FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NFL-3
2/10/00
SPECIAL MASTER UPHOLDS CARDINALS’ FRANCHISE TAG
The Arizona Cardinals can designate defensive end SIMEON RICE as their franchise player for the 2000 season as a result of a decision today by a special master in a case brought by the NFL Players Association.
After a seven-hour hearing today in Washington, DC, Special Master JACK FRIEDENTHAL ruled that the Cardinals retained the ability to designate a franchise player for the upcoming season.
The Players Association had claimed that the team lost its right to do so when they signed Cardinals wide receiver ROB MOORE to a one-year contract that was later changed to a multi-year deal. Friedenthal, however, concluded that, in doing so, the Cardinals had not violated the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement.