Steelers Sign Casey Hampton To 3 Year Deal

The Pittsburgh Steelers have reached an agreement on a 3 year contract with nose tackle Casey Hampton. This is great news for the Steelers as they really need Hampton in the middle of that defense. Having a guy in a middle like Hampton makes all the Steelers LBs better.

On top of that the Steelers can now put that franchise tag on someone else, and they already have, deciding to use it on kicker Jeff Reed. With all this taken care of the Steelers should focus on fixing that offensive line, which can be done in the draft as that is a position of depth this year.

Patriots Close To Deal With Wilfork

A very ugly situation may not be so ugly after all. Today Kraft came out and said that the Patriots and Vince Wilfork, who is currently franchised, are close to a long term deal, and they hope to finish it up soon. There is no word from Wilfork, but this is the most positive news we have heard in a long time. Wilfork might be the best player on the Patriots' defense, and it is hard to find a guy who can dominate the middle of that line like Wilfork does.

Kraft also talked about Randy Moss' comments. If you can remember Moss came out and said the Patriots don't pay top dollar, and that this would most likely be his last year in New England. Here is Kraft's response...

“I think (his comments) were taken out of context,” Kraft said. “Do you know what he made over the last two years with us? He made over $20 million the last two years. We don’t pay for quality? I think you can see that (we do).”

Both have points. On the one hand Moss needs to shut up, because he has been paid every well here, but on the other hand the Patriots have a track record of not going out and signing the top free agents. Not that is a bad thing, because with the salary cap you can't be a good/deep team and recklessly spend (ask Washington).

Anyways, I will be very happy if this Wilfork contract can be settled, and they can start focusing on next season. As for Moss, he doesn't have a lot of options. He has to go out and 100% this year if he wants to make any money next offseason, and to be honest I am fine with this being his last year in New England.

Panthers Won't Franchise Peppers

With the Panthers deciding not to franchise Peppers he will not become a free agent. If the Panthers were to have done it, it would have cost them around $21MM, which is just insane. Peppers is said to be looking for at least $15MM a year, but most people think that in this market is he likely only to get $10MM.

I know a lot of people think he is coming to the Patriots, but I don't believe it unless they work something out with Wilfork. If the Patriots were to go out and sign Peppers for lets say $12MM, Wilfork would literally go rip Belichick in half. Plus, that is a lot of money for a guy who is now 30 years old, and really isn't known for giving effort all the time. Don't get me wrong, for the right price I would love to see him here, but I just don't see that happening. Someone will overpay for him (Browns, KC, 49ers, ect)...

Breaking News: Vince Wilfork Gets Tagged (UPDATED)

Well, what we all thought would happen has finally happened. Vince Wilfork was franchised by the New England Patriots today. Wilfork has said that he will not be a happy camper if this was to happen. There is a little crack in the door though, as this is a non-exclusive franchise tag meaning he can negotiate with other clubs, but the Patriots retain matching rights and any club signing him (if New England were to decline to match) would have to give up 2 first round picks.

This will be an ongoing story throughout the offseason, and probably into the start of the season. Wilfork is set to make $7.003MM, but would have made a lot more in the open market. I don't fault the Patriots, since I think his demands are most likely crazy. The last four times the Patriots have used the tag, the sides have failed to reach a long-term deal.

Obviously, we'll have more on this story as it develops.


***UPDATE***

Wilfork has responded to he Patriots franchising him...

"In regards to the many calls and emails i am receiving in response to the franchise tag we figured this would be the easiest way to (address this). The franchise tag has been applied. After six years of dedicated service i do understand this is a business. With that being said it is my hope that the tag is applied for its true purpose. For the purpose of allotting more time for us to continue our talks and be able to reach a long term agreement. Only time will tell what the final result will be."

The Patriots have also come out and commented on this story...

"A long-term agreement with Vince Wilfork has been the team's top contractual priority for some time," the Patriots announced in a statement confirming Wilfork was tagged. "Unfortunately, despite numerous conversations and proposals, the goal has not yet been realized. Vince is a tremendous player for our team and remains a significant part of our future plans. It is because of Vince's importance to this organization that we have assigned the franchise designation as we continue to work toward a long-term agreement. We are hopeful that Vince will remain a Patriot for many years to come."

It's Tag Time For Wilfork

NFL teams can start using the franchise tag today. This is a really big deal for the Patriots this year. Wilfork is a free agent, and is looking for a lucrative long term deal. To me it is not a question of if Wilfork will be tagged, but when.

The Patriots have until Feb 25th to franchise him, so I would expect that they are going to take up until that day to do it. They might try to work out a deal, but I am not very optimistic. What I think will happen will be the Patriots will franchise him (he'll make about $8MM next year), but I think they will go beyond that and do an exclusive tag, which will cost more, but Wilfork will lose the ability to talk to other teams (the Ravens did this with Suggs last year).

From Wilfork's quotes earlier this offseason you would think that there is no way he is going to show up without a new deal, but what choice does he have. Even if he holds out the Patriots can just franchise him again the following season. Sucks to be Wilfork, but he is going to make a ton of money anyways, and NFL contract lengths really don't matter, since they are all basically not guaranteed.

Peppers Tells The Panthers To Fuck Off

Julius Peppers no longer wants a long-term contract with Carolina Panthers. His reasoning is that the Panthers have ignored him all offseason, which is kind of funny since the Super Bowl just ended this weekend, but whatever. He has wanted out for 2 years now, and the Panthers are in a really tough spot. They can franchise him again, but he might not show up this time, plus the price tag is crazy. I was really on board for the Patriots going after him, but I don't think it is worth it (and that is saying something since I am a huge Peppers fan). My reasoning? Well look at this quote...

"That deal was to make me the highest-paid defensive player, but slightly, very slightly," Peppers said. "I didn't really feel the sincerity behind that deal."

The Panthers offered him to the be highest paid defensive player in the NFL after a 2007 season in which he only had 2 1/2 sacks. I'm sorry Peppers, but you are asking for too much. I also question whether he will be one of those guys that gets his money and then takes it easy. I don't know what will happen with him, but I don't think he will be with the Panthers or the Patriots next season.

Karlos Dansby Franchised Again

"Karlos Dansby will be the Arizona Cardinals' franchise player for the second straight season. The linebacker failed to reach a long-term agreement with the team by Wednesday's deadline, meaning he will keep the franchise tag for the coming season (Sportsline)."

Dansby is taking this the right way. He sees that Suggs just cashed in big time, so he knows if he can keep up his play he will likely get a similar contract. Dansby will make $9.7 million next season, so he really can't complain. He also seems to really like Arizona, so I expect that they will come to some kind of deal by the start of next season. If not, making $9.7 million a year is not bad...

Peppers and Carolina Can't Agree On Long Term Deal

"The deadline for the Carolina Panthers to strike a long-term deal with franchise defensive end Julius Peppers passed Wednesday without an agreement. Peppers will now play under a one-year contract worth at least $16.7 million, creating the prospect for another offseason of uncertainty next year (Sportsline)."

Damn that is a lot of money for 1 player. Peppers wanted out of Carolina, but with a pay day like that I don't think he minds sticking around for another year. Peppers, when motivated, is one of the best players in the NFL, but he can disappear at times and I would worry about signing him long term (even though he is one of my favorite players from his days at UNC). It will be interesting to see where he will end up after this season, but at least now Carolina can focus on their season instead of trying to trade/sign Peppers...

Peppers Ends Holdout

"Julius Peppers' long stalemate with the Carolina Panthers is over. The four-time Pro Bowl defensive end signed his one-year, $16.7 million tender under the franchise tag Wednesday, ending the chances that Peppers could hold out at the start of training camp (Sportsline)."

Peppers demanded to be traded, and the Panthers entertained offers, but were not able to move him. Instead of letting this bleed into the start of camp the Panthers have given up a lot of money so that Peppers will be "happy" for the upcoming season. I still think they will be looking to move him, but it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to keep Peppers, especially if he is in a "contract year".

Ravens Franchise Suggs

"The Baltimore Ravens slapped the exclusive rights franchise tag on hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker Terrell Suggs Wednesday. This is the second consecutive year the Ravens have designated Suggs as the team's franchise player (ESPN)."

The Ravens want to sign Suggs long term, but this at least buys them some time to do so, while not allowing other teams to go after him. Things are getting very interesting in Baltimore, because if the Ravens can't strike a deal with Ray Lewis then he will be able to test the market. There will be a lot of teams out there that will likely overpay to get Lewis. It would be really odd to see Lewis in any other uniform then the Ravens.

Suggs will make $10.2 million for one year if a long term deal cannot be reached before the start of the season.

Cardinals Franchise Dansby

"The Arizona Cardinals have put a non-exclusive franchise tag on linebacker Karlos Dansby. The move guarantees Dansby a salary of at least $9.7 million next season, the average salary of the five highest-paid players at his position. It also represents a 20 percent raise over what he made last year (Sportsline)."

Great move by the Cardinals as Dansby is one of the most underrated LBs in the NFL. This way they can continue to work out a long term deal, while not having to worry about whether or not he will be on the team in 2009. Dansby finished 2008 with 119 total tackles (95 solo), four sacks, two interceptions, two forced fumbles and five passes defensed. If the Cardinals are able to get Boldin off their payroll, and sign some more defensive players (and a RB?) they could be a very good team again next season.

Patriots Officially Franchise Cassel

The Patriots wanting to waste no time franchising Matt Cassel, franchised him on the first day that they were allowed to. Now if any team wants to sign Cassel they will have to give the Patriots 2 first round draft picks. As much as everyone loves Cassel no one is going to come close to giving up two 1st round picks for this guy, but franchising him also buys the Patriots some time to his how Brady's recovery goes. There is no way the Patriots will leave Cassel on the roster unless something horrible happens to Brady, so look for the Patriots to start shopping him around from now up until the NFL Draft (April).

Cassel has to be a happy man today as he just went from making $520,000 in 2008 to $14.65 million for the upcoming season. I wish my job would give me raises like that. Anyways, good for you Cassel you deserve it.

Cassel's Tag $14.6 million

"As expected, the franchise tag figure for quarterbacks is in the $14 million range. The exact figure is $14.6 million (Boston.com)."

That is a lot of money, actually it is the exact same amount that Tom Brady makes. With a lot of QBs staying in college (Tebow, McCoy, ect) the market for Cassel may be going through the roof. If that is the case, and the Patriots could get a high 2nd round pick for Cassel (or better), you would think they would pull the trigger in a second. Obviously everything hangs on Brady being 100% for next season, which recent information seems to suggest he is on target to be. Either way, Cassel has to be pumped that he went from a not starting in college to a QB in the NFL worth $14.6 million.

Patriots To Franchise Cassel

"The New England Patriots have decided to ensure that quarterback Matt Cassel won't be an unrestricted free agent, as scheduled in March. Sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that the Patriots will use a franchise tag on Cassel that will give the team two options: Trade him if all goes well with Tom Brady's rehabilitation from a knee injury or keep him because all is not well with Brady (ESPN)."

I know a lot of people are not surprised by this, but I am. This means the Patriots would have about $29 million in salary cap space tied up in two quarterbacks. Here is a couple reasons why may have done this...

1. Brady is really messed up, and the Patriots really worried he won't be ready to begin the season.

2. The Patriots don't want to let Cassel become a free agent, so the franchise him so they can trade him for draft picks or something like that.

3. Brady is fine, but they still are worried about his long term health.

I think it is most likely #2, but I am getting worried that it might be for the first reason. I hope Brady can come back, but Cassel did prove he can get this team 11 wins. There is no way it is reason 3, because the team needs to address a of issues, and have 14 million tied up on a backup QB is just stupid. We will have to wait and see, but for the people who think Brady could be done for a long time, this will give fuel to that fire.

-BMack