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Tagging Hutchinson 'Transition' instead of 'Franchise'.....good or bad move?


Inxsive

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I know some news agencies were a little surprised that Seattle didn't 'Franchise' Hutchinson. They saved less than 600k and opened the door for other teams to dictate the terms of his deal. If they were looking to trade him, I might understand the move but I would think Seattle has every intention of keeping him. Now a team with a high cash flow can come in and make him a really high signing bonus offer. I think in the end Seattle will match anything but without the cost of two 1st round picks you could see multiple teams bid him up. Does anyone think this was a better move than 'Franchising' him and if so why?

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Probably smart, here's why:

1. According to Mike Golic, when you franchise a guard the top five salaries also include all offensive lineman. The left tackles in the league drive the average up significantly.

2. They don't have to average just the top 5 salaries...

3. They average the top ten when the transition tag is placed on a player.

4. The cap number is reduced significantly this way.

The drawback of course is that you could lose the guy if you don't match the best offer given to said player. If you don't match, no compensation at all. However, like running backs, guards can be replaced easier than most positions.

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Orrrrrr, the Eagles who are 19m under the cap, run the same WCO that Hutch already knows, and are one OL from having the most dominant line in the league.

Orrrrr, the Eagles are to cheap and don't plan on a major move that would cost this much:

Heckert said the Eagles probably won't be pursuing big-name free agents during the offseason, mainly because there isn't expected to be much high-end quality in the areas the Eagles need help. Expect them to wait until the first wave of high-priced free agents are gone and then go bargain hunting for functional players who won't be looking for massive deals.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/99-02052006-608533.html

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Probably smart, here's why:

1. According to Mike Golic, when you franchise a guard the top five salaries also include all offensive lineman. The left tackles in the league drive the average up significantly.

2. They don't have to average just the top 5 salaries...

3. They average the top ten when the transition tag is placed on a player.

4. The cap number is reduced significantly this way.

The drawback of course is that you could lose the guy if you don't match the best offer given to said player. If you don't match, no compensation at all. However, like running backs, guards can be replaced easier than most positions.

Well, we already know the difference is less than 600k Doesn't seem very significant in this case.

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People are too focused on the money savings. That's not the point. This team just went through three straight years of having to franchise tag Walter Jones because they couldn't get him to sit at the table and bargain. And why would he? He was getting at least a 20% increase every year at a position with relatively low risk.

The Seahawks are basically saying "Go find the market". The thing that's not being pointed out here is that they are in the same cap shape as the Eagles. They will match whatever offer they need to to keep a top notch OL in his prime, even if it means losing an elite RB in his twilight.

The only way they risk losing Hutchinson is if they decide that they don't want to pay the market price. I like them using the transition tag because it means that one way or the other, the money games end this year.

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Orrrrr, the Eagles are to cheap and don't plan on a major move that would cost this much:

Heckert said the Eagles probably won't be pursuing big-name free agents during the offseason, mainly because there isn't expected to be much high-end quality in the areas the Eagles need help. Expect them to wait until the first wave of high-priced free agents are gone and then go bargain hunting for functional players who won't be looking for massive deals.

http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/99-02052006-608533.html

Want me to find you the quote that Heckert had in 04 before he made Kearse the highest paid DE in NFL history? Its just like the one above.

Only the Skins telegraph their personnel moves. :laugh:

Yeah, they didn't trade for that pick to take Campbell. Worst kept secret in the NFL. You could learn some tricks from the Eagles on how to run a FO.

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People are too focused on the money savings. That's not the point. This team just went through three straight years of having to franchise tag Walter Jones because they couldn't get him to sit at the table and bargain. And why would he? He was getting at least a 20% increase every year at a position with relatively low risk.

The Seahawks are basically saying "Go find the market". The thing that's not being pointed out here is that they are in the same cap shape as the Eagles. They will match whatever offer they need to to keep a top notch OL in his prime, even if it means losing an elite RB in his twilight.

The only way they risk losing Hutchinson is if they decide that they don't want to pay the market price. I like them using the transition tag because it means that one way or the other, the money games end this year.

What if the Eagles frontload a contract in a way which guarantees you can either pick Hutchenson or Bernard and Alexander? What would they do then?

What if they overpay?

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What if the Eagles frontload a contract in a way which guarantees you can either pick Hutchenson or Bernard and Alexander? What would they do then?

What if they overpay?

No brainer. You keep Hutchinson. Bernard shouldn't even be brought up in this conversation. He's a one year wonder that the team will let walk if it even remotely looks like they'd have to overpay (and it does look that way). Alexander is 29 and is reportedly asking to be the highest paid RB in the league. Be sure to pick up some sunscreen on your way to Arizona, Shaun. Arizona is where good RBs go to die. Just ask Emmitt (although he was pretty much dead when he got there).

Anyhoo, it's an interesting point that keeps getting thrown around by people who are forgetting the timelines involved. The presumption is that the Eagles would be assuming that Alexander and Bernard are important to the Seahawks and therefore would "frontload" a contract that would make it impossible to sign all three. But if Alexander and Bernard are as hot as everyone thinks they are, then it's very feasible that they could each be signed by other teams before the Eagles even had an opportunity to call Hutchinson's agent.

You followin' me? Since free agency starts on March 4, it would mean the soonest the Seahawks would be forced to make a decision on whether or not to match a "poison pill" contract on Hutch would be March 11. By that time, it's very feasible that Alexander and Bernard could have already conducted press conferences with new teams and not even be in the Seahawks picture anymore. If either of those guys are of major importance to the Seahawks, they'll be signed before Hutch and the Eagles even speak. If they're not, then they're not part of the equation and the desire to sign them won't factor at all into the Seahawks decision to retain Hutch or not.

If you're thinking the Eagles will really go after Hutch, then you should be praying that the Seahawks spend some cap money in the next few days or it's no contest. The Seahawks are currently at $21 million and the Eagles are just under $16 million. Once the Eagles cut Owens and the Seahawks cut Sharper the numbers will be closer to $24 million and $20 million respectively. Any way you look at it, if they don't make some major signings before free agency, they're poised to match anything the Eagles come with.

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