Reid Kerr's Fistful of Sports

Tagged and Bagged: The Franchise Tag Roundup

Several NFL teams used their franchise tags on Thursday, giving them much greater power in negotiations with one of their free agent players. Once tagged, the team retains the rights to match any other offer, or receive two first-round draft choices as compensation if they decline to match.

The Carolina Panthers made two significant moves within moments of each other. They signed All-Pro left tackle Jordan Gross to a six-year deal believed to be one of the richest in the league for a lineman. Then with Gross locked up, they turned their attention to defensive end Julius Peppers. Although Peppers has said he wants out of the team, they gave him the franchise tag.

The Houston Texans used their franchise tag for the first time ever, putting it on cornerback Dunta Robinson. The move gives Robinson a one-year salary at $9.957 million in 2009.

The Seahawks used their franchise tag on linebacker Leroy Hill. For Hill, the tag means he'll make a minimum $8.3 million for 2009.

The Titans will keep tight end Bo Scaife, their leading receiver. The franchise tag means Scaife will earn $4.46 million this season.

Oakland didn't need the franchise tag, they resigned All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha to a three-year contract that's thought to be the richest ever given to a defensive back.

Also, the Indianapolis Colts considered using their tag, but worked out a deal with cornerback Kelvin Hayden. It's a five-year deal worth $43 million. The Colts still will look to resign veterans Dominic Rhodes, Tyjuan Hagler, Hunter Smith.

Julius Peppers Wants Out...But Not Too Far Away

Carolina panthers defensive end Julius Peppers wants out of town, but he's a bit choosy about where he travels.

According to reports, Peppers wants to limit his destinations to four locations, including Dallas. Two of the other choices are also in the NFC.

Nice of Peppers to be forthcoming with his travel demands. It's always good to know your four-time Pro Bowler doesn't even want to leave the conference, so you run the risk of seeing him in next year's playoffs. That's like your wife leaving you but only moving a few houses away. You know there will be some awkward parties later.

Carolina will probably want a first-round pick for Peppers, which may leave the Cowboys out of the discussion. Dallas gave up their first-rounder last year in part of the trade for Roy Williams. If the Cowboys miss out on Peppers and Williams continues to average less than two catches a game, I fully expect this one to be added to the laundry list of Cowboys fans' complaints against Jerry Jones.

Cowboys fans Beg Jerry Jones to fire himself

Dallas Cowboys fans frustrated by a dozen years without a playoff win now have a place to vent their anger.

Well, another place in addition to the radio, internet, signs at the games, and drunken phone calls to Valley Ranch, of course. Cowboys fans don't really keep their feelings a secret.

There's a petition at Fire The Cowboys GM.com where Cowboys fans can ask owner and general manager Jerry Jones to... well, fire himself.

In Jones' defense, the site does make a clear distinction between the successes of Jones as an owner, and the horrible recent track record of Jones as a general manager.

There have been plenty of other sites calling for the firing of coaches and general managers before. As soon as your school hires Blackbelt Jones, somebody in a dorm room somewhere puts down the bong and logs onto GoDaddy to register FireBlackbeltJones.com.

However, this is the first time that I can remember a fanbase has mobilized to ask someone to take one for the team and commit seppuku.

I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Jerry Jones will be unavailable for comment on this one.

Michael Vick, The Dirtiest Bird

The Atlanta Falcons have announced they are trying to trade the rights to incarcerated quarterback Michael Vick.

Vick is still in federal prison on dogfighting charges, and is scheduled to be released in July. His current contract is worth $45 million dollars, and runs through 2013.

The Falcons offering him up for a trade is like trying to sell old lottery tickets. Perhaps there was a possible value there once, but now, everybody knows they're scratched off and worthless.

At this point, maybe they should package him with the rights to Jamal Anderson. At least the Raiders and Cowboys would be interested.

Game Over For Pacman, Or Some Other Video-Game Pun

The Pacman Jones era is now officially at an end in Dallas. At the very first opportunity to dump him, the Cowboys released Adam Jones to the waiver wire, where once all thirty-one other teams read his name and salary and laugh to themselves, he'll be a free agent.

Although Jones' career is approaching Lawrence Phillips levels of tragic proportions, don't think the Cowboys made too bad of a deal. Thanks to Pacman getting suspended during the year, Dallas rented Pacman for the year for the difference between a fourth roudn pick in 2008 and a fifth round pick in 2009.

Bad choice? Yep. Bad attitude? Certainly. Bad deal? Not too much.

The Super Bowl, The Commercials, and the Whatnot

As both a lifelong football fan and a guy who lives in the pop culture, the Super Bowl is my high holy day. It's the perfect storm of my interests.

My take on the game, the halftime show, and the commercials is up at Examiner.com. In addition to the game, I can promise you jokes about Michael Phelps, Rod Blagejovich, beer, Doritos, Vin Deisel, Mickey Rourke, Bruce Springsteen (and how nobody listens to his lyrics), The "Great Jack in the Box-Spokeman Murder of 2009," McGruber, and much more.

Check it out over at Examiner.com.