Falcons slap high tender on Schaub

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FALCONS SLAP HIGH TENDER ON SCHAUB

A league source tells us that the Falcons have formally applied the highest possible restricted free agent tender to backup quarterback Matt Schaub. Barring a long-term deal, he'll be paid $2.35 million in 2007 by the Falcons.

Anyone who signs Schaub to an offer sheet that the Falcons choose not to match will be required to cough up a first-round and a third-round pick as compensation.

Based on the poison pill used by the Vikings and Seahawks in 2006, a team can craft an unmatchable offer sheet by including a term that makes the contract fully guaranteed under conditions that exist on the player's current team, but not in his prospective home.

For example, the Vikings could sign Schaub to a seven-year, $49 million deal which becomes fully guaranteed if in any year of the deal he's not the highest-paid quarterback on the team. Or the offer sheet can say that the deal is fully guaranteed if Schaub plays five games in Georgia in any year of the deal. In either case, the deal would not be guaranteed if he plays in Minnesota, and it would be guaranteed if he stays with the Falcons.

Efforts to remove this loophole from the CBA were unsuccessful, since the league and the union were unable to agree on concessions that the league would make if the union gave up this device, which promotes player movement.

Other RFA tenders of interest include Vikings defensive end Darrion Scott, who was tendered at $850,000, the lowest level. If another team signs him, the Vikings get a third-round draft pick as compensation. The Steelers tendered tackle Max Starks at the first-round level of $1.85 million. The Dolphins tendered receiver Wes Welker, who was undrafted, at the new second-round level of $1.3 million. The Fins also tendered safety Yeremiah Bell at the second-round level. Bell was a sixth-round pick in 2003.

[JetCane]

It's going to be interesting to see what Petrino does with Vick and the QB situation there. A couple of new coaches, like Petrino and Koetter (the OC in Jax) have a few tricks up their sleeves, and probably some strong ideas of what to do with the talent already on their squad.

[4HCrew]

this year could be an audition for Vick and he could be on the outs next year. He can only blame so many coaches and systems