If fans are wondering why the Bengals have decided to use the Franchise tag on K Shayne Graham, all you have to do is look at the deals coming in for kickers and punters around the league. The Raiders gave their punter Shane Lechler a $12 million deal with $9 million guaranteed. And the Titans signed their Pro Bowl Kicker Rob Bironas to a 4 year $12 million dollar deal with $5 mill guaranteed. So paying Shayne 2.5 million for one year is a deal. But there is still time to negotiate a long term deal.

Remember, Rudi Johnson was franchised back in 2005 and then the team reached a new deal with him after a few days of free agency started. Maybe once the market is set, both sides can have something to base their proposals off of.  On the flip side, you can say that if the Bengals would have let Shayne go into free agency that the market for kickers would have dried up a Shayne would have came back to the team  looking to deal.  Who knows?  Too late now.  I believe they will get a deal done soon and the tag will be lifted.  That’s not a prediction….I’m saving those for when they count.  It just makes football sense, both sides see the market now and things can move forward.  No need to keep the tag when you know what everyone is getting.