Titans Place Franchise Tag On DT Albert Haynesworth

In the least surprising move of the offseason, the Tennessee Titans have placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, guaranteeing him a salary of $7.250 million for the 2008 season. Unlike many other franchise tags this offseason, this will not be the average of the top 5 salaries at the position for the 2007 league year ($6.363 million), but will represent a 20% increase of his 2007 salary, because that will be the higher amount, and what is required by the NFL's collective bargaining agreement (CBA).

Haynesworth is widely considered to be one of, if not the best, defensive tackles in football. He missed 3 games due to a nagging hamstring injury, but was a disruptive force when he was on the field in 2007, racking up 69 tackles, 6 sacks, and 23 quarterback pressures in only 13 games. The Titans have until July 15th to reach a long term deal with Haynesworth and his agent Chad Speck, as mandated by the CBA.