You can't tell me that the Bills

[Ron C.]

couldn't have squeezed out a 2nd round pick from a team like the Jets for Winfield. As I have said before, we could have transition tagged AW (average of top 10 salaries) and traded his rights to the highest bidder. There is no way AW would have immediately signed the transition tender and passed up signing bonus money. The transition tag could have been withdrawn at any time. The only negative is that 5.something million would have had to be available under the cap for a few days until a deal was done.

[The Spaz]

Re: You can't tell me that the Bills

Originally posted by Ron C.
couldn't have squeezed out a 2nd round pick from a team like the Jets for Winfield. As I have said before, we could have transition tagged AW (average of top 10 salaries) and traded his rights to the highest bidder. There is no way AW would have immediately signed the transition tender and passed up signing bonus money. The transition tag could have been withdrawn at any time. The only negative is that 5.something million would have had to be available under the cap for a few days until a deal was done.

I thought that if you franchised a player it is a given the compensation would be a 1st round pick.

[kardshark19]

I don't think we had a transition available. Only a franchise tag. May be wrong tho.

[don137]

One small problem with that theory. The Bills didn't have a transition tag left.

[Romes]

I can tell you that the bills couldn't have squeezed a 2nd round pick for Winfield because the Bills didn't have a transition tag to use.

They used their transition tag a few years back.

But also the transition tag just means that with any offer the Bills would have the right to match it. There is no compensation for a transition tag.

[TheGhostofJimKelly]

The only way that is possible is if the Bills were willing to take on Winfield's contract. What if they didn't get a buyer. They would be stuck with a player that for all intensive purposes they don't want anymore. Last year they were willing to take on Price but they didn't have to when Atlanta came calling.

[Tatonka]

how can guys like walter jones get franchised over and over.. how do they still have the franchise tag after using it twice but we use the transition tag a few year back and still dont have it available?

[Ron C.]

There are 3 types of tags (any of which a team can use):

1. Exclusive rights Franchise tag- No other team can touch the player

2. Franchise tag with compensation- two 1st round choices due the team who loses the player if they choose not to match

3. Transition tag- option to match, no compensation (unless team is willing to match and trade)

[Ron C.]

They would be stuck with a player that for all intensive purposes they don't want anymore.

The transition tag can be withdrawn at any time (as long as the player hasn't already signed the tender)

[Ron C.]

They used their transition tag a few years back.

You are confusing this version of the tag with the original, one time only, transition tag we used when we lost Will Woolford to the Colts?

Either way, it seems like a missed opportunity.

[Throne Logic]

So why don't we have a transition tag? Is someone currently tagged?

[Forward_Lateral]

I don't understand the franchise tag fully either. Someone from Jacksonville (I think Darius) has been franchised like 2 years in a row, is there a limit to this, or can you franchise a guy for his whole career?

[Jeff1220]

Originally posted by Ron C.


You are confusing this version of the tag with the original, one time only, transition tag we used when we lost Will Woolford to the Colts?

Either way, it seems like a missed opportunity.

I didn't know there was a new transition tag. When did that happen? As far as I know the transition tag was created as a one time thing to help teams transition into the current form of free agency. Once used, it's gone. The teams that have used them recently, never did before.

[Jeff1220]

Originally posted by Forward_Lateral
I don't understand the franchise tag fully either. Someone from Jacksonville (I think Darius) has been franchised like 2 years in a row, is there a limit to this, or can you franchise a guy for his whole career?

If the guy plays for the team under the tag agreement for 1 year, the tag is then over and can be reused, on the same player if necessary. Of course that means continually paying that player the top 5 salary at the position. If a long term agreement is made with a tagged player, the tag, I think, cannot be used again until that contract is up.

[Jeff1220]

...at least that's the way I understand it. I could be wrong.