Feb. 21, 2008

The following players have been designated franchise or transition players by their respective teams. The deadline for making such a designation is Feb. 21.

There are two types of franchise players. Clubs retain exclusive negotiating rights to an “exclusive” franchise player by committing to a minimum offer of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of the end of the restricted free-agent signing period on April 20, or a 20 percent increase over his 2007 salary, or the average of the top five salaries at his position as of the end of last season — whichever of the three is greater. Other clubs cannot negotiate with exclusive franchise players.

The second type of franchise player, a “non-exclusive” franchise player, is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at his position in the 2007 season, or a 20 percent salary increase, whichever is greater. This type of franchise player may negotiate with other clubs. His original club may match the offer and retain the player, or receive two first-round draft choices as compensation if the original club elects not to match.

In 2007, seven players were given the franchise designation — Bears LB Lance Briggs, Seahawks PK Josh Brown, Colts DE Dwight Freeney, Saints DE Charles Grant, Lions DT Cory Redding, Patriots CB Asante Samuel and Bengals DE Justin Smith. Of that group, only Freeney was designated as an "exclusive" franchise player. Freeney, Grant and Redding were subsequently signed to long-term contracts; the other four are expected to become free agents Feb. 29.

Each club is permitted one franchise designation in any year of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. If a franchise player signs a multiyear contract with his current club between Feb. 22 and July 16, the club retains its franchise player designation for the following league year. After July 16, any contract signed by a franchise player can only be for one year.

Also, a club may designate a transition player in lieu of a franchise player in any year when the franchise designation is available. A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match an offer sheet given to the player by another club. To designate a transition player, the club must offer a minimum of the average of the top 10 salaries of 2007 at the player's position, or a 20 percent salary increase, whichever is greater. No transition players were named for 2007.

In the event a player retires, suffers a career-ending injury or is otherwise unavailable due to non-football circumstances, a club has the right to designate another franchise or transition player.

A club may withdraw a franchise or transition designation at any time. The player then becomes an unrestricted free agent when that withdrawal occurs, and the team can use one of the designations on another player at the appropriate time.