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<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   Tagged again A look at the recent Seattle Seahawks who have been given the franchise tag designation: Year Player, pos. Amount 2002 Walter Jones, OT $4.67M 2003 Walter Jones, OT $5.904M 2004 Walter Jones, OT $7.08M 2005 Shaun Alexander, RB $6.323M 2006 None 2007 Josh Brown, K $2.078M 2008 Marcus Trufant, CB $9.465M   ADDITIONAL ITEMS • Seattle Seahawks (External Link) • Stats (External Link)   CONTACT THE HERALD Report scores and results to 425-339-3470 or 1-866-6-SCORES (Call after 4:30 p.m.) E-mail information including items for Tuesday's Communities Sports Roundup and Thursday's Outdoor Calendar, to sports@heraldnet.com Kevin Brown, Sports Editor kbrown@heraldnet.com   Published: Thursday, February 21, 2008 Seahawks to franchise CB Trufant today By Scott M. Johnson Herald Writer In what has become an annual event, the Seattle Seahawks are expected to play a game of tag again today. As first reported by NFL.com, the Seahawks are planning to use their franchise tag for the sixth time in seven years when cornerback Marcus Trufant officially gets the designation today. Trufant, who would have become a free agent next week, remains the Seahawks' property for one more season but at a cost. He will make $9.465 million -- the average of the top five highest-paid cornerback salaries -- for the 2008 season. No official announcement was made Wednesday by the team, and Trufant's agent did not return a phone message. But Trufant is a logical candidate for the tag because of his heightened value after a Pro Bowl season. Trufant, 27, finished second in the NFC with seven interceptions in 2007 and capped off the career year with his first trip to Hawaii. The decision means that kicker Josh Brown is likely to test the free-agent waters after being designated the franchise player last season. The team has until next week to sign Brown to a long-term contract or risk him becoming an unrestricted free agent. Brown's 2007 franchise tender of $2.078 million was well below what Trufant will make this year. The decision to franchise Trufant could affect what the Seahawks can do in free agency. While the Seahawks had space under the salary cap, his cap number will take a good chunk of that money. Seattle is hoping to use its available cap space to re-sign a group of unrestricted free agents that includes Brown, right tackle Sean Locklear and wide receiver D.J. Hackett. The Seahawks are also in the market for a veteran tight end as well as help at running back and on the offensive line. Trufant's franchise number is so high because of recent contracts given to cornerbacks like Denver's Champ Bailey, San Francisco's Nate Clements and Baltimore's Chris McAlister. The only position with a higher franchise number is quarterback, at $10.73 million. Trufant was one of three cornerbacks who appeared likely to hit paydirt in free agency. Oakland's Nnamdi Asomugha was given the franchise tag on Wednesday afternoon, leaving New England Pro Bowler Asante Samuel as the top corner on the market. The benefit of franchising Trufant is that he will be locked up for the 2008 season, allowing the team to address other needs in free agency as well as at the April draft. The Seahawks already signed a veteran guard in former Carolina Panther Mike Wahle last week. Seattle has options at tight end after the release of Alge Crumpler (from Atlanta) and Bubba Franks (from Green Bay), but those players might prove too costly in the end. Trufant joins Brown, running back Shaun Alexander (2005) and left tackle Walter Jones (2002, 2003, 2004) as recent recipients of the franchise tag. The NFL instituted the franchise player as part of the 1993 collective bargaining agreement, hoping to maintain some form of continuity on NFL rosters. Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren first used his franchise tag in 2000, when Seattle tagged disgruntled wide receiver Joey Galloway before free agency, then traded him to Dallas. Jones got the tag three years in a row before signing a long-term deal in 2004. Jones, Alexander and Matt Hasselbeck are among the players currently under long-term deals. That trio is scheduled to make a combined $15 million in base salary in 2008. The team could restructure Alexander's contract to make room under the cap, although he is also a candidate to be released in an effort to free up money. His base salary is scheduled to jump from $1.4 million last season to $4.475 million in 2008, according to the NFL Players Association's figures.

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