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[February 27, 2016]  Feb 26 (The Sports Xchange) - The Washington Redskins are closing in on a decision regarding quarterback Kirk Cousins and have decided to use either the franchise tag or transition tag to retain his services, according to published reports Friday.

The Redskins have until March 1 to apply one of the tags. Using the franchise tag would lock Cousins in for a $19.6 million salary in 2016 while the transition tag would be worth $17.5 million.

The NFL Network reported that Washington hasn't ruled out tagging and trading Cousins.

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio, citing a source with knowledge of the situation, reported that Washington has not made a decision on whether to tag Cousins. The source added that the current plan is to not use the franchise tag.

The Redskins and Cousins' representatives have been unable to agree on a long-term extension. Without an agreement, Cousins will become a free agent on March 9.

"I would love to do a long-term deal with Kirk," Washington general manager Scot McCloughan said at the NFL Scouting Combine this week. "But I'm not going to ruin the organization financially to do it."

Even if the Redskins apply one of the tags, the two sides would still have until July 15 to sign a long-term extension.

Cousins passed for 4,166 yards and 29 touchdowns in 2015 in his first full season as a starter.

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The Redskins also have held trade discussions with two different teams involving quarterback Robert Griffin III, ESPN reported.

Griffin would have to agree to a new contract with the team that trades for him. Washington recently picked up Griffin's $16.15 million option for 2016 but is expected to release him before March 9 if it is unable to trade him.

Griffin lost the starting quarterback job to Cousins last season.

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Negotiations toward a long-term deal will continue but the Chicago Bears are not taking any chances with wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

The Bears plan to use the franchise tag designation on Jeffery, scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent, to retain refusal rights and keep him off the open market.

On Wednesday, coach John Fox and general manager Ryan Pace said the Bears were aggressively pursuing a deal with Jeffery.

The franchise tag would pay Jeffery a one-year salary of $14.4 million if a long-term deal cannot be reached by the NFL's deadline of July 15.

Jeffery appeared in nine games for the Bears in 2015 but was never fully healthy following a muscle strain in his leg in August. Jeffery ended the season on injured reserve with 54 receptions for a team-high 807 yards with four touchdowns. His 89.7 receiving yards per game average is eighth in the NFL in 2015.

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A three-game preseason schedule is under consideration by the NFL competition committee.

Green Bay Packers president Mark Murphy said Friday at the NFL Scouting Combine that reducing the preseason from four games is the most sensible option, likely clearing an extra week between the final preseason game and the start of the regular season.

"Rather than playing that fourth game on a Thursday ... don't play a fourth game and then you'd have an extra week," Murphy said, supporting the sentiments shared by head coach Mike McCarthy. "We've looked at different models, but I think that's the one that makes the most sense. You're giving up some revenue, but it's one of the worst things we do."

The Packers play in the Hall of Fame game in August, which gives Green Bay five preseason games in 2016.

Cutting a preseason game might come down to lost revenue. With three preseason games, some teams would host two preseason games and others would get just one. Game schedules, including the length of the preseason, would require collective bargaining with the players union.

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Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, heading into the final season of his contract, is reportedly negotiating a contract extension with the team.

NFL Media's Ian Rapoport, citing a team source, reported that talks are underway with the league's oldest head coach.

The 64-year-old Carroll signed a three-year deal after he took Seattle to the Super Bowl XLVIII title. He is 60-36 and has led the Seahawks to the playoffs five times, including the last four seasons.

Carroll was originally named the Seahawks' head coach on Jan. 9, 2010 after a nine-year run at the University of Southern California, including back-to-back national championships in 2003 and 2004. (Editing by Steve Keating)

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