Franchise and Transition Players Named
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Franchise and transition players for the 2008 NFL free agency signing period that begins on February 29 were announced today. Don’t know what a franchise or transition player is? Here’s your quick 101. A club can designate one “franchise” player or one “transition” player among its veteran free agents. The salary offer by a player’s club determines what type of franchise player he is. An “exclusive” franchise player — not free to sign with another club — is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player’s position as of April 18, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater. Oakland Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha was designated by the Raiders this year as an exclusive franchise player. If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs. His club can match a new club’s offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match. The signing period for non-exclusive franchise players to sign with new clubs is February 29 through the 10th week of the season (November 11).
A transition player receives a minimum offer of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player’s position or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, whichever is greater. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation.
That wasn’t so complicated, was it? Anyway, here are the franchise players for 2008. There was only one transition player named and that was Pittsburgh Steelers tackle Max Starks.
- Jared Allen, DE, Kansas City
- Stacy Andrews, G, Cincinnati
- Nnamdi Asomugha, CB, Oakland
- Karlos Dansby, LB, Arizona
- Jordan Gross, T, Carolina
- Ken Hamlin, S, Dallas
- Albert Haynesworth, DT, Tennessee
- L.J. Smith, TE, Philadelphia
- Terrell Suggs, LB, Baltimore
- Marcus Truffant, CB, Seattle
- Corey Williams, DT, Green Bay
A lot of people were up-in-arms because New England Patriots WR Randy Moss hadn’t been franchised, thus making the Patriots’ intentions for him unclear. I feel certain the Pats have an arrangement with Randy already in-place. How else can you explain it? New England just isn’t dumb enough to let the best wide receiver in football get away from them. But if Randy and the Patriots do have a multiyear contract in-place, it cannot be announced until February 29.
Tags: Albert-Haynesworth, Corey Williams, franchise players, Jared-Allen, Jordan Gross, Karlos Dansby, Ken-Hamlin, L.J. Smith, Marcus-Trufant, Max Starks, Nnamdi Asomugha, Oakland Raiders, randy-moss, Stacy Andrews, Terrell Suggs, transition playersRelated Stories
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1 opinion for Franchise and Transition Players Named
Jason
Feb 27, 2008 at 10:16 am
You have to believe that New England definitely won’t let Moss go. He was incredible this past season. I’d expect a multi-year deal after 2/29.
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