The latest NFL player news from CBSSports.com http://www.cbssports.com en-us Copyright 2012, CBSSports.com Thu, 16 Feb 2012 02:14:01 EST 30 http://images.cbssports.com/images/cbsdm/spec/cbssportscom.gif http://www.cbssports.com 380 70 Peyton Manning reportedly underwent a fourth surgery at some point between May and September of last year, and might need another surgery in the future. Sports Illustrated reports that Manning may have developed bone spurs just above the point of where he had fusion surgery and the feeling from the Colts organization is that he'll need surgery to fix that, if not another fusion surgery. The report did go on to say that Manning tried to show the Colts coaches that he was able to play in advance of Week 16 vs. Houston, taking part in team drills and throwing to a number of receivers. However, team trainers did not clear him for action.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=e7278502e071b4e18fecab07d6898a60 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/12531/rss 132933755012531 NFL,HOU,IND Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:25:50 EST Albert Haynesworth was released. "I appreciate Albert playing for us after some key injuries this past season," said GM Mark Dominik. "He was very professional and we now wish him all the best as he moves forward."


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=75737f7d9e6b44a06e9934015d6c28d0 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/302201/rss 1329327803302201 NFL,TB Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:43:23 EST David Garrard expects to be fully healed from back surgery in mid-March/early-April and is intent on playing in 2012, his agent said. "He is open to all teams and any situation that makes since for him and the team," said Garrard's agent, Albert Irby. His agent also indicated Garrard would be open to being a backup. Garrard did not play in 2011 after being cut by the Jaguars prior to the season.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=03eae1fb58c936b6561e87ccec75fd16 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/302027/rss 1329326416302027 NFL,JAC Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:20:16 EST Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is "working out already." He began training at the Steelers facility days after he returned from an extended Pro Bowl stay in Hawaii. He talked to coach Mike Tomlin about where he is in his career and about the future. Roethlisberger is set to turn 30 in March. "I'm hoping that I'm just starting in my prime," he said. "I've never worked out this early. It's not like high-intensity, out killing myself, but I'm working out, I want to come to camp lighter than I've ever come, in better shape, because as you get to a certain point, a certain age in this football thing, your body doesn't recover like it used to." Roethlisberger sustained a number of injuries in 2011, including those to his foot and right shoulder as well as a broken right thumb and high left ankle sprain. He said his ankle feels fine, but he is working on healing his right shoulder, which needs to be strengthened because of the injury. "I'm just waiting on my shoulder, it's the only thing left to get healed up," Roethlisbeger said. "That's the last thing."


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=c12f629b16b386475213104c91785cd2 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/493043/rss 1329326167493043 NFL,PIT Wed, 15 Feb 2012 12:16:07 EST Nick Miller has been suspended for the first four games of the season. It has not been confirmed yet whether Miller was suspended for violating the policy on performance enhancing substances. Miller played six games for the Rams in 2011 and had the team’s only kick return for a touchdown. He returned a punt 88 yards for a score on Nov. 27 against Arizona. For the season with the Rams, he had eight punt returns for 128 yards (16.0-yard average), two kickoff returns for 43 yards and one reception for 8 yards.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=0ef674fe574f0ea8fe017d775e084f85 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1674462/rss 13293178211674462 NFL,ARI,STL Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:57:01 EST Peyton Hillis, who is an impending free agent. Freeman reports that some in the organization want to try and keep him, while others want to part ways and draft Alabama's Trent Richardson. Freeman says "I think the draft option will win out, but no one knows for certain just yet." The Cleveland Plain Dealer recently reported that the Browns would bring back Hillis for the right price.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=322f5e550ba542250425e46b5a502f18 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/523458/rss 1329317393523458 NFL,CLE Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:49:53 EST Randy Moss could be ruining his chances at a comeback effort with his recent rant on UStream on Monday. Freeman reports that "everyone is watching, including NFL team executives," and one said "he has seen the Moss videos and believes Moss is utterly obliterating his chances of returning to the NFL." Freeman reports that the executive said his franchise was once considering Moss, but after watching the video stream, the team is no longer doing so. So while Moss might be creating buzz for a future show, he might also be utterly destroying any comeback chance.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=1dd0d6ff751aea09839d7c9725f6d745 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/12576/rss 132931713812576 NFL,TEN Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:45:38 EST http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=1dd0d6ff751aea09839d7c9725f6d745&p=4 1dd0d6ff751aea09839d7c9725f6d745 ]]> Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:45:38 EST Tom Brady did aggravate his injured left shoulder in the Super Bowl loss to the Giants. He was injured in the third quarter on a hit by Giants DL Justin Tuck. Brady initially bruised the shoulder against Miami in Week 16. He missed some practice time in the weeks after the injury but also threw six touchdowns in a Divisional Playoff win over the Broncos. His offseason work will not be impacted by the injury.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=d3db20747ca6c71e5933da8158ebad6b http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/187741/rss 1329316832187741 NFL,DEN,MIA,NE,NYG Wed, 15 Feb 2012 09:40:32 EST

]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=c0b2f891ecec2c51fc6882204d205833 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/421986/rss 1329248178421986 NFL,NO,OAK,SEA,WAS Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:36:18 EST Houston Chronicle reports Tuesday that Texans QB Matt Schaub, who finished the season on injured reserve following foot surgery, is doing well and his rehab is ahead of schedule. The report says Schaub works out almost every day.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=84bccfc1c79f32ddeac17a2846d32f32 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/493050/rss 1329242599493050 NFL,HOU Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:03:19 EST Joe Flacco's agent at the NFL Combine next week. The report says both sides aim for a long-term deal. Flacco is entering a contract year in 2012, and Ravens owner Steve Bisciotti recently said Flacco would be the team's starting quarterback for years to come.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=1dd2a72de1c6631967db7a35f88bd2bb http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1250697/rss 13292416501250697 NFL,BAL Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:47:30 EST Detroit Free-Press reports that Lions RB Jahvid Best’s status remains uncertain because of concussion problems even though team president Tom Lewand is optimistic. Lewand said Best is "on pace" to be ready for offseason workouts, and he is looking forward to seeing Best and Mikel Leshoure play together. "Jahvid is a special player and he'll be even more dynamic when he can ... share the load with a guy like Mikel in the backfield."


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=ac6c1b58a8d3f8e4fec4441781f1f0dc http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1272970/rss 13292414291272970 NFL,DET Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:43:49 EST Detroit Free-Press reports that Lions RB Mikel Leshoure, who tore his left Achilles tendon in the second week of training camp last year, is close to making a full recovery. At the Lions’ request, Leshoure just moved the final stages of his rehab back to Detroit from Arizona. He’s doing resistance work and light running and is expected to join OTA workouts at some point this offseason. Leshoure looked like he was going to be a key part of the Lions offense when injury struck last August, and the team is anxious to get a read on him this spring. RB Jahvid Best’s status remains uncertain because of concussion problems, and even if Best returns it’s clear he’s not an every-down back.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=474389f5a85b47c196b86d1b84e29f09 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1619958/rss 13292412571619958 NFL,ARI,DET Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:40:57 EST Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said Monday the team wants to keep WR Mike Wallace "here for the long run." Wallace, their leading receiver last season, will become a restricted free agent March 13.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=3f9109729c1a65724ec37ddb6c1a19b4 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/559250/rss 1329239866559250 NFL,PIT Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:17:46 EST Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Steelers GM Kevin Colbert said Monday that no decision has been made on whether WR Hines Ward will be back with the Steelers in 2012. "To this current point, no final decisions have been made," Colbert said. "We've had several discussions internally. We're right in the midst of our free agent evaluations of other teams' free agents. We'll meet on those [on the Steelers roster] starting Thursday and carry through Monday." A recent report on NFL Network said that Ward won't be back with the Steelers in 2012 but a source close to Ward refuted the report.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=80566178e9141b1946c58e74a3a58ff1 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/12795/rss 132923963412795 NFL,PIT Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:13:54 EST Boston Herald reports that the Patriots will be in the market for a WR this year, and one obvious possibility is Brandon Lloyd, who is an impending free agent, because of his ties to offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. The fact that Lloyd said “I’m tied to McDaniels” makes him a likely free agent target. Lloyd had 51 catches for 683 yards and five TDs last year in 11 games in St. Louis when McDaniels was the offensive coordinator makes him look pretty good after he amassed 77 catches for 1,448 yards and 11 scores with Denver when McDaniels was the coach.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=9c7db88de9f0e8093cd2cf3413f3ebcd http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/396021/rss 1329239303396021 NFL,DEN,NE,STL Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:08:23 EST http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=9c7db88de9f0e8093cd2cf3413f3ebcd&p=4 9c7db88de9f0e8093cd2cf3413f3ebcd ]]> Tue, 14 Feb 2012 12:08:23 EST Sports Xchange reports that Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick's second-half swoon in 2011 was mystifying to fans and media who concluded the front office badly miscalculated in handing the career journeyman a 10-year, $60 million contract extension. But now it appears Fitzpatrick played the final nine games last season with cracked ribs. "A lot of people don't know, but Fitz, during the Washington game, actually cracked a couple of ribs," WR David Nelson said. "So after that he was playing hurt." It showed. In Fitzpatrick's first seven games of the year, he threw for 1,739 yards, 14 touchdowns and seven interceptions. After the injury, he had 2,093 yards, 10 touchdowns and 16 picks. He finished the year with a league-high 23 interceptions. "It's hard to find the silver lining but as we evaluate the season and what went right and what went wrong I'm sure we'll find a lot of positives and a lot of things that we can carry into next year hopefully and continue to get better at it," Fitzpatrick said.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=78db4a14aa7a465eba28d8dc3bcbf189 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/547043/rss 1329238377547043 NFL,BUF,WAS Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:52:57 EST Sports Xchange reports that Jacksonville has most of its top offensive players locked into contracts for the coming season with one notable exception - kicker Josh Scobee, who is an eight-year veteran. Scobee has been one of the league's most accurate kickers in his eight seasons with the Jaguars, converting better than 75 percent of his field-goal attempts in all but one season. Scobee led the team in scoring last year with 92 points, including 23 of 25 (92 percent) field-goal attempts, the second time in his career he's finished over 90 percent with his kicks. It isn't likely the Jaguars would use the franchise tag on him and probably won't have to. They'll make every attempt to sign him. For a team that was among the league's lowest scoring clubs, the Jaguars can ill afford to lose a player with Scobee's talents.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=36b684def719f434b69112886713992f http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/493053/rss 1329238062493053 NFL,JAC Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:47:42 EST Sports Xchange reports that new Rams coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer are excited to be working with QB Sam Bradford. Fisher has said on several occasions that Bradford's presence was a major factor that made the Rams' job attractive. "Sam was a big part of the decision," Fisher said. "We think he has a chance to be great. A lot of people around the league believe that. We are going to everything possible to make that happen." As Schottenheimer began watching tape of Bradford, he liked what he saw. "Obviously, he's extremely gifted, extremely talented," Schottenheimer said. "As I'm watching the film, getting the sense of how accurate he is with the football and how well he actually moves around and has made plays. That was one of the things that jumped off the film at me. It will be a fun process going through and looking at all the games and just getting a sense of where he's at. Obviously, I've been around a lot of young quarterbacks, but I think this guy's got a chance to be real special."


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=28183c3e4de6e7d55502255e828b96e0 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1123599/rss 13292378871123599 NFL,STL Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:44:47 EST Detroit Free-Press reports that Lions backup QB Shaun Hill would like to return to Detroit in 2012. The Lions have told Hill, his representatives and others that they want him back as the primary backup to Matthew Stafford. Hill also wants to return to Detroit -- and might even take a slight discount to do so. The 32-year-old appeared in two games last year and attempted just three passes, but he made 10 starts in 2010, when Stafford missed 13 games with two separated throwing shoulders.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=9d6babaca2d5b8ba8b00aed4427553c5 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/303369/rss 1329236380303369 NFL,DET Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:19:40 EST Newark Star-Ledger reports that Steelers WR Jerricho Cotchery, who is an impending free agent, would like to return to Pittsburgh in 2012. “In exit meetings (with the Steelers), it was pretty much stated that they were very pleased with me, who I was on the field and off the field,” Cotchery said. “I’m everything that they thought I would be, so from their standpoint, they definitely would want me back. And I expressed the same desire, so we’ll see what happens.”


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=19cacda5664415bf9b192057f1f09aee http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/492915/rss 1329236107492915 NFL,PIT Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:15:07 EST Arizona Republic reports that Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb is not worried about losing his job heading into 2012 with the speculation the team could sign Peyton Manning if he becomes a free agent. "I know how the NFL works," Kolb said, "anything is possible. I just try to keep my mind clear and do what I can on my end. I plan on having a great year and being a Cardinal for a long time." Kolb is due a $7 million bonus if he's on the roster March 17, and said "every indication on my end shows me that I'll be there." Kolb's first season with the Cardinals was hampered by a foot injury and concussion. He missed four games because of the foot and the last three games of the season with the concussion. "I feel good," Kolb said. "I'd say it took three to four weeks after the season was over to not have any symptoms. Once my mind cleared, I got back to working out."


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=6b5f8dda6578a89af27a6fb8a91acb76 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/414742/rss 1329235587414742 NFL,ARI Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:06:27 EST Denver Post reports that the Broncos could use the franchise tag on impending free agent kicker Matt Prater. The projected salary for a franchised kicker this year is less than $2.6 million — down 19 percent from $3.176 million in 2011. Prater said near season's end that after five seasons of kicking on year-to-year deals, he was hoping free agency would bring him the security of a long-term contract. Prater drew a $1.835 million salary as a restricted free agent in 2011, when he had four walkoff field goals for wins, including successful overtime kicks of 52 yards at Miami and 51 yards against the Bears.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=f2db7e0f711ec415dad97385a0e6035c http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1109832/rss 13292348471109832 NFL,CHI,DEN,MIA Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:54:07 EST New York Daily News reports that Giants RB Brandon Jacobs is willing to take a pay cut to remain with the team in 2012. It's something Jacobs did prior to this season, and he would like to remain with the Giants again. “Like I said the last time: As long as it’s fair,” Jacobs said. “There’s something that can be done. I do put a lot of hard work and dedication into what I do as well. But as long as it’s fair, things can happen.” Jacobs is due $4.9 million in 2012 and is coming off a disappointing 571-yard season. He’s due $500,000 of that on March 17 — just four days after the free-agent market opens — and he’ll likely be cut by that date if he hasn’t agreed to a restructured deal. Jacobs had his 2011 salary slashed by $1.75 million last August — from $4.65 million to $2.9 million — before the Giants agreed not to cut him. But while he’s “absolutely” willing to negotiate again now, he’s not sure if the Giants are. So far, a week after the Super Bowl and with only a month before free agency opens, he said neither he nor his agent has heard a word from the team.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=d8128b4509bc1e6aa8b0434c929f4199 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/551405/rss 1329234529551405 NFL,NYG Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:48:49 EST Rashard Mendenhall will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. If so, he'd be forced to miss at least the first six games of the regular season. Moreover, Colbert is not convinced that Mendenhall will be able to contribute at all in 2012. "I never feel good about an ACL for a year," Colbert said according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. That would open the door for Isaac Redman to be the starting rusher entering training camp.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=c2ec623dc5c40e5751316c7cd3d963b3 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1675207/rss 13291610341675207 NFL,PIT Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:23:54 EST Rashard Mendenhall will start the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list. If so, he'd be forced to miss at least the first six games of the regular season. Moreover, Colbert is not convinced that Mendenhall will be able to contribute at all in 2012. "I never feel good about an ACL for a year," Colbert said according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Mendenhall tore his right ACL in Week 17 of last season; recovery time for such injuries is anywhere from nine months to a year.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=0f7e9f465c39051a94bac9969a330d2f http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/561926/rss 1329160542561926 NFL,PIT Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:15:42 EST http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=0f7e9f465c39051a94bac9969a330d2f&p=4 0f7e9f465c39051a94bac9969a330d2f ]]> Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:15:42 EST Palm Beach Post reports that RB Steve Slaton is not expected to return to the Dolphins in 2012. Slaton played in three games this season with zero starts after being picked up on waivers before Week 4. He had 17 carries for 64 yards (3.8 average) with one touchdown and a long of 28 and also returned three kickoffs for 85 yards. Slaton was signed as insurance early in the season when both Reggie Bush (groin) and Daniel Thomas (hamstring) battled injuries.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=b251b830ac1c31337b225bf9b1b9974c http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/565727/rss 1329155775565727 NFL,MIA Mon, 13 Feb 2012 12:56:15 EST Tacoma News Tribune reports that Seahawks WR Doug Baldwin is already working out with the hope of building on an impressive rookie season. As an undrafted rookie free agent out of Stanford, he was a long shot to make the team last season, let alone lead Seattle in receiving. But that’s what Baldwin did. He finished with a team-high 51 receptions for 788 yards and four touchdowns, good enough for fourth in the league among rookies in receptions and yards. Baldwin also finished 11th in the league in percentage of receptions caught for first downs (78.4 percent), and fourth in the league with 23 catches on third down to move the chains. The hard-working Baldwin said he thinks he can do better. “I felt like the stats and everything (were) real average,” he said. “But you’ve got to have that sense of confidence about yourself when you step out on the field. To be honest with you, I didn’t think I’d have the opportunity to step out on the field that early. And with that, the transition wasn’t really that difficult because we have such a great coaching staff and they explain everything so well that it makes it easier for you to understand it and grasp the offense.”


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=cf0915df343f7ff43f85e1998fb9e2b7 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/1244486/rss 13291496531244486 NFL,SEA Mon, 13 Feb 2012 11:14:13 EST Sacramento Bee reports that 49ers WR Josh Morgan left the team facility after a workout Thursday as if there was nothing wrong with him. Morgan broke his lower right leg on Oct. 9 and was placed on injured reserve. He told the Associated Press that he's begun sprinting again, and he promises to be at full speed in the spring. Coach Jim Harbaugh has said the 49ers want to re-sign Morgan, who is a good fit for their power-based West Coast offense. Morgan, however, likely will test the market in free agency before agreeing to a new deal in San Francisco.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=7818e42caf932a578a12a0077a2ae643 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/502839/rss 1329144541502839 NFL,SF Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:49:01 EST Charlotte Observer considers re-signing free agent TE Jeremy Shockey a "high priority" this offseason. Shockey was the No. 2 TE for the Panthers behind Greg Olsen, and he had a productive season when he caught 37 passes for 455 yards and four touchdowns and missed only one game to injury.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=6050b377053bad81fe2a11a79d92c893 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/302223/rss 1329144366302223 NFL,CAR Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:46:06 EST Boston Herald reports that Browns TE Benjamin Watson, who was placed on season-ending injured reserve in Cleveland in December due to concussion problems, said he was doing fine, had no lingering effects, and was ready to move forward and prepare to tackle his ninth season in 2012. Watson played in 13 games, and suffered three concussions, including in the preseason. After the third, which occurred against Pittsburgh in Week 14, doctors decided it would be best for him to shut it down. “I’m great. Three or four days after the last incident, I felt normal. I past all my cognitive tests. I didn’t have any headaches. I didn’t have any nausea. I didn’t have any dizziness,” he said. “With three games left, they just erred on the side of caution and decided to end the season for me. You hate for that to happen, but that’s why the doctors are in place. As far as lingering symptoms, I didn’t have anything. I know some guys have headaches for weeks. That wasn’t my scenario, thankfully. So hopefully, it was just a bad luck year.”


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=c7d2c21bc4e005fbc353ce7267b27a98 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/493107/rss 1329144184493107 NFL,CLE,PIT Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:43:04 EST Calvin Johnson over a contract extension. “(Johnson’s) got a good relationship with Matthew (Stafford),” Lewand told a local radio station in Detroit. “There’s a desire to keep that (relationship) together. When that desire exists, you can get deals done.” Johnson is entering a contract year in 2012 and is coming off a sensational season, finishing the regular season with 96 catches for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns with another 211 yards and two touchdowns in one playoff game against the Saints.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=44a5550af5e6f5a81c859d8b48f6e1a8 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/502629/rss 1329143951502629 NFL,DET,NO Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:39:11 EST Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Eagles are going to use the franchise tag on WR DeSean Jackson. The report says the Eagles will not let Jackson, whose contract is set to expire, walk without getting something in return. Feb. 20 is the first day NFL teams are permitted to franchise one player before he reaches free agency. March 5 is the deadline. At 4 p.m. on March 13 the league year starts and players with four or more years of service who are not under contract are eligible to become unrestricted free agents. Jackson, who signed a four-year, $3 million deal as a rookie in 2008, will not reach the open market because the Eagles are expected to franchise him. The receiver would stand to earn approximately $9.5 million - nearly $9 million more than he made in base salary last season - if he played next season under the tag. Jackson said immediately following the season finale that he would be fine with the franchise designation.


]]> http://feeds.cbssports.com/click.phdo?i=a3d351045965125a6e54faf785ffa3b8 http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/559554/rss 1329143779559554 NFL,PHI Mon, 13 Feb 2012 09:36:19 EST