Some players don’t like to have the franchise tag applied to them, and they refuse to accept it until days before the start of the regular season.
Doing so allows them to hold out of all offseason, training camp, and preseason activities with no penalty, since they’re not under contract.
But some players rush to sign the franchise tender, for fear that the team might finally ask itself, “Why in the hell did we do that?” and then take it back.
Seahawks kicker Olindo Mare falls into the latter category.
A league source tells us that Mare will put pen to paper today. Signing the tender will convert the $2.814 million offer into fully guaranteed 2010 income.
The Seahawks were wise to use the tag on Mare after the Raiders paid kicker Sebastian Janikowski a contract averaging $4 million per year. Still, with plenty of other kickers floating around Mare apparently doesn’t want to risk one of them showing up and kicking like Gus the donkey before being offered a $395,000 non-guaranteed deal.