For free safety Jairus Byrd and defensive tackle Randy Starks, who were tagged by the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins respectively, there hasn't been any progress on the former. (photo: LostBob, Flickr)
According to CBS Sports' Jason LaCanfora, talks between Byrd and the Bills that began in the middle of the 2012 regular season have have reached an impasse. The star safety has not yet signed his franchise tender nor has he shown up for any of the team's offseason minicamps.
Reports earlier this year suggested Byrd is seeking around $8 million per year with his next contract, using San Diego's Eric Weddle (five-years, $40 million) and Tennessee's Dashon Goldson (five-years, $41.25 million) as benchmarks in negotiations.
Under the franchise tag, he'll earn $6.9 million in 2013.
Meanwhile, contract discussions between Starks and the Dolphins have been virtually non-existent. Unlike Byrd, Starks has signed his tender, and after intially sitting out, he did report to Miami's mandatory offseason programs.
The team appears unmotivated to try to re-sign the 29-year old star defensive lineman before the season and along with Paul Soliai, seems set to lose both of it's starting defensive tackles to free agency in 2014. Starks will certainly be monitoring the contract situations of fellow-franchise tag recipient Henry Melton and impending free agent Geno Atkins to gauge his own market value.
Starks' franchise tag deal will pay him $8.45 million this season.
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