The news was surprising that the Carolina Panthers rescinded the franchise tag on CB Josh Norman. Who rescinds a franchise tag? Did we even know teams could do that?
Yes, we did know because the Chiefs coach has done that before. When Andy Reid was with the Eagles he rescinded the franchise tag - twice!
(No, don't expect this to happen with Eric Berry)
The first came in 2002 with Jeremiah Trotter who was going through what was described back then as a bitter dispute with the Eagles. Trotter wanted to be paid more than the Eagles wanted to pay like most contract disputes. Reid rescinded the tag after free agency started which meant there wasn't much of a market for Trotter to sign elsewhere. He did sign elsewhere, playing two seasons in Washington before returning to Philly.
Check out this quote from back then:
"After reviewing Jeremiah's situation, I felt it was in the best interest of Jeremiah and the team that we withdraw the franchise tag, letting him become a free agent to explore other options where he'll be happier," Eagles coach Andy Reid said in a statement.
Yesterday, Cleveland signed Pittsburgh's Earl Holmes to a contract. The Browns were thought to be the primary team that would have offered Trotter big money if he had been a free agent. Within hours of his primary job opportunity disappearing, Trotter was notified that the Eagles were removing the tag.
That wasn't the last time Reid and the Eagles did that. In August 2005, Reid's Eagles pulled the tag in August after Corey Simon didn't sign the tag.