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It looks like the New Orleans Saints won't be using their franchise tag option this off-season.
NFL teams have until 3pm CST today to decide whether they want to exercise the tag option. Considering reports that the Saints won't be using it on left tackle Jermon Bushrod, it seems highly unlikely they'll use it at all.
Instead, Bushrod will either be offered a new deal from the Saints or be allowed to test the open market by becoming an unrestricted free agent at the start of the league year.
The only other player even remotely worthy of the franchise tag would be defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis, though that would be practically inconceivable. None of the other Saints players set to become unrestricted free agents this off-season are good enough at their positions to be considered.