Friday, February 22, 2013
Miami's tag options
By Tim Kavanagh
Each offseason, NFL teams have the ability to franchise tag one of their impending free agents to keep them off the market, extending their tenure with the club by one additional season, but doing so at a considerable cost. A record 21 franchises got into the tagging game last offseason, and it's expected to be another big year for the tag in 2013. One of the team with multiple options is the Miami Dolphins.
During his press conference at the scouting combine on Thursday, Dolphins GM Jeff Ireland commented that "this year there's certainly a likelihood that we could use [the tag]," per Adam Beasley of the Miami Herald. "We have a pretty good idea where we're going with it, but things could change daily, hourly," he hinted.
The decision will likely come down to two players: CB Sean Smith and DT Randy Starks. Smith is seeking a big contract this offseason, so tagging him would keep him on the club without that massive outlay of guaranteed money, and the Dolphins' stable at the position would also be quite bare if he leaves. As for Starks, he's been central to a front seven that has been effective in recent campaigns, and the tag figure of $8.306 million isn't a horrifying cost for such a player.
