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Tag, You're It: Ravens Franchise Suggs, Chiefs Franchise Allen
The Chiefs have put the franchise tag on Jared Allen, keeping him in Kansas City for another season. (AP Images)
Two of the more alluring defensive players in the league won't be going anywhere this offseason.
In an effort to keep a pair of the best pass-rushers in their respective cities, both the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs have exercised their franchise tags for the upcoming season.
Baltimore has tagged DE/LB Terrell Suggs. Suggs has an interesting case as there is discrepancy to what position he's tagged at. Baltimore put forth a one-year tender offer at $8.065 million at linebacker. Yet Suggs suggests (strongly) that he played more than 50 percent of his defensive plays at DE, which has an $8.879 million tender offer. Whether or not this has caused a rift between the Suggs and Ravens camp has not been reported.
Suggs is a five-year veteran who has recorded double-digit sack totals three times. Last season he hit a career high for tackles, with 78.
Meanwhile, Kansas City wrapped up DE Jared Allen for another season. Allen had a fantastic 2007 season, recording 15.5 sacks despite playing in just 14 games. He missed two contests after being suspended due to a DUI charge. Allen will receive the $8.879 million that Suggs almost saw, a testament to his endless motor and great ability to get after the quarterback.
Only 25 years old, Allen has a bright future ahead of him. He averaged just under 11 sacks in each of his first four professional seasons and, in 2005, forced seven fumbles, a career high.