Rockinkuwait
Well-Known Member
Yes and no imo.
Yes...WAS, imo it's a win/win for the team and player. Cousins gets more money than he's made in the previous 4 yrs combined, probably was not going to make that much as a FA this season either. "Skins get another look at a small sample player before investing $80-$100 mil.
NO...DEN, works for the team, not so much for the player...proven stud in the prime of his career, should be cashing in on $60 mil guaranteed, but forced to play for the tag.
Bottomline...the CBA is full of give and takes...this one favors the team most of the time.
I think Cousins would have gotten a lot more guaranteed. If he struggles this year and turns into turnover prone Cousins again, that franchise tag will really cost what he could have made in FA.
I would rather the franchise tag be a 2 year guarantee at the top 5 salaries or something personally, but see no reason for the NFL to change it from favoring the league if it isn't something the NFLPA wants to bargain for. As it affects just a tiny percentage of their union, it isn't worth bargaining over to them strongly, so they give here and take elsewhere.