Yesterday, we reported that the Cleveland Browns used the franchise tag on kicker Phil Dawson. Over at Dawgs By Nature, they debate whether the tag will even mean anything after March 4:
↵↵↵There might be just one little catch though: the franchise tag is part of the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA). You know — the same agreement that is set to expire on March 4. When you think about it, upon the CBA expiring, the franchise tag technically does not exist any more.
↵This will surely be something that will have to be resolved in the new CBA. Owners probably want to keep the tag, but the players do not. Let’s say an agreement is reached that players can no longer be franchised. What happens to the players who were franchised before the agreement expired? There is no way the owners are going to allow all of their prized possessions become unrestricted free agents.
↵
This will certainly be something to follow, and it means Dawson’s status with the Browns next season could still change depending on the CBA.