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Which FA do you see really coming to the Phish most of the guys I keep hearing are all going to be Franchised (Nate clemens, Steve Hutchison, Reggie Wayne) Who is realistically is coming to the Phish. I really wouldnt mind TO and some OLINEMEN

I would love like hell to get Hutch or Celment.  Those guys could come in and have an immediate impact.

Not sure if the 'Hawks can afford to tag Hutch, though.  He went to high school down here, maybe he might have an eye on the fins?

I don't see too many "big time" free agents coming. Historically we find 2-3 guys to come in and fill roles. One or two are usually a starter, but I don't see any of the big name guys coming.

I honestly think the Seahawks will use their franchise tag on Shaun Alexander, leaving Hutchinson to come to us.  If we can pick him up as well as LeCharles Bentley and draft a Winston Justice or D'Brickshaw Ferguson, we're in pretty good shape on the line.

Welcome to the boards BillKilla.  When you get a chance, go to the Roll Call thread in the Off Topic forum and tell us more about yourself.

Seattle cannot use the Franchise tag on Alexander.   If they use it then it will be on Hutchinson.  Bentley is possible, but his asking price might be more than what the team wants to pay a center.

As for Ferguson.  He is considered top 5.  No way Miami can land him unless they trade up.  Justice is possible.

Adam Archuleta.

Why can't they use their franchise tag on Alexander?  They used it last year, and he signed a one-year deal.  They can definitely do it again.

I would like LeCharles Bentley, Chris Hope(S) from the Steelers, and a D-Back, possibly DeShea Townsend or Ricky Manning Jr.. Clement, Law, and Woodson would all be way out of price range.

Boy, am I excited! Couple weeks away!

Actually, they can't. Alexander had wording written into his contract when they franchised him last year that doesn't allow Seattle to franchise him again. They either sign him to a new contract or they let him go.

Barring a bizarre planetary convergence, Hutchinson will be the 'Hawks franchise tag this offseason.

And how do I go about arranging one of these "planetary convergences" again?

They agreed not to before signing last years contract.  I'm assuming the agent got it all in writing.

OK, I didn't know about the special wording in his contract.  However, this is the exception, not the rule. 

If I'm not mistaken, NFL guidelines state than when you franchise a player, the franchise tag sticks with him for the length of the FIRST contract he signs.  So if he signs for, say, a five year deal, the tag sticks with him for five years.  If he signs the one-year franchise tender, the tag can be used again next year, regardless if he signs a long term deal right after that. 

Never mind...Stoke has  what I said covered to a Tee... ;)

Not exactly...The way I understand the definition of the rule, once a player who has been tagged signs a long-term contract, the club is free to use the tag on another player the next season. There are no lingering tag effects on a player once he signs a long-term contract.

Here's a good breakdown of franchise and transition tagging:


* A club can designate one franchise player or one transition player in any given year.

* The salary level offer by a player's old 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 16, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater.

* 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 old 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 March 3 through November 9 (10th week of the season).

* A transition player has received 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. Transition players can be signed from March 3 through July 22.


...above from About.com

Since this is a thread about free agents, here is an "incomplete" list of available talent by position. Obviously some of these guys will get tagged by their clubs (Hutchinson, Clements), but this seems to be the best of what's out there:

Offense

 QB:  Drew Brees, Jon Kitna, Chris Simms (restricted), Josh McCown, Seneca Wallace (restricted), Jeff Garcia, Chris Weinke, Jeff Blake, Charlie Batch, Jamie Martin, Ty Detmer, Todd Collins, Anthony Wright

RB:  Shaun Alexander, Edgerrin James, Jamal Lewis, Ahman Green, DeShaun Foster, Chester Taylor, Najeh Davenport, Ron Dayne, Michael Bennett, Jonathan Wells
 
FB: Mack Strong, Lorenzo Neal, William Henderson, Fred Beasley, Jeremi Johnson

WR: Reggie Wayne, David Givens, Joe Jurevicius, Antwaan Randle El, Antonio Bryant, Nate Burleson (restricted), Brandon Lloyd (restricted), Kevin Curtis (restricted), Shaun McDonald (restricted)

TE:  Chris Baker, Christian Fauria, Jerame Tuman, Aaron Shea, Justin Peelle, Dan Campbell, Matt Schobel

OT: Jon Runyan, Jeff Backus, L.J. Shelton, Kevin Shaffer, Tom Ashworth, Mike Pearson, Stockar McDougle, John St. Clair, Kevin Barry, Anthony Clement, Victor Riley, Tony Pashos (restricted), Wayne Hunter (restricted), Jordan Black (restricted)

OG:  Steve Hutchinson, Tutan Reyes, Stephen Neal, Terrence Metcalf, Toniu Fonoti, Grey Ruegamer, Vince Manuwai (restricted), David Diehl (restricted), Reggie Wells(restricted), Sean Mahan (restricted), Montrae Holland (restricted)

C:  LeCharles Bentley, Roberto Garza, Mike Flanagan, Jeff Mitchell, Justin Hartwig, Trey Teague, Seth McKinney, Melvin Fowler


Defense


DT:  Grady Jackson, Chris Hovan, Russell Davis, Ryan Pickett, Damione Lewis, Rocky Bernard, Ron Edwards, James Reed

DE: John Abraham, Darren Howard, Kyle Vanden Bosch, Aaron Kampman, Kimo von Oelhoffen, Orpheus Roye, Anthony Weaver, Kalimba Edwards, Robert Mathis (restricted)

ILB:  Andra Davis, Gary Brackett, Derek Smith, Brandon Moore, Brad Kassell, DaShon Polk, Ben Taylor, Gerald Hayes (restricted)

OLB:  Julian Peterson, Will Witherspoon, Akin Ayodele, Ben Leber, Antwan Peek (restricted), Tommy Polley, Bart Scott, Scott Fujita, Nick Greisen, Raonall Smith, Hunter Hillenmeyer (restricted)

CB: Nate Clements, Charles Woodson, Deshea Townsend, Ike Taylor (restricted), Brian Williams, Terrence McGee (restricted), Ricky Manning Jr.(restricted)

S: Adam Archuleta, Chris Hope, Corey Chavous, Dexter Jackson, Will Demps, Tank Williams, Marlon McCree, Ryan Clark

Being an FSU homer, I'd love to see the Dolphins get Dexter Jackson, Chris Hope and Orpheus Roye.   They could use them all, particularly the first two. 

I'm not up on the date but its sometime in July.  If a team signs the franchise player prior to this date in July then they will not be able to use the franchise tag again until that contract is up.  Its a loop hole & its one that teams use.  Miami has used it a time or two.

A couple of years ago Miami used the tag on Taylor.  JT signed his tender, then waited till July to sign his long term deal he is currently playing under.

Here's an official transcript of the agreement.

Seattle: Shaun, we've designated you as our franchise player for 2005.  Here's the one year tender as required by the NFL CBA.

Shaun: I'll sign this if you promise not to designate me as your franchise player again next year.

Seattle: Agreed.

Shaun: Can I get a group hug to consumate our agreement?