Franchise and Transition Tagged Players

[Ikeman83]

Franchised: John Abraham, Nate Clements, Jeff Backus, Williams (CB Vikings)

Transitioned: Steve Hutchinson

Should the Bolts make an offer to Hutch, or Bentley, or both?

[Merrimaniac]

Make offers to both.. signing one of these guys would be a damn good start to the year.

[Tycebrew]

As of right now:
Franchised: John Abraham, Nate Clements, Jeff Backus

Transitioned: Steve Hutchinson

Should the Bolts make an offer to Hutch, or Bentley, or both?


We can add Jeff Backus to the Franchised List.

[Ikeman83]

We can add Jeff Backus to the Franchised List.

Well aint that a *****...

[Tycebrew]

Well aint that a *****...


Yep... that just happened this morning I believe.

[JoeMcRugby]

Franchised: John Abraham, Nate Clements, Jeff Backus

Transitioned: Steve Hutchinson

Should the Bolts make an offer to Hutch, or Bentley, or both?
Go hard and strong for Bentley ASAP. Get him into SD for a visit and don't let him leave without a contract being signed.

Hutchison would be nice, but something to consider: The Hawks are $20 million under the cap. They're likely to match any offer the Chargers or any other team makes. They used the transition tag as we anticipated the Chargers would use it for Brees before we learned that the money would be guaranteed to Drew due to him being franchise tagged in 2005.

The Chargers can take their time with Hutchison. Bentley: they need to make an immediate aggressive move on March 3rd.

[RAWDOGG]

Go hard and strong for Bentley ASAP. Get him into SD for a visit and don't let him leave without a contract being signed.

Hutchison would be nice, but something to consider: The Hawks are $20 million under the cap. They're likely to match any offer the Chargers or any other team makes. They used the transition tag as we anticipated the Chargers would use it for Brees before we learned that the money would be guaranteed to Drew due to him being franchise tagged in 2005.

The Chargers can take their time with Hutchison. Bentley: they need to make an immediate aggressive move on March 3rd.

But they still need to lock up Alexander, oh wait a minute has wasn't tagged huh?

Interesting?

[JoeMcRugby]

But they still need to lock up Alexander, oh wait a minute has wasn't tagged huh?

Interesting?

They agreed not to tag Alexander in 2006 when they signed him to his franchise tag contract in 2005.

They can still match any offer for Hutchison and get a deal done with Alexander due to their taking good care of their cap space.

A lesson to be learned by a lot of the NFL franchises, but a lesson already learned by the SD Chargers. :Bolt:

[boltskickass21]

You can add CB Williams of the Vikings

[loweezy]

it's going to be an exciting march to see where players go. :)

[Shamrock]

Go hard and strong for Bentley ASAP.


The Chargers can take their time with Hutchison. Bentley: they need to make an immediate aggressive move on March 3rd.
I'm on the Bentley bandwagon.

IMO he's better than Hutchinson, and he has the added benefit of being versatile by playing both guard and center - at a Pro Bowl level.

[Confuzed Azn]

LeBentley's gonna be pursued quite heavily by the likes of Zona, Cleveland, Minne, and Houston. For once, AJ needs to be aggressive.

[Shamrock]

Comparison:

L. Bentley (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/302175)

4 year vet, 26 years old, 2 Pro Bowls (2003 at guard, 2004 alternate at center, 2005 at center)

S. Hutchinson (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/235219)

5 year vet, 28 years old, 3 Pro Bowls (2003, 2004, 2005)

[BCBoltFan]

it's going to be an exciting march to see where players go. :)
It was last year too...unfortuntely we were just to darn quiet.

I'm on the Bentley bandwagon.

IMO he's better than Hutchinson, and he has the added benefit of being versatile by playing both guard and center - at a Pro Bowl level.

Definetly Bentley!

[SuperBowlBolts]

Comparison:

L. Bentley (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/302175)

4 year vet, 26 years old, 2 Pro Bowls (2003 at guard, 2004 alternate at center, 2005 at center)

S. Hutchinson (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/235219)

5 year vet, 28 years old, 3 Pro Bowls (2003, 2004, 2005)
I like Bentley more he is more versitile also he is a probowler at C and G plus hes younger

[drangus]

I think seattle can afford to let hutchinson go---you can plug alot of guys in next to walter jones and they will be ok---I don't see seattle overpaying to keep hutch---and I don't see AJ giving him Mike Wahle type money either (5 yrs 28 mil, 12 mil bonus)---the draft is strong at guard so hutchinson can be replaced for someone like giles or spencer wihtout mortgaging the future of the club---they also have th eluxury of sitting back and letting someone else go through all the work and trouble of working out a contract with the guy

AJ might go after a guy I really like from washington-Derrick Dockery---with dockery and the possible addition of bentley--you have young guys that are solid players going into their prime---then we bring in fabinini short term to play RT and draft our future LT (J Scott from texas)

[YetAnotherSDFan]

How does the offer matching for transitioned players work? Can a team offer several contracts to the same player (getting into a biding war) or is it a one time deal? Can the player present several contract offers from succesive teams?

[JoeMcRugby]

How does the offer matching for transitioned players work? Can a team offer several contracts to the same player (getting into a biding war) or is it a one time deal? Can the player present several contract offers from succesive teams?
The player has to sign an offer sheet.

Whatever terms the offer sheet contains is the contract the player is agreeing to play for and that is what is presented to his original team to match. Thus, the signed offer sheet is the contract the player will be playing under in the future - either with the team that tendered him the offer or his original team.

Any other paperwork from the team that tendered the offer or from other teams is an exercise in unnecessarily killing more trees. :)

[YetAnotherSDFan]

The player has to sign an offer sheet.

Whatever terms the offer sheet contains is the contract the player is agreeing to play for and that is what is presented to his original team to match. Thus, the signed offer sheet is the contract the player will be playing under in the future - either with the team that tendered him the offer or his original team.

Any other paperwork from the team that tendered the offer or from other teams is an exercise in unnecessarily killing more trees. :)

thanks Joe,
Is it common for transition players to get picked up by other teams?

[JoeMcRugby]

thanks Joe,
Is it common for transition players to get picked up by other teams?
Very uncommon.

It's rare for other teams to even bother tendering an offer because in almost every instance, it's an exercise in futility. But there are alway exceptions, usually when another team feels confident that they can offer a contract that will be difficult for the transition tagging team to match in light of their current and future cap condition.

Due to the fact that the Seahawks are in excellent cap shape (near $20 million under the cap), I don't expect anyone to bother with tendering an offer, but stranger things have happened.

[BlueandGoldRush]

Due to the fact that the Seahawks are in excellent cap shape (near $20 million under the cap), I don't expect anyone to bother with tendering an offer, but stranger things have happened.

Concerning Hutchinson, Seattle is $20 million under the cap right now, but they still are trying to sign both Alexander and DT Rocky Bernard. Those two players alone could command $20 million in signing bonus money.

If they reach contracts with both those players, the Seahawks would be significantly "hamstrung" if another team offered Hutch a contract that was heavily front-loaded. Essentially, a team that was way under the cap, like Arizona or San Diego, could structure the contract in such a way that Seattle couldn't afford to match the offer.

It may be unlikely, but if Seattle locks up Alexander and Bernard to long-term deals, a team could draw up a deal that Seattle just couldn't afford.

[JoeMcRugby]

Concerning Hutchinson, Seattle is $20 million under the cap right now, but they still are trying to sign both Alexander and DT Rocky Bernard. Those two players alone could command $20 million in signing bonus money.

If they reach contracts with both those players, the Seahawks would be significantly "hamstrung" if another team offered Hutch a contract that was heavily front-loaded. Essentially, a team that was way under the cap, like Arizona or San Diego, could structure the contract in such a way that Seattle couldn't afford to match the offer.

It may be unlikely, but if Seattle locks up Alexander and Bernard to long-term deals, a team could draw up a deal that Seattle just couldn't afford.

"Signing bonus money" is the key word there. Signing bonus money is spread over four years.

$20 million in signing bonus money to those two players equals $5 million against the 2005 cap. The Hawks will have plenty of money to sign all three players.

[BlueandGoldRush]

"Signing bonus money" is the key word there. Signing bonus money is spread over four years.

True, and I wasn't trying to say that the signing bonus' would all be under the 2006 cap. But their yearly salaries will also be in there. Alexander will get a deal similar to LT's contract. Do you really think the 'Hawks can afford to sign all three of those guys this year? Seems to me that if they get Alexander and Bernard signed to long-term deals, they would have trouble signing Htuch to a front-loaded deal...

[JoeMcRugby]

True, and I wasn't trying to say that the signing bonus' would all be under the 2006 cap. But their yearly salaries will also be in there. Alexander will get a deal similar to LT's contract. Do you really think the 'Hawks can afford to sign all three of those guys this year? Seems to me that if they get Alexander and Bernard signed to long-term deals, they would have trouble signing Htuch to a front-loaded deal...
Actually, he won't - either from the Seahawks or from any other team.

Alexander will be a 29 year old RB stepping onto the field in the 2006 season.

LT was a 25 year old RB the season he signed his extension.

Yes, the Hawks can sign all three players if they want to do it. However, I believe the Hawks will let 29 year old Pro Bowl RB Alexander walk before they let the 28 year old Pro Bowl G Hutchinson walk.

I personally would rather have Bentley (more flexibility in the line and younger) than have to front-load a contract for Hutchinson in such a way that would inhibit the Chargers from filling their other holes in free agency (OT, safety, ILB and possibly CB).

[BlueandGoldRush]

Actually, he won't - either from the Seahawks or from any other team.

Alexander will be a 29 year old RB stepping onto the field in the 2006 season.

LT was a 25 year old RB the season he signed his extension.

Yes, the Hawks can sign all three players if they want to do it. However, I believe the Hawks will let 29 year old Pro Bowl RB Alexander walk before they let the 28 year old Pro Bowl G Hutchinson walk.

Well, I agree with you that Alexander doesn't deserve a contract like LT's, and I also agree that Hutchinson is more valuable to the 'Hawks than Alexander. But Alexander won the MVP and was franchised last year, and I think the public pressure in Seattle will be so great that they will sign Alexander to a long term deal first and foremost. The numbers may be inflated a bit, but I betcha Alexander gets something pretty close to what LT got, in total dollars. Wanna wager? :)

I personally would rather have Bentley (more flexibility in the line and younger) than have to front-load a contract for Hutchinson in such a way that would inhibit the Chargers from filling their other holes in free agency (OT, safety, ILB and possibly CB).

Bentley would come a bit cheaper than Hutchinson, and I would think we could sign him to a lucritive, but cap-friendly deal, if indeed he wants to play for his old o-line coach. If I had to choose one or the other, I would probably go for Bentley, too.

But how about signing Bentley, then going after Hutch? If you believe that Seattle can sign Alexander, Bernard, and Hutch in the same offseason, then there is no reason to think that the Chargers couldn't go after Bentley and Hutch, and still have some room under the cap for either a safety, CB, or ILB. Then OT could come in the draft, and learn from Oben for a season.

What do you think, Joe?

Free Agency: sign Bentley, Hutch, and a safety to compete with Kiel and Hart (I assume you're talking SS?). That's reasonable considering our cap room.

Draft: we pick best player available at OT, ILB, or DB for the first three rounds.

Unpossible?

[JoeMcRugby]

Well, I agree with you that Alexander doesn't deserve a contract like LT's, and I also agree that Hutchinson is more valuable to the 'Hawks than Alexander. But Alexander won the MVP and was franchised last year, and I think the public pressure in Seattle will be so great that they will sign Alexander to a long term deal first and foremost. The numbers may be inflated a bit, but I betcha Alexander gets something pretty close to what LT got, in total dollars. Wanna wager? :)



Bentley would come a bit cheaper than Hutchinson, and I would think we could sign him to a lucritive, but cap-friendly deal, if indeed he wants to play for his old o-line coach. If I had to choose one or the other, I would probably go for Bentley, too.

But how about signing Bentley, then going after Hutch? If you believe that Seattle can sign Alexander, Bernard, and Hutch in the same offseason, then there is no reason to think that the Chargers couldn't go after Bentley and Hutch, and still have some room under the cap for either a safety, CB, or ILB. Then OT could come in the draft, and learn from Oben for a season.

What do you think, Joe?

Free Agency: sign Bentley, Hutch, and a safety to compete with Kiel and Hart (I assume you're talking SS?). That's reasonable considering our cap room.

Draft: we pick best player available at OT, ILB, or DB for the first three rounds.

Unpossible?
Possible, but I'd be awful weary of going into the 2006 season without getting a veteran OT into camp, especially considering Oben's injury and age.

As for Alexander getting an "LT type contract" - you're on. A major reason why the Panthers transition tagged Foster is in case Alexander continues to demand outrageous money. Alexander's going to be disappointed in his "worth" on the open market IMO.

[CBO]

I would love it if we were able to sign both Hutchison and Bentley. If I had to pick one or the other it would be Bentley.

[TheIceCreamMan]

i want LeCharles Bently for the O'line hes young and very
very good

[TBOLTZCALI]

Peterson from the 49ers
Woodson from the Raiders

Any of these worth gettin for the right price??

[Boltz2175]

BOTH...excellent lineman who we could really use!

[esacal]

both, but get only one

[Brother Wolf]

seeing Hutch is Transition tagged...I believe that means we'd have to give up picks??? AJ wouldn't give up picks I don't think, which makes LeChuck much more attractive in picking up. And we don't currently need two guards...we have time to groom another one in a future draft. LeChuck is the smart move...use our cap $$$ on something we need like a DB. I was sad to learn Buffalo tagged Clements. I just hope we can develop a OT behind Odom, cause it's bad news if we don't.

[Shamrock]

I heard Bentley interviewed on Sirius NFL radio, and it's all about the money and the money, and the money ... with him. Nothing else.

I didn't get good vibes at all about him. I like his talent, but I've gone lukewarm to cold on having SD sign him.

[BoltsfanNYC]

dude once he gets the money he is about BLOWING shiet up... he is an animal... but want to get paid.... he has never gotten bling... and has been probowler 2 of 4 years and is considered 1 of top 30 olinemen in the game! how would you feel!

[JoeMcRugby]

seeing Hutch is Transition tagged...I believe that means we'd have to give up picks??? AJ wouldn't give up picks I don't think, which makes LeChuck much more attractive in picking up. And we don't currently need two guards...we have time to groom another one in a future draft. LeChuck is the smart move...use our cap $$$ on something we need like a DB. I was sad to learn Buffalo tagged Clements. I just hope we can develop a OT behind Odom, cause it's bad news if we don't.

Don't need to give up picks for a transition tagged player, but that gives Seattle the right to match any contract that is tendered to Hutchinson.

Since the Hawks are reportedly in excellent cap shape with about $20 million in excess and that they'd reportedly rather let Alexander walk than lose Hutchinson, there's almost a zero percent probability that any team can offer Hutchinson a contract that the Hawks won't match.

As far as Benton goes, Chargers o-ine coach Jack Henry, LeCharles' only line coach since he entered the NFL, probably knows more than anyone else in the NFL what kind of person Bentley is and what makes him tick. If Henry gives the front office a "thumbs up" appraisal on Bentley's character, it should be full steam ahead on getting him into SD as soon as the free agency period begins.

[BlueandGoldRush]

Well, I agree with you that Alexander doesn't deserve a contract like LT's, and I also agree that Hutchinson is more valuable to the 'Hawks than Alexander. But Alexander won the MVP and was franchised last year, and I think the public pressure in Seattle will be so great that they will sign Alexander to a long term deal first and foremost. The numbers may be inflated a bit, but I betcha Alexander gets something pretty close to what LT got, in total dollars. Wanna wager? :)

As for Alexander getting an "LT type contract" - you're on. A major reason why the Panthers transition tagged Foster is in case Alexander continues to demand outrageous money. Alexander's going to be disappointed in his "worth" on the open market IMO.

You are rarely wrong, Joe, so I gotta endulge a little bit here. Alexander got a 8-year, 62 million dollar deal, from what's being reported. You owe me a beer...how about the next time the Chargers have a playoff game at home?

We gotta wait until we see the terms of this deal, and if the 'Hawks sign Rocky Bernard anytime soon, but the Shaun Alexander signing might open the door for someone to snatch Hutchinson away from Seattle with a creatively structured contract...