The NFL has publicly stated that NFL teams may use the Franchise Tag starting February 10, 2011. NFL Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Peter Rucco, stated that teams will have a 14 day window to apply those tags starting on the aforementioned date. The following is from Rucco:
“The CBA hasn’t expired and the CBA has the right to franchise players so we are telling clubs that you have the right to franchise players and then depending on what the new agreement says, that will take into account. Neither party is proposing to get rid of the franchise tag. But as far as we’re concerned, clubs have the right to tag players, the agreement continues with the same terms and conditions that it has been; it isn’t expiring until March 4 and the window to franchise players is 14 days. From our standpoint, you have every right to franchise players.”
The NFLPA strongly disagrees with that statement. Earlier today, the Players Association sent a letter to all NFLPA Certified Contract Advisors stating such.
