Report: Patriots place franchise tag on K Stephen Gostkowski
The New England Patriots have placed their franchise tag on kicker Stephen Gostkowski, reports Adam Schefter of ESPN.
Under the NFL's $143.28 million salary cap for 2015 that was announced earlier on Monday, kickers will make $4.1 million from the franchise tag, reports Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
[daily_cut.nfl]Gostkowski, 31, has played nine seasons with the Patriots, joining the team as a fourth-round pick out of Memphis in 2006. In 2014, Gostkowski made a league-high 35 of 37 field goal attempts (94.6 percent) for the Super Bowl-champion Patriots. In his career, he has made 243 of 280 attempts (86.8 percent).
The Patriots have now used the franchise tag on a kicker three times after tagging Adam Vinatieri in both 2002 and 2005.
Patriots safety Devin McCourty was previously considered a candidate to receive the Patriots' franchise tag, but could instead hit the free-agent market. Safeties will be paid $9.6 million under the franchise tag in 2015.
- Mike Fiammetta
