Eight players receive franchise tags
NEW YORK - The NFL deadline for placing franchise tags on players has passed, with only eight given the tag by their teams for next season.
Dallas linebacker/defensive end Anthony Spencer, Kansas City offensive tackle Branden Albert and Miami defensive tackle Randy Starks were the latest to be tagged on Monday.
The other tagged players are Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd, Chicago defensive tackle Henry Melton, Cincinnati defensive end Michael Johnson, Denver offensive tackle Ryan Clady and Indianapolis punter Pat McAfee.
All eight are non-exclusive franchise players.
With the non-exclusive tag, his team has the right to match any offer sheet, or get two first-round draft picks in return for allowing him to leave.
Both sides can continue to negotiate on a longer deal even after a franchise tag has been applied.
Last year, 21 players received the franchise tag.
Baltimore avoided using the franchise tag by re-signing quarterback Joe Flacco to a six-year, $120.6 million contract.
The free-agency signing period begins March 12.
Knsas City make sweeping moves:
The Chiefs announced they signed punter Dustin Colquitt to a new contract and agreed on a five-year deal with wide receiver Dwayne Bowe.
Both were due to become free agents.
The moves come less than a week after new Chiefs general manager John Dorsey and coach Andy Reid acquired quarterback Alex Smith from the San Francisco 49ers for their second-round pick in this year's draft and a conditional selection in next year's draft.
Steelers bring back Gay: William Gay is heading back to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The veteran cornerback has agreed to a three-year deal with Pittsburgh, a move that should give the Steelers some insurance if unrestricted free agent Keenan Lewis decides to play elsewhere. Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 28-year-old Gay spent the first five seasons of his career in Pittsburgh before signing with the Arizona Cardinals last spring.
Gay had two interceptions for the Cardinals, starting 15 of 16 games. He added three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery while playing for a defense that finished fifth in the league in yards allowed in the air.
Gay thrived while playing as a nickel back for the Steelers in 2011, finishing with two interceptions, a career-high 14 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries. He parlayed his success into a two-year, $4.95 million contract with the Cardinals, who released him last week to clear space under the salary cap.
Colts sign DT Moala to extension: The Indianapolis Colts have signed defensive tackle Fili Moala to an undisclosed contract extension.
Moala could have become an unrestricted free agent next week. The team confirmed the deal, but did not release terms.
It's the second personnel move the Colts have made in less than a week. On Friday, the Colts used the franchise tag on punter Pat McAfee.
Moala was Indy's second-round draft pick in 2009 and has 86 tackles and two sacks in 48 career games. He also scored a touchdown on a fumble recovery. Last season, Moala had 21 tackles and made eight starts before going down with a season-ending knee injury.
Before the moves with McAfee and Moala, Indy was projected to have more than $40 million to spend in free agency.
Brisiel restructures contract: Oakland Raiders offensive lineman Mike Brisiel has restructured his contract to give the team salary cap relief.
Brisiel converted $3 million of his $4.35 million base salary into a guaranteed roster bonus paid next week, agent Jeff Sperbeck said in an email. The restructuring was first reported by the Bay Area News Group.
Brisiel is in the second year of a $20 million, five-year contract. He struggled in his first year with Oakland and underwent major ankle surgery in the offseason to fix a problem that hindered him during the season.
Brisiel was brought in for his experience as a zone blocker, but Oakland is switching to a more power-based blocking scheme this year under new coordinator Greg Olson.