Just before the start of free agency, the Dolphins made another move, re-signing LB Channing Crowder to a multi-year deal.

Tampa wasn’t the only NFC South team handing out pink slips Wednesday. Carolina did the same. The Panthers cut fullback Nick Goings, wide receiver D.J. Hackett and guard Jeremy Bridges.

Among the moves they made in preparation for Friday’s free agency, the Rams released WR Drew Bennett and QB Trent Green.

The Giants gave RB Brandon Jacobs the franchise tag, and now they treated him like a franchise player. The Giants signed Jacobs to a four-year, $25 million deal that includes $13 million guaranteed and $15 million in the deal’s first two years

The Star-Ledger reports that the Jets have released WR Laveranues Coles, but both sides are leaving open the possibility of his return.

The Houston Texans have releasedDE Anthony Weaver, S Will Demps and OT Ephraim Salaam.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the Rams released QB Trent Green and WR Drew Bennett.

The Newark Star-Ledger reports that kicker Mike Nugent will test the free-agent market after turning down the Jets’ latest contract offer.

If it felt like franchise tags were flying at an unprecedented pace this year, it’s because they were. In the 17 years of free agency, the most players ever to be franchised in one offseason was 11, which happened in 2005 and 2008. But this year, a whopping 14 teams used their franchise tag — and that number might have been higher had some last-minute, long-term deals not been worked out.

The Seattle Seahawks designated linebacker Leroy Hill their franchise player, it was announced by the team today.

Oakland Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha signed a three-year deal that is worth a minimum of $45 million and could reach $50 million, a league source said. It’s a complex contract that the NFL had to sift through and approve, and it has.

Well, that didn’t take long. Moments after completing a deal for offensive tackle Jordan Gross, the Carolina Panthers designated Julius Peppers as their franchise player, a league source confirmed Thursday.

The Charlotte Observer reports that Panthers DE Julius Pepper‘s trade wish list has just four teams, and three of them are in the NFC. The Panthers already have ruled out two of the teams, leading the newspaper source to believe those teams are in the NFC South, Carolina’s division.

Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh told the Dayton Daily News that he wants “no part” of the franchise tag. Nor does he anticipate it happening.