By CARL KOTALA
Florida Today

It was decision time this week for a number of NFL teams which had to decide whether to put the franchise or transition tag on their potential free agents. The results were pretty surprising.

Buffalo, which appeared to be ready to say goodbye to wide receiver Peerless Price, made him its franchise player.

Arizona, which was considering using its franchise or transition tags on either wide receiver David Boston or quarterback Jake Plummer, didn't do anything - except offer Plummer a contract he'd be a fool to do anything but refuse.

Then there was Green Bay, which chose to transition defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt, but appears to be ready to let defensive end Vonnie Holliday walk.

All in all, there were eight players who received the franchise tag while three got slapped with the transition designation.

What it means to the NFL is that the free agent market - which was already lacking true star power - got even weaker.

Price, who would have likely fetched a blockbuster contract, is now guaranteed a one-year deal worth $5.01 million based on the average of the top five wide receiver salaries. Any team that wants to sign Price now would also have to cough up two first-round draft choices, provided Buffalo does not to decide to match the offer.

Needless to say, Price was not thrilled to get the franchise tag, especially when he probably could have gotten at least a $10-million signing bonus if he had gone somewhere else.

There is still a very good chance the Bills will trade Price, but it will be to a team of their choosing, not his.

With Price essentially out of the picture, Boston becomes the top-rated free agent wide receiver out there. But some teams may be scared off by the fact that he is injury-prone and could face an NFL suspension related to his no contest plea to driving under the influence.

One of the most interesting situations to watch will be with Boston's teammate, Plummer. Denver has pegged him as its No. 1 free-agent target and if that happens, Brian Griese will be released after June 1.

The list of other players who received the franchise tag includes three defensive backs - Jacksonville's Donovan Darius, New England's Tebucky Jones and Baltimore's Chris McAlister - as well as two offensive linemen, a punter and a tight end.

It was the second consecutive year the Seattle Seahawks have franchised tackle Walter Jones. St. Louis also tagged tackle Orlando Pace, who is reportedly asking for a signing bonus in the $20-million range.

Carolina, which had never used its franchise tag before, dropped it on punter Todd Sauerbrun, thereby guaranteeing him a contract of $1.47 million.

Of all the players who were given the franchise tag, though, the one who may have made out the best was Minnesota tight end Jim Kleinsasser, who will see his salary jump from under $500,000 to $3.05 million next season.

The trick now for the Vikings and the seven other teams which used their franchise tag is to try to reach a long-term contract with their player before a March 14 deadline. Any deal reached between March 14 and July 15 would mean the team would lose its right to franchise another player for the length of the contract.

Price, Pace, Jones and McAlister would have all been highly sought-after free agents had they been allowed to go free.

There will still be some talent out there - particularly at linebacker. With Indianapolis failing to tag Mike Peterson and Chicago letting Rosevelt Colvin go free, it's easily the strongest and deepest position available.

Even Cincinnati's Takeo Spikes, who was designated a transition player along with Hunt and Tennessee punter Craig Hentrich, can be had for the right price. The Bengals would have a chance to match any offer, but would not be compensated if they chose not to.

The free-agent market will also get a little jolt later this week when teams release players in order to get under the salary cap. Those expected to be cut include Pittsburgh quarterback Kordell Stewart, Tampa Bay center Jeff Christy and Miami offensive linemen Tim Ruddy and Todd Perry.

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