RB Deuce McAllister and DE Charles Grant

Tag, Grant's It: The Saints have played the franchise tag on starting left defensive end Charles Grant. The former first round pick of the team has played out his rookie contract and was headed towards the open waters of free agency, but the Saints used the sometimes useful, sometimes damaging franchise tag to keep his rights in New Orleans.

The young, experienced and fiery starter is becoming a premier player at the position, where run defense is prized and pass rush is welcome. Across from another first round pick, bull-rushing Will Smith, the Saints enjoyed solid production from their bookends.

The 6'3, 290 pounder has yet to miss a game in five seasons and has 36 sacks to his credit, including a pair of 10+ sack seasons in 2003 and 2004. Grant and Smith combined for 16.5 sacks in 2006.

The franchise tag gives Grant the right to negotiate a long-term contract with any team, but the Saints have the right to match the contract or accept up to two first draft round picks in consecutive years in return. The tag offers a one-year contract to the player that is an average of the top five salaries in the league at his position. For defensive ends, that's $8.644 million, the third-most expensive position behind quarterback and offensive lineman.

Grant now has until July 14 to sign a long-term contract. After that date, no long-term deal can be signed until after the final regular season game of the 2007 season. Grant then must sign the one-year tender offer or sit.

The deadline for teams to apply the franchise tag is February 22 this offseason.

Grant told WGNO-TV that the move was a surprise. Grant rode in the parade of the Krewe of Argus today in Metairie.

The franchise tag has not been wildly successful for the Saints in recent memory. Two straight offseasons of slapping the tag on DE Darren Howard, Jim Haslett's first draft pick, resulted in no long-term contract, a contentious attitude and $14.3 million in one player over two seasons. Howard bolted for Philadelphia in free agency last offseason.

What lessons the Saints and Grant's representation Pat Dye have learned from Howard's situation remain to be seen. Negotiations have not made much progress.

The Saints and Dye worked together last July to get 2006 second round pick Roman Harper signed hours before training camp opened.

Reggie OK: Reggie Bush said he was okay after awkwardly landing and bending-inwards his right ankle in the second half of the NBA All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game. He was examined by the Detroit Pistons training staff immediately afterwards and walked off the court gingerly.