The Steelers announced today that unrestricted free agent kicker Jeff Reed has been designated as the team's franchise player for the 2010 season.
In order for a player to receive the franchise designation, a team must tender a one-year contract at the average of the five highest-paid players at the player's position in 2009, or 120 percent of the player's 2009 salary, whichever is greater.A franchise player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives two first-round draft choices as compensation.
Reed, a nine-year veteran, ranks second on the Steelers' all-time scoring list with 855 points. He has converted 189 of 227 field goal attempts (83.3 percent) and 288 of 292 extra points (98.6 percent) while playing in 117 games during his NFL career. Reed led the Steelers with 122 points in 2009, converting 27 of 31 field goal attempts (87.1 percent) and all 41 extra points. He missed only two field goals of less than 50 yards last season.
