Yesterday NFL teams had to decide if they where going to give any of their players the franchise or transition tag and some choose to. There where five players given the franchise tag and one given the transition tag. Here’s who they are.
It comes as no surprise that the Pittsburgh Steelers gave the franchise tag to Le’Veon Bell. This is the second year in a row that Bell has been franchised tag and he has shown his displeasure and has threatened to hold out or retire. This is really the only move the Steelers had to make since they have been unable to agree on a new contract with Bell. It’s not like they where going to let Bell go out onto the free agent market and get nothing in return for him. Since this is the second tag in a row for Bell if he decides to play under the franchise tag he’d be guaranteed $14.54 million dollars for next season.
The Detroit Lions used their franchise tag on defensive end Ezekiel Ansah. Ansah has been the Lions best pass rusher for the last five seasons racking up 44 sacks over that time. After an injury plagued 2016 season Ansah bounced back and recorded a team high 12 sacks. Under the franchise tag Ansah will make $17.143 million dollars next season.
The Dallas Cowboys also used their franchise tag on a defensive end. The Cowboys decided to out the franchise tag on DeMarcus Lawrence, but they’re hoping to work out a long term deal with him. The Cowboys have been looking for a top notch pass rusher for a long time and Lawrence seems to fit that bill. Lawrence had a team leading 14 1/2 sacks last season. If a long term deal can’t be worked out Lawrence would also play for the same salary as Ansah next season $17.143 million dollars.
The Los Angeles Rams have made quite a few moves this off season and yesterday they used their franchise tag on linebacker LaMarcus Joyner. The Rams waited longer than any team yesterday to announce who they where using there franchise tag on. The y had to decided between Joyner and Sammy Watkins and since the Rams went with Joyner Watkins will become a free agent. Joyner made 39 tackles last season while assisting on 10 other. He also defended 9 passes, intercepting 3 and returning one for a touchdown. Under the franchise tag Joyner would make $14.961 million dollars.
We’ve known for a while now, but the Miami Dolphins made it official yesterday as they applied their franchise tag to wide receiver Jarvis Landry. Landry has told the Dolphins that he will sign the tender. The Dolphins have allowed Landry to talk to other teams and see if there’s a possibility of a trade happening. Landry is coming off of a 112 catch 9 touchdown season. Under the franchise tag Landry would make $15.982 million dollars.
The Chicago Bears where the team that used the one transition tag yesterday. Chicago applied the transition tag to cornerback Kyle Fuller. Fuller was the Bears 1st round draft pick in 2014 and Chicago declined the 5th year option on Fuller’s contract before last season. Fuller went out and had the best year of his career causing the Bears to tag him. Under the transition tag Fuller will make $12.97 million dollars, but he is allowed to negotiate with other teams. Chicago can match any other teams offer sheets, but it will receive no compensation if it declines to match.
Will have to see which if any of these players can workout long term deals with their teams or if they play under the franchise or transition tag.
There’s been a lot of talk about “tanking” in sports, but the term really got it’s start in the NBA and it seems as though the league is going to try and crack down on these teams.
The league actually sent a warning to the Chicago Bulls and their head coach Fred Hoiberg about resting healthy players. Hoiberg has sat center Robin Lopez for the past six games as a healthy scratch. Swingman Justin Holiday has also been a healthy scratch in five of the last six games.
It is being reported that the Bulls are planning to play Lopez and Holiday “more extensively to close out the season” is how the team put it.
The Bulls of course wouldn’t admit to tanking, but come now what team ever has. The way the Bulls have gone about it is that after the All-Star break coach Hoiberg would be prioritizing minutes for the younger players over the veterans. It’s basically the nice way to say that you want your team to lose games or “tank”.
The Bulls are 1-5 since the All-Star break and have lost seven of their last ten games. For the season the Bulls are 21-42 which is the 8th worst record in the NBA. If the Bulls where to stay in that spot in the standings they’d have a 9.9% chance to move up into the Top 3 in June’s draft.
It would be interesting to know if the teams with the seven worst records than the Bulls where contacted about possibly tanking.
We do know after the Bulls where warned Commissioner Adam Silver sent a memo to all 30 NBA teams which made it clear that the league would not stand for teams blatantly tanking. This also comes after Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was fined $600,000 after saying that it would be better for his team to lose games late in the season.
From losing to winning in the NBA as the Houston Rockets picked up their 16th straight win with a 122-112 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder. With the win the Rockets improved to 50-13 and are currently the #1 seed in the Western Conference.
The Rockets had seven players score in double figures led by Chris Paul with 25 points. James Harden had 23 points and a team high 11 assists, but also committed 10 turnovers in the game. P.J. Tucker led the Rockets on rebounds with 6.
Russell Westbrook was the games high scorer with 32 points and he also handed out a team high 7 assists while Steven Adams grabbed a team high 8 rebounds for Oklahoma City.
Houston has to turn right around and put their winning streak back on the line tonight as they travel to Milwaukee to face the 34-30 Bucks.
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