Titans Put Franchise Tag on Haynesworth

The Tennessee Titans placed their franchise player tag on defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth today.

The move had been expected. The Titans had indicated to Haynesworth's representatives that they would use the tag on Haynesworth to keep from losing him on the free agent market if the two sides were unable to complete a longterm contract by Thursday's deadline. Club officials have pledged to continue to try to work out a longterm deal with Haynesworth, who was one of the league's most dominant defensive players during the just-completed season.

If he doesn't get a new contract, Haynesworth would have a salary of $7.25 million next season under the franchise designation. That's 120 percent of his salary last season, which he gets by rule since it's more than the franchise player salary for a defensive tackle of $6.363 million.

Using the franchise player tag on Haynesworth enables the Titans to retain him by matching any contract offer he might receive from another team as a free agent, and entitles them to receive two first-round draft choices from Haynesworth's new club as compensation if the Titans allow him to depart.

That makes it nine players league-wide who have gotten the franchise player tag this offseason.

By Mark Maske |  February 20, 2008; 4:50 PM ET  | Category:  Titans
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