Chiefs can rescind the tag on Albert
 

I thought I saw a comment yesterday that Albert could hold out if he thought there was a chance they were going to have him play guard. I am in no way condoning that; however, it appears from this article that it would be in his best interest to sign his tender and show up.

13 fewer tags than last year

Posted by Mike Florio on March 5, 2013, 8:39 AM EST

The dust has settled on the franchise-tag designation period. Unlike last year, when 21 tags flew, only three were applied in 2013.

So what gives?

The easy explanation is that this year’s crop of players eligible for the tag wasn’t as good as last year’s. But it’s likely more complicated than that.

Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco would have been this year’s Drew Brees, if the Ravens had been willing or able to carry his exclusive franchise tender, like the Saints did last year with Brees. These deals get done on a deadline basis, and for the Ravens the real deadline was having to choose between two equally bad evils: more than $19 million under the exclusive tag or nearly $15 million under the non-exclusive tag, along with an opportunity for the Browns to try to steal the Super Bowl MVP.

The Titans got cold feet regarding the possibility of using the franchise tag on tight end Jared Cook. or he would have been No. 9. If he’d signed the offer and if he’d then won the inevitable grievance arguing that he’s a receiver, the Titans would have been paying Cook more in 2013 than they’ll be paying Chris Johnson.

The Titans could have instead used the tag on kicker Rob Bironas. Last year, the tag was applied to six punter/kickers. But with the market for kickers and punters expected to be soft this year, teams other than the Colts apparently opted not to invest nearly $3 million in a veteran, given that low-cost options like Blair Walsh and Greg Zeuerlein were floating in last year’s draft pool.

The biggest factor for the lack of tags could have been the salary cap. Even though the franchise tenders are now based on the five-year average cap percentage consumed by the five highest-paid players at each position, it becomes more difficult to give one large chunk of cap space to one player at a time when the total cap grew by only 0.5 percent in 2012 and 1.9 percent in 2013. For too many teams, the upward pressure of salary increases coupled with a relatively static total spending limit has made eight-figure salaries for non-superstar players a luxury that no longer can be afforded.

It should be no surprise, for example, that the Patriots didn’t use it. At a time when quarterback Tom Brady’s cap number will be $13.8 million, how could they justify tying up $10.8 million in cornerback Aqib Talib or $9.8 million in tackle Sebastian Vollmer or $11.4 million in receiver Wes Welker?

The next question is whether the one-year franchise tenders will become long-term deals. Teams have until July 15 to make that transformation.

If not, the players who have received the franchise tenders but who won’t be signing them any time soon need to worry about something that hasn’t happened in eight years: A team rescinding the tag.

Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert should be specifically concerned about that. After all, his new head coach, Andy Reid, did it twice in Philly, to defensive tackle Corey Simon in 2005 and to linebacker Jeremiah Trotter three years earlier. If/when the Chiefs take left tackle Luke Joeckel with the first pick in the 2013 draft, Albert may want to quickly put pen to paper for his $9.828 million salary, or the chance to do so may permanently evaporate.

Then, he would end up on the open market in May, long after the big money has flowed for the year.

Given the new realities of a cap-strapped NFL, that’s a real concern that every franchise player should now have.

**** Mike Florio for bringing this stupid shit up.

ROFL yeah I'm waiting for the fire storm on this one. Some on here really take things and just go ape shit crazy.

Yes, because teams that have the first overall pick should use it as leverage over a tagged player. Yes that's the formula for a winning team.

Too much is being made out of Alberts tag. Two things are likely, they'll make him play out the tag as a "show me" year or they will negotiate a long term deal.
All this BS about his back is just that....BS.

I think you're right on the "show me" year. If the team has questions regarding Albert's back but not enough to let him walk then the franchise tag is a perfect way to go.

This article just proves that most "experts" are cannot fathom the Chiefs taking anything other than a LT at 1.1.

Don't need a QB, they traded for one, draft a tackle. Don't need a tackle, they tagged theirs, draft another one anyway. /media

I think it comes down to money (as always). Albert has proven he's a very good LT, it's up to him and his agent to now prove and/or convince Reid and Co. how much he's worth.

Really, really sad....


Most up to date mock on NFL.com

http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/mock-d...-brooks/165257

Exactly....they are beyond stupid. Reid likes to build from the Oline out, he's going to take another one. Idiots.

Dan Patrick had it right this morning. KC is praying someone wants the #1 pick, so they can trade out.

It would be a dick move if the Chiefs pulled something like that. If it gets brought up anymore in the media after the draft then it would seem they would. If the media shuts the **** up about it they may not think about it.


All this whining over the years about the Chiefs not getting any media exposure, well I'm already getting sick of it. Now that we got the number one pick they tell us what we should do with it and it's sickening to hear. Just sickening.

No non QB pick at 1 overall since Jake Long was drafted. The Chiefs arguably got a better guy the same year later in round 1. They should draft a tackle with the 1 overall this year! /brilliantbrilliantmedia

:facepalm:

A "show me" year could be about the back or it could be about seeing if Donald Stephenson (or even a 1.1 draft pick) develops into a starter quality LT, fwiw.

If Albert signs right away then it removes the possibility of it happening. I don't like the idea of players holding out of camp for any reason. Especially players making that kind of money.

Its a mad world.

This. If the back acts up (they normally do) then I can see them cutting ties next season and we'll be debating whether or not to slide Stephenson into the starting role or drafting another LT.

Or grab a LT prospect late in the draft this year

Dorsey already came out and said that he views Albert as a LT....and so does a majority of this league.

What's the one thing you don't do when you want your Veteran QB to succeed? **** with his offensive line. Starting a rookie LT in Week 1? That's going to get your QB ****ed.

"If/when the Chiefs draft Joekel". Please stop with this bullshit already.
Posted via Mobile Device

The media is so expectant of the Chiefs to blunder into a stupid safe pick, that they're making up ways to draft a LT #1 despite signing Albert. ****ing shocked I am......

It's sad really.

I can't wait to hear the argument of.....

"The Chiefs should draft the future replacement of Albert at 1.1 and let him sit for a year."

Wait....can't they do that with a QB?

"Too risky."

They could lock Albert up for 5 years and the dumb****s would still mock us a LT for not only this year, but 4 more exciting years of ALBERT TO GUARD!!!

****ing hell.....do we need to draft ANY offensive linemen this year?

LT - Albert, Stephenson
LG - Allen
C - Hudson
RG - Asamoah
RT - Winston, Stephenson

We could realistically use a swing man/back up for the C/OG positions.....but we can grab someone in FA to do that or use someone like Luke Patterson (already under contract). We have ZERO NEED to grab an offensive lineman in the first 3-4 rounds of this draft.

It's the exceptional depth at OT that has pushed teams over the top to win the Super Bowl.

I mean who can forget the dazzling performance of the depth charts of recent Super Bowl winners?!? I know I for one will be telling my grandchildren of the nearly transcendental performance of Baltimore's depth chart last year in the Super Bowl.

1. Anyone who has ever had a back injury can tell you that it will show itself under strenuous conditions.

2. Anyone who has a back condition and is looking for a contract worth MILLIONS is going to tell you that it is fine and will suffer through some minor pain.

It doesn't matter if he is "viewed" as a LT or not. He is damaged goods. Whether or not he can hold up under the rigors of the season is the question and then at what level will he perform. It doesn't matter if we drafted him or think he is the best LT ever. A back injury nullifies everything as it should.

I am glad he doesn't have a long term contract in place. He needs to show he can play and at a high level. Otherwise I am completely in favor of replacing him.

It would be nice to pick up Barrett Jones in round 3-4 if he is still there.

And if his back acts up again.....you've got Stephenson. A 3rd round LT who should get the opportunity to prove whether or not he can start in this league.

He's going in the 2nd round. I wouldn't be surprised if he went in the late 1st.

He's already shown he can play at a high level. He is not damaged goods in any sense. These expectations you're putting on him are illogical.

Why is Fred being reeruned?
Posted via Mobile Device

Not at all. I have a back injury and although I don't get the level of medical care that I'm sure he does I can tell you that at the right angle it will show itself.

I like the idea of proving himself over the long term before giving the big contract. Like Albert said, he was a 1st round pick and has already made a lot of money. I know its not my money but I am tired of seeing millions wasted on people that play a sport. This is why ticket prices go up! (along with eleventy billion other reasons).:D

When has a back injury ever been brought up before 2012 for Albert?

He's missed games in the past because of an elbow injury and an ankle injury.

This reoccurring back issue is all bullshit.

IMO that was what pioli was trying to use to low ball him

You're comparing your own back injury? LOLWUT? He's a professional athlete.

None of what you're saying makes sense. He's already proven. And his back has been such a minor issue that he has nothing to prove regarding it. The Chiefs made the right move. It's time to drop this reeruned mindset that the Chiefs need to draft tackles high every year.

Back injuries are a different breed of animal depending on where it is. Most are recurring unlike bone injuries.

I'm sorry. Is his back made of some special material that the rest of us don't get because we are not professionals? Get real. I mentioned that he had better medical care but we are not cars. If something breaks you can't just replace it.

NO!!!!!!!!!! Luke Joeckel was a lock at #1 before this. Now there's a possibility of us taking ANOTHER 3-4 DEFENSIVE LINEMAN overall!!!!!!

Trollololololololololololololololololololo

And where have you heard about this back injury before this year?

I haven't/didn't. I am taking the reports at face value. There hasn't been anything to refute that an injury did not occur. I don't know the severity or location of the injury. Albert is saying that it is fine now. Whether that is posturing for a new contract we don't know. I am glad that they are taking a wait and see approach.

Ignorant. He's paid millions of dollars per year. And his performance is directly dependent on his physical capabilities. He has the time and resources to dedicate to his physical abilities on a daily basis. A huge portion of his job responsibility is keeping that back healthy. Your own back injury is of no comparison. This is stupid Truefan criticism that has no basis in reality.

The doctors who performed his physical said the same thing so...

Nah... I'm sure they just take Albert's word for it...

Dorsey/Reid: So Branden, how's that back?

Albert: Feelin fine coach.

Dorsey/Reid: Good enough! Here's $10M. Sign here bud...

If the Chiefs take an offensive lineman at 1.1, it's not likely that he'd sit. Both he and Albert would play unless he's a huge disappointment.

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk

Sam Mellinger of KC Star on PFT Live says he believes there's a chance LT Branden Albert will be traded.

They're not moving Albert to guard. That would cause him to hold out.

If they draft a LT at 1.1 and move him to RT......you moved a top 10 RT to guard.....which is reeruned.

Drafting a LT at 1.1 and moving him to OG is beyond reeruned.

All four of the starting offensive tackles in the super bowl were first round picks. Even one of the starting guards was a first round pick.

I don't think Albert would be the one moved to guard, but any of the three options is possible and none of them are reeruned if they make your team significantly better.

I'm starting to believe my own made up reason for the Alex Smith trade. That we traded for him because he was such a good teammate and sat quietly once he was passed over for Kap. It is well known now that he helped Kap as much as he could. Chiefs needed a backup and a vet, especially a vet willing to ride the pine when asked, and to help tutor the young guys. I know it won't happen, but I am still pulling for Geno at #1. If he falters or gets injured, AS is there for a few games to hold the course.

None of those scenarios make the team signicantly better. Chiefs QBs were sacked 40 times, 11th worst in the league, but we know a lot of that has to do with the horrible QBs themselves and the fact that we played from behind so much.

We were 5th in the league in rushing yards. Our o-line is fine and basically nothing can be done with it to make it significantly better than it was last season and as it sits right now.

Albert was #15 overall in the first round. Eric Winston was #66 overall, high in the third.

We're fine......

I don't accept your evaluation. Replacing the worst member of the line with a guy talented enough to be considered for the 1.1 pick is going to make the line better. More importantly, it's likely to make the line better over the next several years, not just in year one.

That would be an absolutely awful wastes of resources. We'd have spent the following picks on the O-line....

Round Pos

1 LT
1 LT
2 LG
2 C
3 RG
3 LT

Along with big FA bucks on a RT.

We could be better. The only question is whether or not it's worth the sacrifice. I understand that you don't think so.

What about the previous 10 years?

Would it make it better? Sure. Significantly better? No. A waste of a pick? Absolutely.

No it's not....because you don't know if a player like Joeckel can realistically make the switch to OG.

Past picks are sunk costs. They shouldn't affect future decisions except to the extent that they may still have lingering effects on cash and cap salary.

This is still a low football IQ take.

Anyone that reads post 53 and still wants an OL early in this draft cannot be helped.

I understood your opinion. Like I said, I don't accept it.

It matters when they are quality/young/acending players. We have a damn good line and Albert/Allen/Hudson/Asamoah/Winston all are worthy of starting spots next year. Sure Allen was lackluster, but deserves more PT before rotting the bench so soon.

Are you one of the dumb****s that thinks the line was the problem last year?

No it's not.....if you think that the OG position is the weakest link on this football team....then you take Chance Warmack. You don't take Luke Joeckel and hope that he becomes a great OG.

Every team in the league could be better. And obviously it's not worth it, because we don't see a majority of teams throwing vast resources at the OLine. Look at the depth of the Superbowl teams you referenced... Who's the backup LT for the Ravens?

Draft Joeckel and move him to guard?

ROFL ROFL ROFL

Pat, you should stick to politics. You know jack shit about football.

Didn't pat win the gambling pick em challenge a few years ago?

Warmack would be the pick if we wanted an OG. Lets not do that though..

Do I ****ing care?

Picking games doesn't equate to football knowledge.

No, it doesn't matter. If they suck they need to be replaced no matter what round they were picked in and if they're great they don't need to be replaced even if they were UDFA.

I'm one of the dumb****s who thinks the line is important and that it's long term quality should be treated as a high priority. I'm not one of the dumb****s who thinks he knows that Geno Smith is a can't miss prospect or who thinks he knows that Luke Joeckel is the best player in the draft.

You're just a dumb****.

Period.

Who sucked last year and needs to be replaced?

My understanding is that Chance Warmack is less likely to be LTotF than Joeckel or one of the other top tackle prospects in the draft. This pick should be made with the future in mind, not just 2013.

I'm the dumb**** who can read.

I would assume the rookie who played guard for the first time.

ROFL

So you'd rather draft for the future of the LT position.....then the QB position?

I think Jeff Allen had a tough year and Donald Stephenson struggled at times. I don't know that either of them have to be replaced though.

What the **** else are you going to do with Joeckel, Pat?

You yourself said "No, it doesn't matter. If they suck they need to be replaced no matter what round they were picked in and if they're great they don't need to be replaced even if they were UDFA."

Branden Albert was GREAT. Prior to last year, Eric Winston was too.

So who are you replacing if it's not a guard, dipshit?

Really? Being the most accurate predictor of game results over the course of an entire season doesn't equate to football knowledge? Interesting take.

ROFL

It's called probability.

I've seen people that have NEVER watched a college game in their life win an NCAA tourney pool.