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It was reported earlier that the Miami Dolphins were not expected to place the franchise tag on free agent cornerback Brent Grimes before Monday's deadline to use the tag. It turns out that was because the two sides were so close to a deal, the tag wasn't needed, and the team has just announced they've reached an agreement on a new deal with Grimes.
Last year, Grimes signed a one-year, $5.4 million contract with the Dolphins, a year after being tagged by the Falcons. Grimes had ruptured an Achilles tendon in Week One of the 2012 season, but bounced back in 2013 and started all 16 games in 2013 and grabbed four interceptions while grading-out as one of the best corners in football.
The NFL’s franchise tag deadline is Monday at 4 p.m. ET. That probably helped motivate the two sides to get a deal done to ensure he remains a Dolphin for the foreseeable future.
"I've been tendered. I've been franchised. I've been hurt and had to play for what I could get. That's my story. Nothing I can really do about it but just keep playing," Grimes said in a previous interview. "Hopefully it works out for me, finally."
It's nice to see a great player like Grimes get what he's earned after that Achilles injury could have easily prevented that from ever happening.