At this moment, the deadline is passing for franchise players to get into a long-term deal for this season, like Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby. As has been hashed out once or twice over the past few days, Dansby and the team didn't come to an agreement and now Dansby can't sign long-term until after the season. It's not a unique situation; of the 14 players who were given franchise tags back in late February, only five apparently came to long-term deals (barring any last-second agreements that just haven't gone public yet): Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill (who actually had the tag taken off before he got a new contract), Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, Steelers tackle Max Starks, Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel and this morning, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs.
(Quick aside: $40 million for Suggs within the first couple of years? Wow. Great for Suggs, and he is a star. But for that kind of money, I'd need more than eight sacks in the regular season. I don't know if I think it would directly affect Dansby – it's apples and oranges in a league where teams offer deals based on players who play the same spot, and Dansby isn't the pass rusher Suggs is – but you know Karlos has to be anxious to get to the open market.)
Here is the list, aside from Dansby, of franchised players who didn't get a long-term deal:
- Bucs WR Antonio Bryant
- Bengals K Shayne Graham
- Falcons P Michael Koenen
- Panthers DE Julius Peppers
- Titans TE Bo Scaife
- Chargers RB Darren Sproles
- Rams S Oshiomogho Atogwe
- Texans CB Dunta Robinson
A fairly big list. It'll be interesting to see which ones, if any, get an extension done after the season or if they all hit the open market. And whether they benefit from an uncapped year (assuming there is one) or if the economic conditions changes the game.
