franchise tag on c. hope?

[tony hipchest]

i heard sheyne and riggins talk about this on sirius. i never really thought of it cause the steelers never franchise their players but this is one case where it makes sense if we couldnt sign him on a long term deal. we could still keep him if the steelers wanted. i think the average top 5 at his position would be around 2-2.5 mil. this may be more than they wanna pay though. but the 2 years hope has been the starter the steelers went 15-1 one season and won the sb the next.

[BB2W]

I could only find a salary list from 2004 and the average of the top five highest paid safties in the league was 3.28 million, but that may be higher than this years becuase Donovan Darius and Darren Sharper had huge contracts back then.

[Petesburgh66]

The five highest base salaries among NFL safeties in 2005

Troy Vincent of Buffalo ($2.75 million)
Mike Brown of Chicago ($2.39 million)
Tony Parrish of San Francisco ($2 million)
Adrian Wilson of Arizona ($2 million)
Corey Chavous of Minnesota ($1.9 million)

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/trib.../s_425876.html

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by Petesburgh66

The five highest base salaries among NFL safeties in 2005

Troy Vincent of Buffalo ($2.75 million)
Mike Brown of Chicago ($2.39 million)
Tony Parrish of San Francisco ($2 million)
Adrian Wilson of Arizona ($2 million)
Corey Chavous of Minnesota ($1.9 million)

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/trib.../s_425876.html

thats where i read it too. so the average would probably be right at 2.2 million. im sure the steelers would like to find a cheaper way out but there is a repeat to think about too. i was suprised these #s were so low. im sure we all can agree that polamalu will or SHOULD be the highest paid safety when his contract is up

[WWIIOwheelz]

Originally Posted by tony hipchest

im sure we all can agree that polamalu will or SHOULD be the highest paid safety when his contract is up

ZERO doubt. I hope like hell we can keep him.

[Stlrs4Life]

Here's the latest on Hope:
Free safety Chris Hope remains hopeful a new deal with the Steelers can be hammered out in advance of the NFL's unrestricted free-agency period in March, and he's adamant he deserves a big-league payday, either way.

"I hope to come back," Hope said Monday. "We have a chance to build a dynasty. I think me and (strong safety) Troy (Polamalu), our relationship and they way we play together is very interesting to me. And we're still young in the secondary.

"I love the city, love the way (it) treats the team and I like the organization. But I can't continue to play for less than my worth."
Hope, a fourth-year pro and a two-year starter, earned a base salary of $656,000 in 2005.

"I was a little frustrated coming out of the draft as a third-round pick," in 2002, Hope said. "I feel like I'm behind the eight-ball already."


"I consider myself one of the best safeties in the league. I have to get paid what the best safeties in the league get paid; that's only fair to myself."

Hope declined to reveal specifics about what he's seeking, but added, "I consider myself in the top five at both (the strong and free safety) positions."

The five highest base salaries among NFL safeties in 2005 belonged to Troy Vincent of Buffalo ($2.75 million), Mike Brown of Chicago ($2.39 million), Tony Parrish of San Francisco ($2 million), Adrian Wilson of Arizona ($2 million) and Corey Chavous of Minnesota ($1.9 million).

ESPN.com reported Monday the Steelers have made "verbal overtures" to Hope's agent, Braylon Bennett.

"They've told us that Chris is one of their top targets (to re-sign)," Bennett told ESPN.com. "We're taking them at their word.
"The thing is, without an extension (to the NFL's collective bargaining agreement) doing business will be hard. So we'll see what happens. No matter what, our feeling is that Chris will be the top free-agent safety."

Steelers Director of Football Operations Kevin Colbert didn't return phone calls Monday. Hope said Bennett and the Steelers have spoken briefly but not substantially.

"My agent has reached out and tried to talk to them a couple times and they said they'd get back to him, that they'd call back either Friday or Monday," Hope said. "I don't think they've called back"
.
"It's out of my control, but I'm patient."

Hope is also uncertain how his impending unrestricted free agency will play out.
"I would love to be a Steeler," he said. "The Rooneys, Coach (Bill) Cowher, the whole Steelers organization gave me an opportunity to fulfill a dream of being drafted and playing in the NFL."

However, he knows the reality of today's NFL.
"I know growing up I used to watch players get traded and look at that as a negative thing," Hope added. "In today's game, it's not. "It's a business."

[Suitanim]

The Steelers have precedent...I believe they hung the franchise tag on Carnell Lake back in the day...

[tony hipchest]

2.2 mil dont seem that bad even though our backs are to the wall as far as the cap is concerned. (but isnt it always?). sure they may feel theyre over paying, but its only for 1 critical year trying to repeat, and it possibly buys time to hammer out a long term extension if thats the direction they want to go. personally i think our secondary will benifit most with the young guys in a 3rd year of lebeaus system. we will already have to bring along mcfadden. why try to bring along 2 new players in the system if we can limit that to 1

[Suitanim]

Just checked...we did indeed franchise Carnell back in '95. Looking it up refreshed my recollection as to what a stud that dude was...

Carnell Lake was drafted out of UCLA where he played LINEBACKER! (Never played at more than 213 in the NFL)

He was moved to safety in Pittsburgh and was a stud, so much so that we hung franchise on him.

The starting CB went down in 98 and we moved Lake over to CB and he had a Pro Bowl year.

[tony hipchest]

funny thing was he gave up a sure bid to the pro-bowl by giving up his safety position and made the pro bowl anyways as rods replacement. perfect example of the type of team players the steelers love. sucked to see him decline in jax.