Stephen Gostkowski Franchise-Tagged by Patriots: Latest Contract Details, More

The New England Patriots had a big decision to make on Monday, as both kicker Stephen Gostkowski and safety Devin McCourty were candidates for the franchise tag. Ultimately, the team decided to use the tag on Gostkowski.    

The team confirmed the decision on its official website and issued the following statement:

"

Stephen has been extremely productive and a vital component to our success since joining our team in 2006. Utilizing the franchise designation allows both sides more time to try to reach an agreement, which is the goal.

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Adam Schefter of ESPN initially reported the news, while Ben Volin of The Boston Globe offered more details:

On Friday, March 6, Field Yates of ESPN reported Gostkowski signed his franchise tag tender.

The decision means that the Pats have until March 10 to sign McCourty to a contract extension. If they don't, he will become an unrestricted free agent and will likely garner serious interest from multiple teams around the NFL.

Mark Maske of The Washington Post certainly thinks that will be the case:

In other words, the clock is ticking for the Patriots if they want to keep last year's excellent secondary together.

Of course, teams would have been very interested in adding Gostkowski had he hit the market as well. Gostkowski has made two consecutive Pro Bowls, led the NFL in 2014 with 156 points, has missed just five field goals in the past two years and has only missed one extra point in his nine seasons in the league.

Replacing the legendary Adam Vinatieri was no small task, but Gostkowski has handled that challenge with aplomb since being drafted by the team in 2006. And at least for one more year—and perhaps longer, should he and the team agree to a contract extension—he'll continue to do so in New England.