1.   Both parties could benefit from completing a quick deal by avoiding the use of the franchise player designation.

2.   The first is the provision that allowed Martin to avoid the franchise or transition player designation, without which they could not protect him.

3.   The Lions have said they will probably remove the franchise player designation from Brown next season and probably will not seek to re-sign him.

4.   League rules stipulate that the Rams would not have a franchise player designation available next year unless a longer-term deal was negotiated after signing the one-year contract.

5.   Sehorn was not given the franchise player designation by the Giants.