Breaking: Seahawks Tag Mare

The Seahawks have announced they’ve placed the franchise tag designation on kicker Olindo Mare, the second time in recent memory the tag has been used to retain a kicker. The move [almost] guarantees that Mare will be back next season as the team’s kicker.

Last season, Mare finished 24/26 on field goals and has been one of the more accurate kickers in the NFL since joining Seattle in 2008.

Update: After further review, this move makes a lot of sense. Besides Mare, there weren’t any players worthy of receiving the franchise tag — there is no way you’d pay Nate Burleson a salary that meets the average of the top five wide receivers in the league.

Mare earned $1.5 million last season with the Seahawks and was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. By applying the franchise tag, the Seahawks will only pay the 36-year old kicker $2.8 million and retain his services through the upcoming season.

Mare will still be able to negotiate with any other team, but Seattle can match any offer or receive two first-round draft choices as compensation. In other words, he’ll be wearing a Seahawks uniform next season.