Franchise Frenzy

Finally.

The annual lull following the Super Bowl has begun to subside, with the Scouting Combine about to take place in Indianapolis over the coming days and the free-agency period soon to follow. And with today being the deadline for teams to designate franchise and transition players, we're finally starting to see some worthwhile news emerge that doesn't involve Brett Favre.

A few more teams got into the act on Wednesday, with the Baltimore Ravens slapping the tag on pass-rushing terror Terrell Suggs for a second straight year, San Diego designating running back Darren Sproles as its franchise player, Tampa Bay taking wide receiver Antonio Bryant off the market and the Rams doing the same with emerging free safety O.J. Atogwe.

Five others -- Patriots quarterback Matt Cassel, Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, Arizona linebacker Karlos Dansby, Bengals kicker Shayne Graham and Falcons punter Michael Koenen -- had previously been deemed franchise players by their respective teams.

A few more should come before today's 4 p.m. (et) deadline, with The Contra Costa Times reporting last night that the Raiders are expected to apply the franchise tag on All-Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and the Titans about to choose tight end Bo Scaife, according to NFL.com's Adam Schefter.

Scaife's retainment isn't the biggest news coming out of Nashville, however. The Tennessean reported on Wednesday that the Titans and Albert Haynesworth are far apart in contract talks and that the game-changing defensive tackle will almost certainly enter the market when the free agency period begins on February 27. Due to an agreement put in place after Haynesworth was franchised by Tennessee last year, the team was not able tender him this time around after certain performance-related conditions were met.

This greatly reduces the Titans' chances of retaining the two-time All-Pro, who could be the most coveted defensive player of this year's free-agent class. Haynesworth is reportedly seeking a contract that would eclipse the six-year, $72-million deal defensive end Jared Allen got from the Vikings last summer, and there already are rumors that the Buccaneers, who have a ton of cap space at the moment, will make a strong play for the interior anchor.

There's also quite a situation brewing regarding another star defensive lineman in Carolina, where impending free agent Julius Peppers has publicly declared his intentions of playing in another city in 2009. The Panthers have the option of franchising Peppers and subsequently trading him in order to not come away empty-handed, the exact same tactic Kansas City did to Allen a year ago, when the Chiefs shipped the disgruntled pass rusher to Minnesota for first and third-round draft picks.

There are two potential wrenches in that scenario. First off, Peppers has an undisclosed list of only four teams he'd be willing to sign a long-term contract with, as The Charlotte Observer reported on Wednesday. Secondly, the Panthers still need to work out a deal with All-Pro offensive tackle Jordan Gross very soon or run the risk of losing him to free agency as well.

Carolina is reportedly close to an agreement with Gross, and if the parties can reach an accord by today, that would allow the team to franchise Peppers with the intention of dealing him.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE (2:25 p.m.): Gross and the Panthers have agreed on a six-year contract. Also, NFL.com has just reported that the Raiders and Asomugha have agreed on a three-year deal worth at least $45 million.