SKINS 5.1 million under cap.

[Schneed10]

Cooley is certainly worthy of the franchise tag, I don't see the team letting him get away under any circumstances. This year the franchise tag value for TEs is $4.28 million. That will go up some next year, but certainly the Redskins can fit the one-year franchise tag value under their cap next season.

Many salaries do indeed baloon next year, but there definitely is enough flexibility to restructure some players and cut others. Letting Brunell go after this year will trim at least $3.5 million off our 2008 cap. Cutting Phillip Daniels would trim another $3.0 million. We have the flexibility we need, we can take care of Cooley for the long term or we can franchise him.