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 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.
- -
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.
- -
[to top of second column] |
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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