Josh Scobee will be with the Jaguars for at least another year.
Scobee, an eight-year veteran and one of the NFL's premiere long-distance and clutch kickers, received the team's non-exclusive franchise tag Monday, a move that likely will prevent him from signing elsewhere as a free agent.
Scobee was scheduled to become a free agent March 13.
"We are placing the franchise tag on Josh today and it is our goal to reach a long term deal with him," Jaguars General Manager Gene Smith said in making the announcement. "Josh was drafted by the Jaguars and is someone that I have great respect for as a player and as a person."
Because Scobee received the "non-exclusive" tag, he can still negotiate with other teams, but a team would need to give two first-round draft selections to the Jaguars to sign him. The Jaguars also would be able to match any offer.
Under NFL guidelines, the Jaguars would pay Scobee about $2.6 million in 2012.
That's if Scobee plays under the franchise tag. The Jaguars have indicated they would like to sign Scobee to a long-term deal, and if that happens the franchise tag would be removed and Scobee would play under the terms of the contract.
Scobee, a fifth-round selection in the 2005 NFL Draft by the Jaguars, has converted 167 of 212 field goals and 254 extra points in eight seasons. He converted 23 of 25 field goals this past season and was 5 of 6 from beyond 50 yards.
He also tied an NFL record with three field goals of more than 50 yards in a 12-7 victory over Baltimore October 24.
Scobee has made 18 of 29 field goals from more than 50 yards in his career.
Scobee has scored 100 or more points three times in eight seasons and has played in all 16 games in all but one NFL season.
Scobee became the third kicker to receive the tag this off-season. The Browns franchised Phil Dawson and the Bengals franchised Mike Nugent. The Broncos are expected to franchise Matt prater and Tampa Bay is expected to franchise Connor Barth.
