41.   Every team usually has a special relationship with their quote-unquote franchise player.

42.   Even when things bottomed out, when they stopped listening and started whining, Butch Beard defended the Nets and their franchise players, Kenny Anderson and Derrick Coleman.

43.   Ewing is the franchise player, the difference-maker, and the Knicks cannot make a living compensating for his shortcomings.

44.   Executives from both teams said they are in no hurry to deal franchise players who might bring more-equipped suitors in the off season.

45.   Faulk will be the glittery star tailback and franchise player, a runner who NFL experts believe will be like few others before him.

46.   Ewing was their franchise player.

47.   Few franchise players actually play one season at the average salary of the five highest-paid players at their position.

48.   For this day, he was the franchise player, the one, true thing.

49.   Franchise players are required only to receive a yearly salary of the average of the five highest-paid players at their position.

50.   Franchise players from rival teams often get to know one another during the midsummer All-Star Game.