Happy Birthday Jason....

Thanks Steve. :)
I'm gonna get rocked tomorrow night :D (since you're 5 hours ahead)

At this point I have to say fair play to the Bears, particularly after my earlier criticism.

I also found out today that I put money on the bears to win the whole lot at the beginning of the season. Not too much and only with a friend, but it'll make it interesting. I still want Indy to win. I've watched so many of their games this season that I now feel connected to all their team (except Cado June) and Jeff Saturday = God.

BTW I think as a matchup with an AFC team goes, Chicago will be happy to get Indy. Indy's weakness was defending the run, the Bears have Jones and Benson. Indy's strength is it's passing game, and judging by the Saints game the Bears defence can both rush the passer and cover guys downfield.

I think if you're Indy they'll put eight guys in the box and try to make Grossman be the one to win the game if he can.

Essentially, if a player is "franchised" by their team they are protecting their asset from just walking as a FA to another team. Say the Pats franchise Samuel, if another team then makes an offer to him then the Pats have the right to match the offer from the other team.

Should Samuel choose to go and the Pats have matched the offer (I think) the Pats have to be given a 1st round pick from the following years draft, plus I think either a 2nd or 3rd round pick too from the team in question in compensation of losing him.

Should Samuel decide to stay then the Pats have to offer him one years salary based upon what the top 5 guys are earning in his position (ie. CB) for that year.

There are a couple of minor details/amendments to this, but that is essentially it. There is also another "tag" (which is less beneficial) but still affords the "selling" team some protection from losing a player. I forget what it is called though.

Hope that helps.

PS. SF are possibly in the frame for Samuel (but I'd rather us get Clements).

Is that restricted free agency?

I think there are two types of Franchise tags - restricted and unrestricted.

Dunno what the difference is!

Had to research that one, no it is a "transition".

Here it is in all it's glory............ by the way Samuels agent has said that if the Pats franchise him there will be some acrimony! Hmmm.


2006 free-agency period; 470 free agents
NEW YORK (March 11, 2006) -- The National Football League today announced that 470 players are free agents who now can negotiate with all 32 clubs.

The free agents include three players who this year were designated by their clubs as "franchise" players, and one who was named a "transition" player. Franchise and transition players are special categories for restricted and unrestricted free agents. The deadline for making these designations for 2006 was February 23.


Franchise Players Transition Players
John Abraham, DE, New York Jets Steve Hutchinson, G, Seattle
Jeff Backus, T, Detroit
Nate Clements, CB, Buffalo


In 2005, 11 players were designated as franchise players and one as a transition player.
There are two types of franchise players. Clubs retain exclusive negotiating rights to an "exclusive" franchise player by committing to a minimum offer of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of the end of the restricted free agent signing period on April 21, or a 20 percent increase over his 2005 salary, or the average of the top five salaries at his position as of the end of last season -- whichever of the three is greater. Other clubs cannot negotiate with exclusive franchise players. No exclusive franchise players were named this year.

The second type of franchise player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at his position in the 2005 season, or a 20 percent salary increase, whichever is greater. This type of franchise player may negotiate with other clubs. His original club may match the offer and retain the player, or receive two first-round draft choices as compensation if the original club elects not to match.

Each club is permitted one franchise designation in any year of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. If a franchise player signs a multiyear contract with his current club between February 23 and July 15, the club retains its franchise player designation for the following league year. After July 15, any contract signed by a franchise player can only be for one year.

Also, a club may designate a transition player in lieu of a franchise player in any year when the franchise designation is available. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match an offer sheet given to the player by another club. To designate a transition player, the club must offer a minimum of the average of the top 10 salaries of 2005 at the player's position, or a 20 percent salary increase, whichever is greater.

In the event a player retires, suffers a career-ending injury or is otherwise unavailable due to non-football circumstances, a club has the right to designate another franchise or transition player.

A club may withdraw a franchise or transition designation at any time. The player becomes an unrestricted free agent when that withdrawal occurs, and the team can use one of the designations on another player at the appropriate time.

Unrestricted veteran free agents are players who have completed four or more accrued seasons of service and whose contracts have expired. They are free to sign with any club through July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). On July 23, their exclusive rights will revert to their original club if that club made a June 1 tender to these players. Teams will have until the Tuesday after the 10th week of the season (November 14) to sign their unrestricted veteran free agents to whom a tender was made on June 1. If the player does not sign by November 14, he must continue to sit out the remainder of the season. If a June 1 tender is not made to an unrestricted free agent, he continues to be free to sign with any club.

Restricted free agents are players who have completed three accrued seasons of service and whose contracts have expired. They have received qualifying offers from their old clubs and are free to negotiate with any club until April 21, at which time their rights revert to their original club. If a player accepts an offer from a new club, the old club will have the right to match the offer and retain the player. If the old club elects not to match the offer, it may receive draft-choice compensation depending on the level of the qualifying offer made to the player.

The signing period for unrestricted free agents begins March 11 and concludes on July 22 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later). The signing period for restricted free agents also begins March 11 but concludes on April 21.

Anyone else going to Superbash IV? I just won a pair of tickets :lux: :lux: :lux: :lux:

What is Superbash? ;)

My friend won us tickets (through being awesome at madden).

I'm playing Hallam on superbowl day, and to be honest, our party is better.

Not strictly related, but are any of you American folk (or naughty English people too), watching Friday Night Lights?

Mmmmm... Lyla

Dear Mr Goodell,
Thank you for bringing a regular season game to London. Thank you that it seems almost certain to include the Dolphins.

Now please hurry up and announce the date - some of us have work to do!

Yours sincerely,
SE

(Press conference at 4.15pm apparently)

Well, what happened?

October 28th apparently. :lux:

I suppose you're going to make me look up who's playing? :hmph:

:afro:

The Miami Dolphins will host the New York Giants at London’s Wembley Stadium in the first NFL regular-season game to be played outside of North America, National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell announced today.


Speaking in Miami two days before Super Bowl XLI, Commissioner Goodell said the game will be played on Sunday, October 28 – in Week 8 of the 2007 season – and will kick off at 6:00 PM local time.


Fans can register their interest in tickets for the game by visiting http://www.nfllondon2007.com

Would have nice to have seen Tiki playing though :(

You think it will be a packed house?

Yes, very much so, could probably sell out Wembley, which will be 90,00 capacity, 5 times over.