A Look Back at the 2008 RB Class

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Seriously, WTF are they thinking?

Andrew Brandt on Sirius with Ross Tucker laid out the Bears thinking, and points out that if the players didn't want this to keep happening then they should have pitched harder for changes at CBA ratification time:

Bottomline, if the Bears franchise tag Forte for the next two years, the Guaranteed money still is less than what Forte is asking for as a guaranteed long term contract. Further, if they go the franchise tag route, and something happens to Forte next year, they don't have to pay the next year at a guaranteed rate.

Is it a cheapskate way, yes, but especially for a RB, it gives them 2 more solid years of him under their contract rights, without committing long term resources to him.

I am surprised that the players union didn't wring some concessions on FT out of the owners, at least limiting it to a 1 year use, or some sort of step down system, ie 1 FT, then 1 Transition tag, then RFA.