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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Tennessee man charged with stealing back car from Central Point towyard Emergency services, March 4 Gold Hill will install cameras in City Hall to monitor employees Lion sanctuary in Phoenix could be shut down Siskiyou County murder suspect will return to California Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Tennessee man charged with stealing back car from Central Point towyard Emergency services, March 4 Siskiyou County murder suspect will return to California Ashland man faces multiple charges Emergency Services, March 3 Politics and Elections Ashland: Budget increase, swimming pool funding discussion on council agenda Judge upholds Phoenix's moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out Friday Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Education Medford schools superintendent gets high marks St. Mary's robotics team qualifies for state competition LIFEArt plans to open gallery in Medford MSD considers adding a health center at one of the city's high schools Absenteeism in Oregon schools prompts bill that would tie funding to attendance, not enrollment Environment The new normal under climate change? 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Health Watch: Sticking to your health plan when your family isn’t helping Community blog: Finding Your Indomitable Spirit to Defeat Addiction Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs, Feb. 27 Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 20 Religion News: Pope makes surprise shantytown visit Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Milestones and Achievements Anniversary: Hofer New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories SOU Percussion Group presents 'Timber' TMTO presents 'Bye Bye Birdie' Ashland High School presents 'Leading Ladies' Live Music in Local Clubs HAPA plays the Historic Ashland Armory Theater Review: 'Fingersmith' a twisting thriller with love 'Guys and Dolls' a sure bet for dazzling entertainment 'She Stoops' rises on SOU stage TMTO presents 'Bye Bye Birdie' Review: OSF elevates the neglected 'Pericles' Music SOU Percussion Group presents 'Timber' Ashland High School presents 'Leading Ladies' Rogue Valley Symphony showcases Anton Bruckner and Richard Wagner Live Music in Local Clubs HAPA plays the Historic Ashland Armory Community Events Third Fridays showcases local artists Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Dining Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, March 1 Great Outdoor Grill offers healthful options Restaurant Inspections: Sunday, Feb. 22, 2015 Saigon Xich Lo Vietnamese cuisine The zwickels shall flow Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obits Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines/Special Sections Business Services NEWS NOW Tennessee man charged with stealing back car from Central Point towyard ... Review: 'Fingersmith' a twisting thriller with love ... Gold Hill will install cameras in City Hall to monitor employees ... Tennessee man charged with stealing back car from Central Point towyard ... Review: 'Fingersmith' a twisting thriller with love ... Gold Hill will install cameras in City Hall to monitor employees ... NFL To tag or not to tag an NFL quandary Comment By Barry Wilner The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Barry Wilner The Associated Press Posted Mar. 2, 2015 at 7:54 PM By Barry Wilner The Associated Press Posted Mar. 2, 2015 at 7:54 PM » Social News NFL games have begun for 2015. Don't bother checking out your Sunday Ticket, though. This is not football the teams are playing, it's tag. Monday was the deadline for franchises to decide whether to hold onto key players who are pending free agents by giving them the franchise or transition tag. The alternative: letting them hit the open market on March 10. A lot more goes into tagging than simply wanting to hold on to a standout or a budding star. There's nearly as much game-planning for it as there is for an opponent during the season. Teams ask themselves: —What position does he play and how much is the tag for that position? —Should we use the exclusive franchise tag, when no other team can approach the player? Or go with the non-exclusive, allowing other teams to pursue the player, but with the original team able to match any offer, or decline and gain two first-round draft picks? —Should we go with the lower transition tag, in which other teams can set the market for a player and if the contract is not matched, there is no compensation when the player walks? —What is our salary cap situation? Does it make sense to commit so much money to one player? Is he that much of a difference maker? This year, the Lions decided not to tag Ndamukong Suh, an All-Pro defensive tackle and, when on his game, a wrecking ball on the field. Among the reasons could be his penchant for unacceptable on-field behavior — there's always the chance Suh could go off during a game and wind up with a suspension for his actions. More likely, Detroit looked at the salary cap implications of tagging Suh for nearly a $27 million cap hit because of his previous contract restructuring. The Lions felt adding to the huge price tags on receiver Calvin Johnson and quarterback Matthew Stafford would preclude the team from improvements in several other areas. No team wants to commit more than 30 percent of its cap spending to three players — unless those players have won championships for the franchise. Most teams prefer to stay under 25 percent for its top three players. Stafford has a salary cap hit of $17.7 million in 2015, and Johnson is at $20.5 million. Detroit still might sign Suh to a long-term deal, and it could avoid the hefty one-year cap hit with some creativity over a span of a few seasons. That room for creativity doesn't exist with franchise-tagged players. Kansas City bit hard and put the non-exclusive tag on linebacker Justin Houston. Except Houston might want to be considered a defensive end: the tag at that position is nearly $1.7 million higher. While the Chiefs negotiate with Houston's agents, they also must find ways to trim salaries. That shouldn't be too difficult; much harder will be dealing with a potentially long holdout by Houston if the sides can't agree on which position the league's leading sackmaster plays. And how much he is worth. The Giants had an easier decision in franchising defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul. When healthy and motivated, he's a force, as his 12 1/2 sacks and 21 quarterback hits for a weak defense showed in 2014. He also had 16½ sacks in 2011, and is only 26. With Steve Spagnuolo returning as defensive coordinator, New York will build again around the pass rush. Pierre-Paul is the foundation. Denver also had little choice with tagging receiver Demaryius Thomas at $12.823 million. With Peyton Manning likely to return this season, the Broncos had no option but to keep his top target — particularly with tight end Julius Thomas and wideout Wes Welker unsigned. It's also more probable the Broncos can get a long-term deal done with Thomas — the deadline is July 15 — and they have some flexibility under the salary cap, with around $150 million available thanks to unspent carryover money from 2014. Dallas, as expected, tagged its All-Pro receiver, Dez Bryant. The Cowboys are in a tight spot because they have little maneuverability for 2015 if they can't get a long-term agreement with Bryant. Failing to do so could mean losing AP Offensive Player of the Year DeMarco Murray, the league's top running back — just when the Cowboys have become a championship threat again. By Barry Wilner The Associated Press MailTribune.com By Barry Wilner The Associated Press Posted Mar. 2, 2015 at 7:54 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. fantasy football Fantasy Football Outlook for 49ers Stars Feb. 27, 2015 at 9:40 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Rams Stars Feb. 24, 2015 at 11:29 pm Fantasy Football Outlook for Browns Stars Feb. 19, 2015 at 6:32 pm 2015 Fantasy Football Outlook for Vikings Stars Feb. 13, 2015 at 6:47 am Fantasy Football Outlook for Jets Stars Feb. 7, 2015 at 4:30 am calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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