Franchise tag question

[Maple Leafs]

Does anyone know if this is true?
Under the terms of the NFL's franchise tag spelled out at the league's Dec. 9 meeting in Dallas, the Colts would be obligated to pay Manning 120 percent of his whopping $15.36 million salary-cap number from this season - an even more whopping $18.43 million.(From http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1413,36~112~1840597,00.html )

Is that the way the franchise tage works in the NFL? That in addition to the "average of top five" rule, you also have to give a 20% raise to the most recent cap figure?

And if so, wouldn't adding that rule to FOF help avoid abuse of the franchise tag? I know I end up using the tag almost every season

[Honolulu Blue]

Originally posted by Maple Leafs
Is that the way the franchise tage works in the NFL? That in addition to the "average of top five" rule, you also have to give a 20% raise to the most recent cap figure?

And if so, wouldn't adding that rule to FOF help avoid abuse of the franchise tag? I know I end up using the tag almost every season

I think the way it works in the NFL is the franchise salary is the average of the top 5, OR a 20% increase, whichever is more. I don't think it's implemented that way in FOF.

I rarely use the franchise tag, partly because I have so few guys that I feel are worth it, and partly because the guys I'd want to franchise I already have signed long-term.

[Eaglesfan27]

In FOF2004, I only use the franchise tag towards the end of a player's career when I'm afraid to take a big cap hit on a signing bonus if he retires before playing out the contract. That being said, I think it would be great if the game changed this implementation to prevent franchise tag abuse and make it more NFL like.

[cthomer5000]

That is how the NFL works. It's either the top-5 average, or 120% of the salary... whicever is more.

This is why there has been so much talk about Manning's contract status. They'd be crippling their salary cap if they tagged him.