to do his best to make that transition ," Browns general manager Phil Savage said. "I'm not sure if it took away from some of his rush potential on third down." Lang would have made $4.6 million in the last year of his contract. He played four seasons with the Browns and appeared in 62 games, including 49 starts at defensive end. He was a first-round draft pick of Washington in 1997 and played five seasons with the Redskins. His best season came in 2003, when he had a career-high 79 tackles and eight sacks. Lehan, 26, played three seasons with the Browns after being drafted in the fifth round in 2003. He appeared in 32 games, including four starts, and totaled 40 tackles.
I generally like the new articles. Saves me from unnecessary surfing during those all-important money making hours. . . . of course, that doesn't explain my TGG time, but I'm progressing in baby steps.
