Cryptic rule plays role in Eagles' tagging Vick, Akers

Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Posted: 8:50 a.m.Updated: 7:16 p.m.By Andy SchwartzCSNPhilly.com

Because of an obscure rule, the Eagles couldnt have signed quarterback Michael Vick and kicker David Akers to contract extensions even had they wanted to. So on Tuesday the Eagles retained the rights to both playersor so they hopeby placing the franchise tag on Vick and the transition tag on Akers

First, theres the well-documented 30-percent rule. In effect, because of the lack of a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, this clause restricts the raise in base salary a player can receive and thus makes an extension difficult to execute.

And second

Theres another set of rules that havent gotten as much coverage, where youre literally prohibited from even negotiating with a player, Eagles president Joe Banner explained Tuesday. Both of these players are affected by that rule. Basicallyits a lot more complicated than thisbut if your salary increased by more than 30 percent between '09 and 2010, then you are not allowed to do a renegotiation or extension of the contract. So we have been prohibited once they hit that threshold.

Could the Eagles have signed them before they hit the threshold?

Michaels was very early because he made so little the year before. In fact, Im not sure there was a time we could talk to Michael, Banner said.

After earning 1.625 million in 2009, Vick made 3.75 million last year. Banner said the Eagles discussed an extension with Akers before the kicker hit his mark around the ninth or 10th game of last season.

But a deal wasnt completed, so tagging both players was the only way the Eagles could secure their rights.

Michael Vick and David Akers were two of our most valuable players last year," head coach Andy Reid said in a statement released by the team. 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.

At least based on the rules of the current CBA, which expires March 4. And when that happens, do the tags even exist?

Our position is, we dont know either, Banner said. We obviously think they do. But if we dont act as if they do, and they turned out to exist, wed look awfully stupid. So were really protecting our rights by doing what we did. We believe they will exist, but we dont know that. Were living under last years rules.

And if they dont exist?

They cant be free agents until theres a new league year. By the time theres a new league year, whether thats March 4 or some other date, there will be rules that frankly make whether we have this right now irrelevant, Banner said. Well end up with whatever right those new rules say.

So at the moment, the Eagles have done all they can do.

Weve protected our rights, Banner said.

The Eagles, under the current rules, used the exclusive franchise tag on Vick, meaning he cannot receive offers from other teams. The non-exclusive tag would allow him to negotiate with other teams, but any team making an offer to Vick would have to compensate the Eagles with two first-round picks if the Eagles decided not to match it.

The transition tag is non-exclusive and does not mandate compensation.

Once a new set of rules is agreed upon, the Eagles will decide what to do with Kevin Kolb. But until then, Kolbs an Eagle.

We cant do anything with any player until there is a new league year anyway. At that point well know, Banner said. Either Michael is free or Michael is tagged. We couldnt make a decision about anybody else before we knew that anyway, so the timing will take care of that for us.

Vick would earn a salary equal to average of the top five highest paid quarterbacks in the league. Based on last season's salaries, that figure, according to Banner, is 16 million. Akers' salary would be the average of the top 10 highest paid kickers. Under the current system, Vick and Akers will account for 20 million in cap room.

But that doesnt mean the Eagles are out of the free-agent market. Banner expects to find some bargains in what will be a large free-agent pool.

Whatever the cap is, some will get very big deals and be very expensive, and some will fall through the cracks just because there are so many, Banner said. There may be an opportunity to get some guys that are very good players, but because there are so many free agents at once, theyre very good values, and were going to try be in a position to take advantage of whatever we think will help us the most.

The franchise tag was expected for Vick, who enjoyed a rebirth last season, setting career-highs in passer rating (100.2), completion percentage (62.6) and yards passing (3,018). He was selected to his fourth Pro Bowl.

Once there is a new CBA, the Eagles likely will look to extend his contract.

I think well see then, Banner said. We have interest in him long term. Everything he has said and everything his agent has said is positive. Hes somebody we think highly of.

The 37-year-old Akers had a terrific regular seasonmaking 32 of 38 field-goal attemptsbecame the franchise's all-time leader in games played and earned his fifth Pro Bowl selection. However, he missed two field goals in the wild-card loss to Green Bay. Days before the game, Akers had discovered that his 6-year-old daughter Halley had a tumor that needed to be removed.

Reid following the loss singled out Akers, who said he was hurt by it and thought his career as an Eagle had ended but later acknowledged that he understood the criticism.

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E-mail Andy Schwartz at aschwartz@comcastsportsnet.com.