NEW YORK – The franchise tag for quarterbacks in 2013 will be $14.896 million.

But the Baltimore Ravens no longer need worry about it because Joe Flacco agreed to a new deal with them Friday.

The NFL set the franchise tag at that figure earlier in the day. Then the Ravens prevented the Super Bowl MVP from reaching free agency beginning March 12 when they reached a new deal with Flacco.

Flacco played out his five-year rookie contract, making $6.76 million, and led the Ravens to the Super Bowl title.

Terms of Flacco’s new agreement were not immediately available.

Under the franchise tag in 2013, a player is paid according to a formula based on salaries for the past five years at the position and their percentage of the total salary cap.

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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.

An exclusive tag ties him to his current team at a higher, but as-yet-undetermined price, for one season.

In a quarterback-driven league, Flacco certainly would draw plenty of interest on the open market.

Already tagged are Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd at $6.916 million, Indianapolis punter Pat McAfee at $2.977 million and Cincinnati defensive end Michael Johnson at $11.175 million.

The other tags for franchise players are $10.854 million for cornerbacks; $10.537 million for wide receivers; $9.828 million for offensive linemen; $9.619 million for linebackers; $8.45 million for defensive tackles; $8.219 million for running backs; and $6.066 million for tight ends.

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Transition tags also were set Friday. If a player gets that tag, he is free to negotiate with other teams, and his current club has the right to match any offers. If it doesn’t match, the player leaves with no compensation owed.

The transition figures range from $13.068 million at quarterback to $5.194 million for tight ends and $2.7 million for kickers.

NOTES

BRONCOS: Peyton Manning’s blindside protector will get a big pay raise next season.

Denver placed its franchise tag on All-Pro left tackle Ryan Clady, ensuring the three-time Pro Bowler a salary of $9.828 million in 2013.

That’s almost triple the $3.5 million Clady made last season when he allowed just one sack in more than 1,100 snaps during Manning’s bounce-back season in Denver.

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The Broncos are hoping to work out a long-term deal with Clady before training camp, though. Last summer he rejected a five-year, $50 million offer that included $28 million in guarantees.

FALCONS: Atlanta started its youth movement by ditching three key players from the most successful era in team history.

The Falcons released running back Michael Turner, defensive end John Abraham and cornerback Dunta Robinson, moves that were not unexpected given their age (all in their 30s) and hefty salaries.

Still, in one swoop the Falcons let go their top rusher, their leader in sacks and a starter in the secondary.


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