Re: Peterson won't be franchised. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Peterson no longer team's franchise playerLinebacker to become unrestricted free agentBy MATT MAIOCCOTHE PRESS DEMOCRATJulian Peterson's two-year run as the 49ers' franchise player will come to an end next week.Coach Mike Nolan said Thursday the 49ers do not plan to tag Peterson as the club's franchise player for a third consecutive season. The 49ers could retain Peterson's services for another year with a one-year, $8.75 million commitment. The deadline for clubs to designate a franchise player is next Thursday.Nolan said he is not sure the 49ers will even make a big effort to re-sign Peterson once the outside linebacker is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent March 3."I know we'd love to have him back," Nolan said, "but when 31 other teams are out there, it's hard to say. As I always say, no one player will be bigger than the team."I've made that comment before when talking about character or selfish issues, but that goes for cap involvement, too. If the (salary) number takes us out of the realm where it hurts the football team, we have to be smart about how far we go."Peterson earned $14.35 million the past two seasons on one-year franchise contracts after turning down the 49ers' offer of a six-year, $38 million contract with $15.5 million in guaranteed money before the 2004 season.He played in just five games in 2004 before sustaining a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon. The six-year pro returned last season but recorded just three sacks, 2? of which came in the season-opening victory over the St. Louis Rams.Peterson spoke to Nolan and the media the day after the season ended as if he knew the 49ers would not place the franchise tag on him again this year."He shook his head, he knew the thing (salary) was going to get too big for us," Nolan said. "He understands how the thing works. I think he wants to be here in a strong way."Nolan said he hopes the club can reach contract agreements with some of the other free-agents-to-be before the start of the free-agent signing period. The club is expected to strike a deal with kicker Joe Nedney in early March. Linebacker Derek Smith, the club's leading tackler, is also high on the priority list.With somewhere between $15 million and $20 million in cap room to open free agency, the 49ers figure to be a factor when it comes to signing veteran players. But Nolan said he does not want to rely too much on high-priced additions."The big thing for us is to supplement the holes we have with a free agent or two," said Nolan, adding the 49ers already have a list of players they plan to pursue.Next week the 49ers' coaching staff and scouts head to Indianapolis for the annual combine, where they will get a chance to see many of the top draft-eligible players.Nolan said he will go into this combine knowing more about the assembled talent than ever before. Nolan has sat in on 49ers player evaluation meetings the past two weeks. He also got a first-hand look at some of the top seniors in the nation as coach of the South squad at the Senior Bowl last month."Even as an assistant, I've never been up to speed as much as I am right now," Nolan said. "If 100 percent is the goal ticket, I'm about 25 percent. In a normal year, I'd be about 5 (percent), if lucky."</div>
Re: Peterson won't be franchised. Ya, this is like his first year ever not getting franchised. He needs to get out of SF.
Re: Peterson won't be franchised. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gopackers4 @ Feb 20 2006, 02:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I've heard he might go to the Eagles</div>
Re: Peterson won't be franchised. That's realistic too cuz they could really use a new linebacker or 2, someone to go with Trotter... Dhani isn't all that great, nor is Simoneau... Keith Adams has stepped up a little but he's nothing close to Peterson when Peterson is healthy. If he does end up on the Eagles he will be just like Kearse was I think, a good player but often injured/unproductive.
