Indianapolis Colts punter Pat McAfee will play this season under the one-year, $2.977 million franchise tag applied to him in March, the Indianapolis Star reported Sunday.
Monday is the deadline for a franchise player to reach a long-term contract with his team, and that is not going to occur in McAfee’s case, according to the report.
“I’m ecstatic about the opportunity to be an Indianapolis Colt for at least another year,” McAfee told The Star by email. “A long-term deal is obviously something that every player hopes to one day earn. But to have another year in a city that I love, playing for a team with the best locker room in the league and representing a fan base that is the best in the NFL is awesome.”
McAfee, 26, set single-season franchise punting records with a 48.2-yard gross average and 40.3-yard net average last season.