There’s one day to go until the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement expires and teams are still getting their franchise players under contract.
Baltimore Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata has signed his one-year, $12.476 franchise tender. The same goes for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who was one of the few players to be slapped with the exclusive rights tag. His tender is good for $15.975 million in 2011.
Both players were given the franchise designations last month.
The Ravens wanted to lock up Ngata — one of the game’s premier defensive lineman — with a long-term deal, but couldn’t due to the 30 percent rule. They figure to get something done as soon as a new CBA is agreed to, but it’s anyone’s guess as to when (or if) that will happen. Ngata will be one of the highest paid defensive players in the league once he receives that extension, as it’s been reported that he’s going to ask for around $15 million annually. It’s a high price to pay, but there are few better at the position than Ngata, a two-time Pro Bowler.
Vick is more or less in the same boat. While the tender will serve as a catalyst in long-term negotiations, the Eagles won’t make any deals until a new CBA is in place. Vick, the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year in 2010, is already locked into the starting role for Philadelphia. Because he’s an exclusive rights player, no other team can so much as negotiate with him. There was some talk that the Eagles would see if Vick could duplicate his success in 2011 before handing over the big bucks, but an extension should get done before the season begins; but, again, it all depends on the CBA.
