Yet another franchise player has opted to sign his one-year tender offer, rather than head into an uncertain offseason without a contract.
Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Jets linebacker David Harris signed his franchise tender, becoming the third franchise player to sign his tender in the last 24 hours. Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley and Panthers center Ryan Kalil also signed their franchise tenders.
Although the players’ union contends that teams can’t apply franchise tags for 2011 under the current labor deal, individual players have the ability to accept the one-year tender offer, since it very well may be a good deal for them personally -- and possibly a far better deal than they’re likely to get after a work stoppage. Harris, Woodley and Kalil have all been in the NFL four years, and they face the uncertainty of a new CBA potentially requiring players to have five years of experience to become unrestricted free agents. Signing a guaranteed contract for 2011 now eliminates any uncertainty.
For Harris, the franchise tag means a 2011 salary of a bit over $10 million.