We're not shocking anyone by saying the Kansas City Chiefs want to keep LB Tamba Hali after he nearly lead the NFL in sacks last season. How they keep him in Kansas City is the question. Hali is currently in the final year of his contract and, according to Jason La Canfora of NFL Network, they're expected to place the franchise tag on him if a long-term deal can't be worked out.
Franchise Tag May Be Coming For Chiefs LB Tamba Hali
La Canfora reports Hali is looking for a deal similar to the one LB DeMarcus Ware received from the Dallas Cowboys in 2009 which included $40 million guaranteed and $45 million paid out in the first three years. Hali has made himself into one of the better pass rushers in the league so his value is probably in that neighborhood.
Oftentimes players don’t like the franchise tag because it strips them of long-term financial security but in the case of Hali I don’t think it will be a problem. Both sides obviously want to get a deal done and applying the franchise tag would simply be a way of buying more time to do that. The franchise tag period goes from February 10 to February 24.
The problem with the franchise tag is the situation involving the current labor agreement expiring on March 4. The NFL has told teams they can use the franchise tag during this two-week period. The NFLPA says without a new agreement the tag is meaningless.
However it all works out, most expect the franchise tag concept to make its way into the next labor deal so we assume it will (eventually) be valid.
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