Taking no chance in getting into a bidding war with another NFL team, the Dallas Cowboys are reportedly leaning toward using the franchise tag on wide receiver Dez Bryant. The move is one Bryant isn’t pleased with, even though he says he has no intention to sign with any team other than the Cowboys. Monday was the first day NFL teams could begin assigning the franchise tag.
I wish They felt the same way but it's cool.. It's #business RT @FrankyGonzalez3: I love how dedicated @DezBryant is to the @dallascowboys
— Dez Bryant (@DezBryant) February 17, 2015
The Cowboys have until March 2 to use the tag and could save it for a possible use on DeMarco Murray if they can work out a deal with Bryant before then. Bryant will likely command a contract in the $16-$17 million a year range to sign long term. Currently the highest paid wideout in the league is the Detroit Lions’ Calvin Johnson who will make $16.2 million in 2015. Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald is right behind him with a $16.1 million contract, but Cardinals owner Bill Bidwell has made it clear that number must change for Fitzgerald to remain with the team.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is in no rush to use the tag, which would pay Bryant around $13 million for the 2015 season only, but will not take any chances on losing Bryant. The franchise tag is a one-year offer sheet that pays a player an average of the top five players at his position or 120 percent of his previous year’s salary, whichever is higher. The tag forces the player to remain with his current team, whether he likes it or not.
“Right now we’re probably leaning that way,” Jones said. “But that doesn’t mean it won’t change. We’re probably wait until the midnight hour to make that decision.”
Bryant is coming off a monster season for the Cowboys, catching 88 passes for 1,320 yards and 16 touchdowns. Bryant has scored double-digit touchdowns for three consecutive seasons.
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Rams reportedly won’t use any free agent tags for the sixth consecutive season
In a move that either says a lot about the St. Louis Rams’ ability to work out long-term deals with their current players or the quality of the players on their team (probably a little of both), the team will not assign any franchise or transition tags on its free agents again this season. The Rams haven’t used a franchise tag since 2009 on safety Oshiomogho Atogwe.
The Rams do have some free agents they need to keep like wide receiver Kenny Britt, tight end Lance Kendricks and offensive tackle Joe Barksdale, but either feel comfortable enough that they can work out a deal prior to free agency or that they can still retain the players once they test the market.
Chiefs cut Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins
Kansas City released two underperforming wide receivers Tuesday, letting both Donnie Avery and A.J. Jenkins go. Kansas City’s wideouts were disappointing as a unit as a whole, but Avery, who rejuvenated his career in Indianapolis two years ago, was a particular bust, catching just 15 passes for 176 yards. Avery was injured most of the year with a sports hernia, returning late in the season. Avery was deactivated by the Chiefs for the final two games.
As busts go, however, Jenkins may take the trophy. A 2012 first-round pick by the San Francisco 49ers, Jenkins never saw the field once as a rookie and was traded for the Chiefs’ own first-round bust Jonathan Baldwin in 2013. The 49ers cut Baldwin last August and he is currently out of the NFL. Today was doomsday for Jenkins. In his two seasons with the Chiefs, Jenkins caught 17 passes even though he was targeted 33 times for 223 yards and no touchdowns. The move frees up $4.7 million in cap space for the Chiefs.
Panthers release safety Thomas DeCoud, re-sign Chris Scott
After replacing Thomas DeCoud in the starting lineup for the final four games and the playoffs last season, the Carolina Panthers gave him his walking papers Tuesday. The move frees up $1.9 million in cap space for the Panthers.
DeCoud is a seven-year veteran who began his career in Atlanta and reeled in a $17.5 million contract in 2012 before the Falcons cut him a year later. He was replaced in the starting lineup in Carolina by rookie Tre Boston, who didn’t fare much better in the role so look for the Panthers to address the safety position in free agency or the draft.
The Panthers also announced they re-signed back-up offensive lineman Chris Scott to a one-year extension, keeping the 6-foot-4, 345-pound, 27-year old guard from hitting free agency.
