Patriots tag Wilfork

[JC_AZ]

Patriots Put Franchise Tag on NT Wilfork

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Feb 22, 1:54 PM (ET)

[FONT=verdana,sans-serif]FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -The New England Patriots have put the franchise tag on Pro Bowl nose tackle Vince Wilfork.

The Patriots said Monday they made the move to continue negotiating a long-term agreement with the six-year veteran. They said that agreement has been their top contractual priority and Wilfork remains a significant part of their plans.
Wilfork has said he would not be happy if the team put the franchise tag on him. The team did not say if it used the exclusive tag, which would prevent another team from signing Wilfork this year, or a non-exclusive tag, which would give the Patriots the right to match any offer for him or receive two first-round draft picks if they don't.
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[Snakester]

So much for the Wilfork dream. Back to Hampton and Pickett

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Not a shock.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Wilfork responds to franchise designation, through Mrs. Wilfork

Posted by Mike Florio on February 22, 2010 2:30 PM ET


In response to the news that the Patriots have applied the franchise tag to defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, the first response from the Wilfork family has come from Mrs. Wilfork.

Bianca Wilfork has been heavily involved in her husband's career. (Some might say she has been too involved.) But on Monday she struck an optimistic tone, without any of the bluster that came from Vince several weeks ago regarding the possible use of the franchise tag.

"After six years of dedicated service I do understand this is a business," she wrote on her Twitter page. "With that 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."

In all fairness, that's not the true purpose of the franchise tag. The true purpose of the franchise tag is to give each team the annual right to squat on one unrestricted free agent. Under the CBA, the only requirement is that the team "have a good faith intention to employ the player . . . during the upcoming season."

So it's a year-to-year tool, which allows the team to keep a player without making the large investment that comes from a multi-year deal based on market value. The union and the league recognized this reality in 2006 by increasing dramatically the price for using the franchise tag a third straight time.

Wilfork might get a long-term deal in 2010, and he might have to wait until 2011. Maybe he gets tagged again next year. Regardless, the true purpose is to give the team a chance to keep the player for at least another year or to do a long-term deal on its own terms, without having to worry about the highest bidder driving up the price -- unless the highest bidder is willing to give up two first-round draft picks in return.