Franchise & Transition Players Named

Franchise and transition players for the 2006 NFL free agency signing period that begins on March 3 a club can designate one franchise player or one transition player among its veteran free agents. The salary offer by a player's club determines what type of franchise player he is.

An "exclusive" franchise player -- not free to sign with another club -- is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries at the player's position as of April 21, or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater.

If the player is offered a minimum of the average of the top five salaries of last season at his position, or 120 percent of the player’s previous year’s salary, he becomes a “non-exclusive” franchise player and can negotiate with other clubs.

His club can match a new club's offer, or receive two first-round draft choices if it decides not to match. The signing period for non-exclusive franchise players to sign with new clubs is March 3 through November 7 (10th week of the season).

A transition player has received a minimum offer of the average of the top 10 salaries of last season at the player's position or 120 percent of the player's previous year's salary, whichever is greater.

A transition player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives no compensation. Transition players can be signed from March 3 through July 22.

Franchise and transition players for 2006:
2006 FRANCHISE & TRANSITION PLAYERS
FRANCHISE
PLAYER POS. CLUB
John Abraham DE NY Jets
Jeff Backus T Detroit
Nate Clements CB Buffalo
TRANSITION
PLAYER POS. CLUB
DeShaun Foster RB Carolina
Steve Hutchinson G Seattle
Brian Williams CB Minnesota

Courtesy of the NFL