National Football League roundup

[February 28, 2017]  Feb 27 (The Sports Xchange) - Running back Le'Veon Bell's path to free agency was blocked by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday.

Bell was given the exclusive franchise tag, which will guarantee a salary of $12.2 million in 2017 unless the two sides agree to a long-term deal.

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The New York Giants placed the non-exclusive franchise tag of defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

The move, first reported by Pro Football Talk, will guarantee Pierre-Paul a one-year salary that is projected to be just under $17 million if the two sides fail to reach a long-term deal.

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For the second consecutive offseason, the Carolina Panthers applied the non-exclusive franchise tag to the anchor of their defense. Defensive tackle Kawann Short will not hit the open market after being tagged by the Panthers.

Short, a first-time Pro Bowl pick in 2015, was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent when the league year begins March 9. If no deal can be reached, Short would earn $13.4 in 2017 on a one-year tender.

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The Panthers re-signed defensive end Wes Horton to a two-year contract, the team announced.

Horton, 27, was set to become an unrestricted free agent next week. He played in 11 games with 10 starts for Carolina in 2016. He had 13 tackles, 2.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

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Arizona Cardinals pass rusher Chandler Jones was given the "non-exclusive" franchise designation by the team, one week before the NFL deadline.

As promised by team president Michael Bidwell and coach Bruce Arians, Jones is unlikely to leave the desert. Arians said the priority is working on a long-term deal with Jones, who was acquired in 2016 via trade from New England.

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The Chicago Bears are not expected to use the franchise tag again on wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, according to reports.

Jeffery played under the tag in 2016, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the Bears likely won't tag him for another season.

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The Cleveland Browns released veteran wide receiver Andrew Hawkins.

The 5-foot-7, 180-pound Hawkins, who will be 31 on March 10, was due to make $1.8 million in 2017 in the last year of his deal. Hawkins called coach Hue Jackson one of the "best coaches in all of football" and praised team owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and executive vice president of football operations Sashi Brown.

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The New England Patriots promoted Nick Caley to tight ends coach. He was a coaching assistant with the Patriots for the past two seasons after working in the college ranks for 10 years.

Caley replaces Brian Daboll, who left last week to become the offensive coordinator at Alabama. Before coming to New England, Caley coached at John Carroll (2005-06), Akron (2006-07), Auburn (2008), Iowa State (2009-11), Eastern Illinois (2012), Arkansas (2013) and Florida Atlantic (2014).

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The Indianapolis Colts signed free agent tackle/guard Fahn Cooper to a contract.

The 6-foot-5, 306-pound Cooper spent the entire 2016 season on the San Francisco 49ers' practice squad.

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