Franchise Tag

[FFL Buffalo Bills]

I have a player in one of my leagues with 1 yr left on his contract that wanted a contract extension by holding out during the offseason...Well I held out not paying him. He came out of his contract hold out in time to start the season..He had a great year his best in his 4years carreer...I decided during the season about week 13/14 to give him his extension...But he refused because of past injustices... The off season is here again and my player is the 2nd best player at his pos. in FA. He is an UFA but with his young age is without a doubt the best player......

I have 22M to spend on FA and draft picks....
If I franchise tag him just so I don't lose him it's going to eat about half my avl. cap.. With his previous bad feelings towards the organization not signing. Will a Fran Player Hold OUT.. And if they do can you release them and if you release how much money do you lose lets say it's 13M Fanchise Tag Offer ...If he's released will I get 13 back or a part of it.

I would like any input... I really want this player but I don't want him holding my franchise hostage either...What to do, What to do,What to Do

[Northwood_DK]

you will get it all back if you decide to release him before season start.

[stevew]

Originally Posted by FFL Buffalo Bills

I have a player in one of my leagues with 1 yr left on his contract that wanted a contract extension by holding out during the offseason...Well I held out not paying him. He came out of his contract hold out in time to start the season..He had a great year his best in his 4years carreer...I decided during the season about week 13/14 to give him his extension...But he refused because of past injustices... The off season is here again and my player is the 2nd best player at his pos. in FA. He is an UFA but with his young age is without a doubt the best player......

I have 22M to spend on FA and draft picks....
If I franchise tag him just so I don't lose him it's going to eat about half my avl. cap.. With his previous bad feelings towards the organization not signing. Will a Fran Player Hold OUT.. And if they do can you release them and if you release how much money do you lose lets say it's 13M Fanchise Tag Offer ...If he's released will I get 13 back or a part of it.

I would like any input... I really want this player but I don't want him holding my franchise hostage either...What to do, What to do,What to Do

I think your major options here are to either Tag him for the next 3-4 years(at an increasingly higher expense each year) or to try to trade him now for a slightly lesser player. In the future, if a guy holds out your main options are to either give him what he wants, or to try to trade him. As if you let him hold out through camp, he will almost always(always?) give you the "past injustices" message.

[beargrowlz]

In the HFL, my star running back Lydell Mitchell held out and refused to even negotiate after being franchised.

I ended up dealing him after franchising him when i realized he wasn't even going to negotiate with me.

No cap hit because there's no guaranteed money in a franchise tag, so that turned out to be the best move, and I got pretty good value for him.

You might consider that if he won't negotiate with you. I'd suggest doing it in free agency though so you get the cap money back and can use it on free agents.