Bears finally put the franchise tag on Jeffery

After denying a report last Friday that they had already agreed to slap the franchise tag on Pro Bowl wide receiver Alshon Jeffery, the Bears did just that on Monday to no one's surprise.

The tag keeps Jeffery on the Bears for the 2016 season at a guaranteed $14.6 million based on the just-released 2016 team salary cap of $155.27 million. The Bears had until Tuesday to make the tag decision but without sufficient progress toward a long-term deal made the move a day early.

Jeffery could have become an unrestricted free agent on March 9. The Bears and Jeffery have until July 15 to reach a multiyear deal.

Jeffery played in just nine games last season and battled through four separate soft-tissue injuries but still led the Bears with 54 catches and 807 receiving yards. In the previous two seasons, when he played in all 32 games, Jeffery caught a combined 174 passes for 2,554 yards and 17 touchdowns.

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