Deadlines continue to make effective kick-starts for negotiating long-term deals.
Of the 14 franchise-tagged players who hadn’t signed mullti-year deals, two have reached long-term riches in the last 26 hours (Drew Brees and Tyvon Branch).
A third could be joining them soon, as the NFL Network’s Michael Lombardi reports the Bears are “extremely close” to a contract with running back Matt Forte.
Teams have until Monday to reach long-term deals with tagged players, or they can only sign for one year. Forte didn’t sign his one-year, $7.749 million tender, and didn’t work out with the Bears this offseason awaiting the deal.
Others aren’t as fortunate.
In Detroit, defensive end Cliff Avril told Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press he wasn’t feeling optimistic.
“I’m hopeful, but I don’t know,” Avril said. “I’m not getting a good vibe, let’s put it that way. But I’m hopeful.”
Forte and Avril are two of the six tagged players who didn’t sign their tenders, along with 49ers safety Dashon Goldson, Chiefs wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, Jaguars kicker Josh Scobee and Ravens running back Ray Rice.