PFT Calls Our Approach To The Tag "Goofy"

[PurpleRulz]

In the segment that reports that AD has agreed with the Pats, PFT calls our approach to the tag "borderline goofy." They mention that for the price the Pats, and other teams, were willing to pay this offseason, we could have tagged AD and traded him to the Pats for a 2nd or 3rd round pick.

http://www.profootballtalk.com/rumormill.htm

"The Ravens could have kept Thomas by slapping the franchise tag on him, or could have applied the tag and then traded him to a team like, say, the Patriots. If New England is willing to give a guy $60 million to get him on the team, the Pats also likely would have considered coughing up a second-round or third-round draft pick.

But the Ravens have a borderline goofy approach when it comes to using the franchise tag. The team has apparently bought into the notion that the use of the tag is in some way disrespectful to the player. As if a one-year guaranteed salary in excess of $7 million is a sign of contempt. "

[ExiledRaven]

I'd propose that if you franchise tag a player it be because there is legitimate goal to resign some person. No more of this "tag to trade" type garbage.

Good example: Ravens Tag Cmac. Why? They want to sign him to a long term deal and just couldn't get it worked out. It eventually got worked out and everyone is happy.

Bad example: Pats tag Branch. Why? they don't want to pay him lots of money, but don't want him to go for free. Aka, they are gaming the system in thinking that they will be able to trade him for more value than they would get out of a compensatory pick for losing him in free agency.

So there are a few options.
~ change the compensation for losing players in free agency to get more than a third round pick. Losing a current all-pro is worthy of more.
~ ban tags + trades
there are others. But it's simply a mess.

[jonboy79]

As the rule is written, and as the Ravens have been in FA I couldn't agree with the article more. The ONLY reason I was agaisnt a tag and trade, was once I realized that it would have pushed us too close to the cap to sign really any of our own back. Being in that we only got JJ back, apparently we didn't need the room right away. The Pats, or more likely the Niners would have coughed up a pick and we would have won. I agree, screw the player. $7+m in guaranteed money isn't a slap in the face, it's a helluva paycheck, that leads to a bigger paycheck next year, as long as you continue to play at the same level. So the only way the player gets screwed is if their play declines, and well, if it does and they did get that big extension, well. then they screwed the club. So if you gotta screw them not to get screwed in return, by all means do it. It's a business, and the goal is to make money, and win, because well, winning makes you more money, and it's fun.

[bassgtrst]

Patriots | Team signs Welker to offer sheet
Sun, 4 Mar 2007 01:07:24 -0800

Len Pasquarelli, of ESPN.com, reports the New England Patriots have signed restricted free agent WR Wes Welker (Dolphins) to an offer sheet. The Miami Dolphins have seven days to either match or pass the offer sheet. If the Dolphins do not match the offer, they will receive the Patriots' second-round draft pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.

The Pats are willing to give up a 2nd for Wes Welker.

What could we have gotten from them for AD???

Oh well just one of those things I guess.