The Kansas City Chiefs retained three significant free agents Monday, signing punter Dustin Colquitt to a five-year deal for $18.75 million, placing the franchise tag on left tackle Branden Albert and reportedly agreeing to a five-year contract with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.
The Chiefs had until Monday afternoon to decide whether to place the franchise tag on one of their pending free agents. They did it with Albert, who will make $9,828,000 next season.The decision was made easier by reaching long-term deals with Bowe and Colquitt.Bowe was the recipient of the franchise tag last year, and despite poor quarterback play and some nagging injuries, still managed to catch 59 passes for 801 yards and three touchdowns.Colquitt earned a trip to the Pro Bowl as the Chiefs’ punter this season.8 get franchisedThe NFL deadline for placing franchise tags on players has passed, with only eight given the tag by their teams for next season.Dallas linebacker/defensive end Anthony Spencer ($10.56 million), Kansas City offensive tackle Branden Albert ($9.828 million) and Miami defensive tackle Randy Starks (8.45 million) were the latest to be tagged on Monday.The other tagged players are Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd ($6.916 million), Chicago defensive tackle Henry Melton ($8.45 million), Cincinnati defensive end Michael Johnson ($11.175 million), Denver offensive tackle Ryan Clady ($9.828 million) and Indianapolis punter Pat McAfee ($2.977 million).All eight are non-exclusive franchise players.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.Briefly • Ravens: Super Bowl MVP quarterback Joe Flacco signed his new contract Monday worth $120.6 million over six years. He will receive a $29 million signing bonus, $52 million in guaranteed money and $51 million over the first two years of the deal. • Jets: General manager John Idzik told season ticket holders there is encouraging news from doctors on Revis’ rehabilitation from a torn ligament in his left knee. “By their estimation, he’s ahead of schedule,” Idzik said in a conference call. • Retiring: Center Jeff Saturday will retire from the NFL on Thursday with the team he spent his first 13 seasons, the Indianapolis Colts. Saturday and four-time MVP Peyton Manning started an NFL record 170 games together as center and quarterback before Saturday left last season for Green Bay. • Browns: Ticket prices will not increase for the fifth straight year, the second-longest streak in the league. Also, the team said the average cost of a game ticket is the second-lowest in the NFL. The Browns are also planning a significant upgrade in cellphone service beginning this season. • Tryout: Frustrated and maybe a bit embarrassed, Lauren Silberman, 28, fought back tears after kicking her way into NFL history. She became the first woman to try out at a regional combine Sunday, but she lasted all of two kicks — none of which traveled even 20 yards. Silberman hurt her right quadriceps while preparing for the tryout earlier in the week, and attributed her struggles to that injury. • Colts: Defensive end Fili Moala, whose 2012 season ended with a torn ACL in his right knee in Week 12, signed a one-year contract to return for a fifth season in Indianapolis.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
