Tag, You're It

Football is an ever forward projection. Coaches don't sell backslides or regressions to their players or to the public.

Sure, some teams and players do get worse. "Rebuilding" is a dirty word. But in the hyper competitive NFL, stasis is nigh on untenable.

Progress, improvement, turning the corner - call it what you will. The company line is always about getting better.

In the league, there's three basic ways, right? Free agency, the draft, and player maturation. Other less easy to identify factors loom large in a team's fortunes: leadership, stable lineups, good communication. But those are issues to be ironed out in training camps, or, if not ironed out, at least confronted.

Free agency is less than two weeks away. And the combine kicks off this week Wednesday. These two events are interrelated. In the heavily compartmentalized NFL, we tend to think of the draft and free agency as separate. But their impact on teams will be closer to one.

Some sportswriters will caution against the free agency spending spree. Remember the Redskins! Beware the cap hell! Others will applaud the opening of pocketbooks while making ridiculous designations like "winners" in free agency before a down of football is played.

But it's important to remember that free agency isn't truly free. And the draft isn't really a blank check shopping spree at the supermarket.

The draft order and the resulting slights of hand, in trades, in feints of interest, will culminate in its own drama during the last weekend in April. It's an on-paper series of pirouettes and dagger plunges. There's a surrealism to it because none of the prospects fought over are real NFL players yet. These players are pure potential, pure vessels of hope.

A chance to make good on real NFL production, free agency is for the players... or rather some of the players. Very few of the best make it to market. Enter the franchise tag.

Sorry, Nnamdi Asomugha, your destiny is more toil in Oakland at least another season, perhaps forever. Perhaps the best corner of his generation is taking a Zen-like approach to his situation. At least he'll make another heap of cash, but without a long-term deal, won't get the guaranteed money he richly deserves. Al Davis loves aggressive shutdown corners. And even if he didn't, doubtless he wouldn't let his team's best player walk.

Matt Cassel's already been tagged (best treated by Throwing Into Traffic). Some assume him traded. Some assume him starting. I find it's best not to make rigid proclamations about what Bill Belichick and the Patriots will do. They excel at going against common logic and finding better sense in more universal, if less obvious, truths.

There's some other big names that might make it to market. TJ Houshmandzadeh, Ray Lewis, Bart Scott, Jeff Saturday. Perhaps presumptuous because one never knows the status of these talks, but I can't imagine DeMarcus Ware, Antonio Bryant, Jahri Evans, Karlos Dansby, Brian Dawkins, and OJ Atogwe returning with anyone but their respective teams.

Perhaps most intriguing this year in the franchise tag drama surrounds two elite defensive linemen: Albert Haynesworth and Julius Peppers.

Prince Albert can't be tagged this year. The modified franchise agreement between Haynesworth and the Titans last year included incentives for certain achievements, preeminently unimpeded free agency upon making the Pro Bowl.

Haynesworth has played the defensive tackle position the last few years like few players have in the history of the sport. Disruptive in the run game, nearly unstoppable on passing downs. He represents perhaps the most complete and accomplished player set to hit the free market. He won't reach 30 for another couple years.

He could succeed where others have failed, resurrecting terrible franchises like Detroit. He could resign with Tennessee to continue their run at a championship through dominant defense.

But perhaps most importantly to Haynesworth's fellow players is his example of lifting the tag, his bondage, through his play on field. Seattle tackle Walter Jones faced the tag year after year until he was finally given a long term contract. Haynesworth used what little leverage he had at his avail to deftly give himself a shot at free agency. He quietly made what threats were necessary to work around the tag agreement for the future. Then he went out on the field and proved it in his play.

Contrast that with the situation in Carolina. The Panthers are facing an important decision between two of their best players. Tackle Jordan Gross and defensive end Julius Peppers are scheduled for free agency. Peppers wants out of a confusing Carolina situation.

A top team last year that faltered in the playoffs is usually not the kind of place players want to leave. In perhaps the strangest logic of this young offseason, Peppers wants to go to a team that plays the 3-4 alignment.

An interesting request. Especially since there are fewer 3-4 defenses in the league than 4-3's. But that's not what makes Peppers's request a head scratcher.

No, he wants to play outside linebacker in a 3-4. He wants to be James Harrison, a DeMarcus Ware, a Shawne Merriman.

I guess a worthy goal in some abstract sense because those guys, playing hands-up rush backer, net a lot of sacks in their respective defenses.

Consider, however, that Peppers is 6'7" and 285 lbs. His athleticism and frame is so rare that he's a born end. He could pack another 10-15 lbs on his frame and make a great 3-4 end.

While, Peppers coming off the edge as a straight ahead rusher is a scary proposition, it doesn't make a lot of sense. I can't imagine the defensive coordinator who wouldn't put him at end in any scheme. It's like Steve Smith asking to be tight end or fullback because he loves to hit people. It's all well and good as an idea. But the body type is just all wrong.

Stranger than Peppers's request is that he's telling anyone who will listen about it. I haven't a clue if he's felt out some of the 3-4 teams about this to gauge interest before going public with his demands. And I haven't a clue who put this idea in Peppers's head or if it simply came to him in a burst of inspiration.

Regardless, it doesn't seem too wise to air the grievance itself in public. To threaten going public, yes, that's a tactic. Threaten causing a distraction for team and training camp. But I just can't see how this difficult situation can play out well for both parties as a bargaining chip is compromised for both sides who need an outsider to play ball with if they hope to make everybody happy.

It's a strange play by a strange player. Peppers should be the most dominant of his generation, but like Kris Jenkins before him, he's let the malaise of Carolina affect a couple key years in his career, being an intermittent but not truly unstoppable force these past two seasons.

The franchise tag rankles many of these top players who are seeking the security of guaranteed dollars. If they want to play their way out of it, or at least give themselves a shot to, perhaps it's better to follow Prince Albert's example than replicate Orange Julius's frustrations.