‘Salaries, now tied to total league revenues, are scheduled to soar in future years. Clements had been seeking to match the deal Denver paid Champ Bailey in 2004: seven years, $63 million, with $18 million guaranteed. But that was before the new labor deal. Clements’ franchise tag price rose $1.3 million alone because of the new deal. “At first I had mixed feelings about it but I tried to put myself in their shoes and see how I would manage a player of that caliber, and I take it as a compliment,” Clements said of being given the franchise tag.’