NFL, union extend deadline for franchise tags to Monday
The deadline for applying franchise and transition tags to free agents has been moved from Thursday to Monday by the league and players' union.
With the NFL Players Association's members still voting on a new labor agreement the owners already have approved — that deadline was extended by two days to 11:59 p.m. on Saturday — leaving the last time to use the tags at Thursday made little sense.
By moving it to 11:59 a.m. on Monday, both sides hope to know whether they are operating under a new collective bargaining agreement or the current deal, which expires in March 2021. That contract has different parameters for franchise and transition players than does the current one.
The period in which player agents can negotiate with teams remains set to begin at noon Monday. The league's business year starts March 18, when free-agent deals and trades can officially take place.
On Tuesday, in the midst of some 2,500 union members voting on the CBA, Browns center JC Tretter was elected the organization's president, replacing Eric Winston, who no longer is eligible for the position.
Tretter tweeted to his contingency after the election by the 32 player representatives:
“Players: We are preparing to vote on a CBA that most of us will play under for the rest of our careers. Before you decide whether you're for or against it, please get informed. Read up on it, talk to your player director/ rep, send me questions, etc. Get as much info as you can.”
Tretter was chosen over Giants safety Michael Thomas, Buccaneers linebacker Sam Acho, and tackle Russell Okung, whose trade from the Chargers and Panthers will be finalized when the league year begins.
On Monday, Okung filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, contending the NFLPA negotiated the agreement with the league in bad faith. Okung accused NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith of rushing to a vote on the new deal after objections from the union's executive board, which voted 6-5 against it.