[Lefty Noob]

The Seattle Times is reporting that the Seahawks may use their franchise tag on OL Steve Hutchinson, if a long-term deal isn't reached by February 23. Good move, Seattle. You need this guy, and you can't franchise Alexander, so why not? Of course, it'd still be better to work out a long term deal, but you've gotta do what you've gotta do, right?

[DrCool]

The Hawks will do all they can to sign Steve Hutchinson to a long term deal. It will be much more beneficial financially to sign him to a contract as opposed to franchising him. The problem with slapping the franchise tag on him is all offensive linemen are lumped together when it comes to franchise salaries. This will include the HUGE deals that Walter Jones and Jonathan Ogden are playing under so it would basically over-inflate the contract for a guard. As a last resort they will slap him with the tag but I have a feeling he will have a long term deal before training camp.

[Lefty Noob]

"The problem with slapping the franchise tag on him is all offensive linemen are lumped together when it comes to franchise salaries."

Wow - did not know that! Is this the same for all D Linemen, Linebackers and Defensive Backs, too? What about fullbacks and tailbacks (assuming a team would ever want to franchise a fullback). Would you have to pay Mack Strong based on what Edgerrin James and LaDanian Tomlinson are making?

How much do you think Hutchinson will command, Dr. Cool?

[DrCool]

Cornerbacks and safeties have different franchise numbers but all D-linemen are lumped together.

I think Hutch will get a long term contract averaging around 7 mil a year. I am thinking his contract will be close to what Walter Jones got (7 years, $50mil) which will include somewhere around a 12-15 mil signing bonus.

This is all assuming they don't franchise him and the CBA gets worked out. If they can't get that issue resolved then there is now way to know what will happen with the transition year in 2006, the uncapped year in 2007, and the disbanding of the players union in 2008.

[Lefty Noob]

Thanks for the head's up on that, DrCool.

Back to the original topic -- turns out Hutchinson wasn't franchised. But the Seahawks did designate him their transition player. He expects to be back, which is certainly good news for Seattle fans.