Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Karlos Dansby's signing in Arizona today leaves the NFL with five unsigned franchise players, including Chiefs defensive end Jared Allen, who would have to sign before any trade. Beyond Allen, unsigned franchise players include Cowboys safety Ken Hamlin, Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs, Titans defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.
Suggs made a good-faith gesture by showing up at the Ravens' offseason program today. Haynesworth and Allen have taken more adversarial stances in public. Haynesworth ripped the team for some of its offseason moves. Allen has pushed for a possible trade. Hamlin is in another category because the franchise salary for safeties was low enough for Dallas to tag him without significant cap consequences. As much as he would like to get a deal done, his situation carries less urgency because the money is different.
Unlike Allen, Asomugha is an "exclusive" franchise player, meaning he cannot negotiate with other teams. The last item in this San Francisco Chronicle story suggests little reason for concern. Franchise players have until July 15 to negotiate long-term deals with their teams.
Once the deadline passes, franchise players can sign only one-year deals with their current teams. Full franchise player rules here.
The NFL has one unsigned transition player: offensive lineman Max Starks.
