what does it mean when a team franchise tag a player why do players not like it?

Answer 1

First of all there are two types of franchise tags a team can put on a player.

An exclusive tag means the player is paid the average of the top 5 players at his position during the previous year or 120% of his salary during the previous year which ever is greater. An exclusive tag means the player can't even try and sign with another team.

A non-exclusive tag means the player gets paid the same as an exclusive tag but can negotiate with other teams. However the team putting the tag on has the right to match any other teams offer, and if they don't they get two first round picks as compensation.

Most teams do non-exclusive tags because the opportunity for two 1st round picks is better than almost any player.

Dwight Freeney - from the Colts was the only non-exclusive franchise tagged player this year. He is really pissed because he can't even try and sign with another team. Freeney would like to sign a big contract for 5, 6 or more years with nice signing bonus instead of just a one year contract.

A lot of franchised players leave the next year when they are un-restricted free agents. For example Adam Vinetari of the Pats couldn't wait to leave after his franchise tag in 2005-2006 season.

Basically the players stick around for the team for an extra year so they can make a nice playoff run, but generally get pissed off from the one year contract and have a huge contract the following year (as long as their level of play doesn't drop).

Answer 2

When a team tags a player as a franchise player it means that they will pay the player an average of the the top 5 salaries at their position. Players don't like it because, as mostly everyone has stated, it's only a one year deal and can mean that they may lose money if their performance goes down or they get injured. The upside is that if they play as well as they have the team can renegotiate right after the season ends and prevent them from testing the free agent market. The only time that draft picks are involved is during restricted free agency where a team can offer a player a new contract and other teams can also bid. The team that the player is currently on can match any offer he gets. If they can't pay the player what he's offered, the team who gets that player will have to give up draft picks according to the salary paid. Restricted free agents and franchise players are different. Once a player has a franchise tag he pretty much has to play for that team.

Answer 3

it means that the player will receive a one-year deal worth an average of the top 5 salaries for his position that year, or else a 20% raise on his last salary, whichever is higher. it can be given to an unrestricted free agent, to prevent him from leaving, and the salary paid does not count towards the cap. there are two kinds of franchise player tags, exclusive and non-exclusive. if the exclusive tag is used the player cannot sign with another team. if the non-exlcusive tag is used, the player may sign with another team, but then his original team amy match that offer, or else will receive 2 first round draft picks in compensation. teams often use the tag to keep a player from signing a huge deal with another team as a free agent, which is why players don't like it, becuase they have no job security against injury or declining performance.

Answer 4

I just learned that technical answer because of your question. However, bottom line, it means that the team realizes the value of the player and wants to keep him withouth having to shell out more to keep him and at the same time basically prevent him from going to another team and getting more.
No matter how good a player is, it's hard for another team to give up 2 draft picks. Also, for the player, there's no job security in that ONE YEAR DEAL.
What happens the following year? Any number of events could take place What if the one year he is a franchise player his stats go down or he gets an injury that prevents him from playing that year?
Who's gonna offer the same money the next year to acquire him?

Answer 5

a franchise tag will pay the player an average of the top five players at his position but it is only a one year tender that is why players hate it they want a long term deal

those 2 draft picks ben j is talking about both have to be first round selections unless the two teams can work out a deal that would compensate the team otherwise

Answer 6

It means that the current team agrees to pay a one year salary equal to the average of the top 5 paid at that position if no other team signs that player. It also means that any team that would want to sign that player would have to give up 2 draft picks to do so. Players don't like it because it is only a one year deal and they usually want multiple year deals with guaranteed money just in case something should happen.

Answer 7

players that get "franchised" cannot explore other free agency options. they're paid among the 5 best players at their position, but only for 1 year. if another team wants that player, they would have to compensate the other team w/ 1st round draft choice(s). it essentially prevents the player from signing a long term deal. usually good players get these deals & feel like they don't have the freedom to sign a long contract

Answer 8

Strange play on words really. Franchise player means he is the anchor that they base the teams future on. Unfortunately, NFL owners slap that on anyone they don't want to pay more too! Players avoid that for the reason is that it locks them in and takes away bargaining power. Which goes contrary to the way many players think, that the team needs them and therefore should pay the money. I don't think this "Franchise" stamp has ever worked the way the NFL wanted it to.

Answer 9

Players want a long-term contract so they can get paid even if their performance slips due to injury. Franchise tags, although guaranteeing good dough, only cover one year.