Franchise tag means big payday for Hampton

[fordfixer]

Franchise tag means big payday for Hampton

By Scott Brown, PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, February 5, 2010
[url="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/s_665733.html"]http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsbu ... 65733.html[/url]

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — If the Steelers use a franchise tag on nose tackle Casey Hampton they will have to offer the unrestricted free agent a one-year deal worth just over $7.7 million.

That represents the average of the top five salaries for defensive tackles in 2009, a figure that the National Football Players' Association released Thursday.

Hampton, who made $6.45 million last season, told the Tribune-Review last week that there will "be a problem" if the Steelers use a franchise tag on him.

Hampton, 32, said he wants the Steelers to sign him to a long-term contract or let him test the market without any restrictions.

Teams could still negotiate with Hampton if the Steelers use a nonexclusive franchise tag on him. They would, however, have to give up a pair of first-round draft picks if Hampton signs with that team and the Steelers decline to match it.

The Steelers have until Feb. 25 to use the franchise tag on Hampton or one of their other unrestricted free agents. They have said they want Hampton to return to the team in 2010.

Hampton, who played in his fifth Pro Bowl last Sunday, has been with the Steelers since 2001.

[BradshawsHairdresser]

Slap the non-exclusive franchise tag on his fat arrr$$e.

[papillon]

Slap the non-exclusive franchise tag on his fat arrr$$e.

I agree and if someone offers him a contract then let him walk and take the two firsts. I'd rather play a year with Hoke as the NT and have two 1st round picks in the pocket for the future than Hampton. I'd love to see him stay and finish as a Steeler, but two firsts is a nice return on your investment. You win a couple Super Bowls and don't overpay him and then when he's in the twilight of his career you get him for one year at 7.7 million or two firsts if someone makes him an offer, that's a win-win situation as I see it.

The 2011 season is going to be a wash in all likelihood, so getting next year out of Hampton would end the part of his career where he's effective, by the time they play football again he'll 34 or 35 and done. Casey doesn't hold any cards in this game, he's bluffing trying to get the Steelers to do something stupid.

Pappy

[Oviedo]

Slap the non-exclusive franchise tag on his fat arrr$$e.

I agree and if someone offers him a contract then let him walk and take the two firsts. I'd rather play a year with Hoke as the NT and have two 1st round picks in the pocket for the future than Hampton. I'd love to see him stay and finish as a Steeler, but two firsts is a nice return on your investment. You win a couple Super Bowls and don't overpay him and then when he's in the twilight of his career you get him for one year at 7.7 million or two firsts if someone makes him an offer, that's a win-win situation as I see it.

The 2011 season is going to be a wash in all likelihood, so getting next year out of Hampton would end the part of his career where he's effective, by the time they play football again he'll 34 or 35 and done. Casey doesn't hold any cards in this game, he's bluffing trying to get the Steelers to do something stupid.

Pappy

Completely agree. Tag him and force that $7+M dollars down his throat. If that pisses him off and he becomes a problem then that will be proof what kind of player he would be long term once he signs that big contract.

[papillon]

Slap the non-exclusive franchise tag on his fat arrr$$e.

I agree and if someone offers him a contract then let him walk and take the two firsts. I'd rather play a year with Hoke as the NT and have two 1st round picks in the pocket for the future than Hampton. I'd love to see him stay and finish as a Steeler, but two firsts is a nice return on your investment. You win a couple Super Bowls and don't overpay him and then when he's in the twilight of his career you get him for one year at 7.7 million or two firsts if someone makes him an offer, that's a win-win situation as I see it.

The 2011 season is going to be a wash in all likelihood, so getting next year out of Hampton would end the part of his career where he's effective, by the time they play football again he'll 34 or 35 and done. Casey doesn't hold any cards in this game, he's bluffing trying to get the Steelers to do something stupid.

Pappy

Completely agree. Tag him and force that $7+M dollars down his throat. If that pisses him off and he becomes a problem then that will be proof what kind of player he would be long term once he signs that big contract.

His agent is trying to get something for him for which they really do not have any leverage to get at this point. They should have thought about this when they signedf the first long term agreement. You don't have to be able to calculate integral calculus to figure out how old you'll be when a contract expires and the potential ramifications of that.

Pappy

[Iron Shiek]

He was still trying to figure out Lebeau's confusing a$$ defense before he signed his first long term contract so they weren't sure how good he was gonna be.

[papillon]

He was still trying to figure out Lebeau's confusing a$$ defense before he signed his first long term contract so they weren't sure how good he was gonna be.

Ues, but they knew how old he would be. :P

Pappy

[RuthlessBurgher]

If the Steelers use a franchise tag on nose tackle Casey Hampton they will have to offer the unrestricted free agent a one-year deal worth just over $7.7 million.

That represents the average of the top five salaries for defensive tackles in 2009, a figure that the National Football Players' Association released Thursday.

No, the average of the top five salaries for defensive tackles in 2009 was roughly $7 million (more lazy reporting). The $7.7 million figure represents a 120% raise over his $6.45 million salary from last season. A franchised player gets either the average of the top 5 players at his position from a year ago, or 120% of his previous year's salary (whichever is higher).

[Shoe]

Slap the non-exclusive franchise tag on his fat arrr$$e.

I agree and if someone offers him a contract then let him walk and take the two firsts. I'd rather play a year with Hoke as the NT and have two 1st round picks in the pocket for the future than Hampton. I'd love to see him stay and finish as a Steeler, but two firsts is a nice return on your investment. You win a couple Super Bowls and don't overpay him and then when he's in the twilight of his career you get him for one year at 7.7 million or two firsts if someone makes him an offer, that's a win-win situation as I see it.

Haha... Good luck finding a team STUPID enough to give up two firsts for a rapidly aging run-stopping NT.

[papillon]

Slap the non-exclusive franchise tag on his fat arrr$$e.

I agree and if someone offers him a contract then let him walk and take the two firsts. I'd rather play a year with Hoke as the NT and have two 1st round picks in the pocket for the future than Hampton. I'd love to see him stay and finish as a Steeler, but two firsts is a nice return on your investment. You win a couple Super Bowls and don't overpay him and then when he's in the twilight of his career you get him for one year at 7.7 million or two firsts if someone makes him an offer, that's a win-win situation as I see it.

Haha... Good luck finding a team STUPID enough to give up two firsts for a rapidly aging run-stopping NT.

That's fine, then pay him 7.7 million for one year, which in all likelihood will end his career. The 2011 season is likely to see a work stoppage and the next season will be 2012 and he'll be 35 and probably done.

So, we get him for one year or two firsts.

Pappy