Chiefs Place Franchise Tag On Tamba Hali As Two Sides Work On Long-Term Contract

The Kansas City Chiefs have confirmed LB Tamba Hali received the franchise tag. The 2011 franchise tag number for linebackers is expected to be slightly over $10 million. The news doesn’t come as a surprise as many expected the Chiefs to place the tag on him.

The good news for Chiefs fans is that Hali isn’t expected to be going anywhere. GM Scott Pioli confirmed in a release issued by the team that they’re hoping to strike a long-term contract with him.

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.