This time, tight end Bo Scaife was recipient of the franchise tag, applied just hours before the deadline on Thursday. That means that Scaife will make the tender amount of $4.46 million, but will effectively be unable to explore unrestricted free agency when it opens Feb. 27. Any team that signed Scaife to an offer sheet would lose two first-round picks to the Titans, unless Tennessee matched the deal.

Scaife's agent Kevin Robinson had told The Nashville City Paper recently that the tight end had plans to explore unrestricted free agency because negotiations with the Titans were too far apart. Robinson declined comment when asked about the franchise tag being applied to Scaife on Thursday.

The two sides had continued to work on a long-term deal in the hours leading up to the deadline of Feb. 19 to apply the franchise tag.

Last year, the Titans franchised defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, then worked incentives that he met in 2008 in order to escape having the franchise tag applied to him again.

The Titans and Scaife have until July 15 to work out an extension in order to remove the franchise tag for this season. If they cannot come to terms, the franchise tender applies for the season and no new negotiations can begin until after the 2009 regular season ends.

Scaife led the Titans with 58 receptions and had 561 yards receiving. He has been a success story since coming to Tennessee from the University of Texas in 2005 as a sixth-round draft choice, who had had ACL tears in both knees while with the Longhorns.

Scaife's numbers have steadily improved since he joined the Titans in 2005. He had 37 receptions for 273 yards as a rookie, 29 catches for 370 yards in 2006 and 46 receptions for 421 yards in 2007.