Joe Flacco and the Baltimore Ravens reached a tentative agreement Friday on a new contract that would make the Super Bowl MVP the highest-paid player in NFL history.
If the deal is finalized, the veteran quarterback would receive in excess of $120 million over six years, according to a person close to the negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity.Flacco would earn more than the $20 million average salary Drew Brees receives with the New Orleans Saints.Flacco played out his rookie contract last season for $6.76 million and led Baltimore to the NFL championship.The 28-year-old Flacco is the only quarterback to win a postseason game in each of his first five pro seasons. He had a spectacular playoffs and Super Bowl this year, throwing for 11 touchdowns with no interceptions.He also holds the record for playoff road wins with six.Franchise tags flyThe franchise tag for quarterbacks in 2013 will be $14.896 million.The NFL set the franchise tag at that figure on Friday.Under the franchise tag in 2013, a player is paid according to a formula based both on salaries for the past five years at the position and their percentage of the total salary cap. With the non-exclusive tag, his team has the right to match any offer sheet, or get two first-round draft picks in return for allowing him to leave. An exclusive tag ties him to his current team at a higher, but as-yet-undetermined price, for one season.Players tagged Friday were Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd at $6.916 million, Indianapolis punter Pat McAfee at $2.977 million, Cincinnati defensive end Michael Johnson at $11.175 million, Broncos left tackle Ryan Clady at $9.828 million and Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton.The other tags for franchise players are $11.175 million for defensive ends; $10.854 million for cornerbacks; $10.537 million for wide receivers; $9.828 million for offensive linemen; $9.619 million for linebackers; $8.45 million for defensive tackles; $8.219 million for running backs; and $6.066 million for tight ends.Briefly • Patriots: Former Aledo and Texas offensive tackle Kyle Hix, 24, who spent the past two seasons on injured reserve with a shoulder injury, was waived. • Falcons: Running back Michael Turner, defensive end John Abraham and cornerback Dunta Robinson were all released. Turner's release saves the team $6.4 million under the salary cap, Abraham $5.75 million and Robinson $3.75 million. • Cardinals: Linebacker Stewart Bradley and cornerback William Gay were cut. • Titans: Versatile tight end Jared Cook wants to be classified as a receiver if Tennessee decides to put the team’s franchise tag on him. He and the players union are prepared to make their case. A franchise tag on a wide receiver is more than $4 million higher than on a tight end.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
