The Buccaneers slapped the franchise tag on kicker Connor Barth in March, guaranteeing him $2.645 million for the 2012 season. Barth isn’t required to show for pre-training camp workouts by virtue of his unsigned franchise player status, but indicated Monday on Twitter that he’s en route to Tampa.
“Headin’ back down to Tampa today ... excited to see all my teammates again!!” Barth tweeted.
Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times speculates that Barth’s decision to report to the team facility hints he may be on the verge of signing a contract extension.
Per Stroud, Barth is seeking a long-term deal worth in excess of $3 million per year. An extension with Barth could help get the ball rolling on the Jaguars’ talks with kicker Josh Scobee, who’s in a similar situation.
The Jags recently signed kicker Brandon Coutu because Scobee has been a no-show for offseason activities, and they need a practice leg. Like Barth, Scobee is currently sporting a franchise tag.