Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Franchise tag for Vick, transition tag for Akers

The Eagles announced they've placed the franchise tag on quarterback Michael Vick and the transition tag on kicker David Akers.

The designations guarantee the players top money for the 2011 season, assuming it's not derailed by a lockout.

In the case of Vick, the one-year tender would be worth the average of the top five quarterback salaries in the calendar year 2011. That figure ranges from $16 million to $20 million. For Akers the tender would be the average of the top 10 salaries of kickers. That would be in the range of $2.93 million. The franchise figure is an estimated $3.3 million.

The Vick tender was expected. Akers' tender is interesting for he turned down a preliminary contract offer from the Eagles.

“Michael Vick and David Akers were two of our most valuable players last year,” Eagles head coach Andy Reid said in a release. “They were well deserving of their Pro Bowl berths and we’re happy to take this step to ensure that they’ll be back in Philadelphia next season.”

Statistically Vick enjoyed his best NFL season in 2010 with career highs in quarterback rating (100.2), completion percentage (62.6) and passing yards (3,018). He became the second player in league history to throw for 3,000 or more yards, rush for 500 or more yards and accumulate a passer rating of 100 or more. Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young did the same in 1992.

Vick earned a starting spot on the NFC Pro Bowl squad, was NFL Comeback player of the year and also drew serious Most Valuable Player consideration.

All of that said Vick and the Eagles were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs at home by the eventual Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

Akers became the leading scorer in Eagles history with 1,323 points. The five-time Pro Bowl kicker led the NFL with 143 points.

Since 2000, 12-year vet Akers leads the NFL in with 1,312 points and 291 field goals. Named to the NFL’s all-decade team of the 2000s, Akers is the Eagles all-time leader with 188 games played. Akers also ranks third in league history with 134 career postseason points.

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