Miller, Norman, Cousins, Berry are franchise tagged

Where are the All- Pros without contracts going? Nowhere, it appears. Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and fellow All-Pro players Josh Norman and Eric Berry were given franchise tags Tuesday, the league's deadline to do so.

In all, nine players were slapped with the franchise tag and one, Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon, got the transition tag.

Broncos linebacker Miller was the only player to get the exclusive tag, at $14.129 million, meaning no other team can make him an offer.

Panthers cornerback Norman and Chiefs safety Berry were among the eight who received non-exclusive designations, so other clubs can make offers, but their current teams have the right to match or get compensated with two first-round draft picks.

Also getting tagged with free agency set to begin on March 9 were Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, Jets DE Muhammad Wilkerson, Bears receiver Alshon Jeffery, Ravens placekicker Justin Tucker, Bills tackle Cordy Glenn and Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson.

The players have until July 15 to work out a long-term contract with their teams. If they can't — and most franchises are eager to get these players locked up for several years — then the salary for 2016 is determined by the tag designation.

Cousins would earn the most, $19.9 million, because quarterbacks have the highest tag number. Wilkerson would be next at $15.7 million.

Miami decided against placing the franchise tag on Vernon, and this year's transition number calls for defensive ends to receive $12.734 million. A transition tag allows the player to negotiate with other teams, but his current club has the right of first refusal to match any offer. Should Vernon leave, there is no compensation for Miami.

A look at how this game of tag played out:

Von Miller, Denver ($ 14.129 million) — Many people consider the 26-year-old Miller the best defensive player in the NFL. Some rate him the best overall player. Clearly, the Broncos weren't leaving any opening for him to get away.

"We've had productive talks with Von's representation, and we'll continue those discussions with the goal of making sure Von remains a Bronco well into the future," GM John Elway said in a statement.

The outside linebacker has 60 sacks in his first five NFL seasons after being taken second overall behind Cam Newton — the Panthers QB he harassed in the Super Bowl — in 2011.

Eric Berry, Kansas City ($ 10.806 million) — The Comeback Player of the Year, Berry was diagnosed with lymphoma midway through the 2014 season and immediately began treatments. After going through chemotherapy, he was deemed cancer-free last summer, and the 27-year-old Berry then had the best season of his sixyear career. A 2010 first-round pick, Berry made 55 solo tackles and two interceptions while providing inspi- ration not only for the Chiefs, but for all athletes.

Josh Norman, Carolina ($ 13.952 million) — The Panthers have seen Norman, 28, develop into one of the best cover men in the NFL. Norman had four interceptions in the first four games last season, returning two for touchdowns, then quarterbacks stopped throwing his way. Opposing passers had a league-worst 54.0 QB rating when throwing at Norman, who expects to remain in Charlotte.

"I have been in the Carolinas my entire life," Norman said. "I went to (high school) in South Carolina, played at Coastal Carolina in college and been with the Panthers since Day 1. I have no reason to leave."

Muhammad Wilkerson, New York Jets ($15.701 million) — Although he broke his right leg in the season finale, Wilkerson, 26, never seemed destined to leave the Meadowlands. He had a career-high 12 sacks in Todd Bowles' defense. A first-rounder in 2011, Wilkerson and has improved in each season in the NFL. He has 36 1/2 sacks in five seasons, along with a safety, nine forced fumbles and an interception.

Alshon Jeffery, Chicago ($14.599 million) — An injury-plagued season for Jeffery (807 yards on 54 receptions in nine games) didn't dampen the Bears' desire to keep him. Jeffery played in all 16 games the previous two years, finishing with 1,421 yards in 2013 and 1,133 in 2014.

Kirk Cousins, Washington ($19.953 million) — Four years ago, Robert Griffin III was the No. 2 overall draft pick and led the Redskins to a division title as Offensive Rookie of the Year. Now, he's headed elsewhere and Cousins, selected in the fourth round in 2012, will become one of the highest- paid QBs. Cousins led the NFL with a 69.8 completion rate, finished with 29 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, a franchise-record 4,166 yards and a passer rating of 101.6.

Cordy Glenn, Buffalo ($ 13.706 million) — This signing shows how valuable reliable offensive tackles are. Glenn was a key to the Bills' topranked rushing game. He was selected in the second round of the 2012 draft out of Georgia, and has started 61 games for Buffalo.

Justin Tucker, Baltimore ($4.572 million) — Tucker went undrafted as a rookie, which meant no signing bonus. How underpaid was he? Try league minimums for each of his four seasons despite becoming the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history behind the Cowboys' Dan Bailey.

Trumaine Johnson, Los Angeles ($ 13.952 million) — Hardly in Norman's class as a cover man, Johnson still is a playmaker and had seven interceptions last season. He has 15 interceptions in his first four NFL seasons. Now Los Angeles tried to resign its other young starting cornerback, Janoris Jenkins.

Olivier Vernon, Miami ($12.734 million) — Vernon made $1.7 million in 2015, when he led the Dolphins with 7 1/2 sacks and 36 quarterback hits. He has started every game the past two years and has 29 sacks in four NFL seasons. Keeping him makes re-signing running back Lamar Miller more difficult.

Capitals 3, Penguins 2

Matt Niskanen scored the winner during a third-period power play and Washington beat Pittsburgh in an entertaining, back-and-forth showdown that could be a first-round playoff preview. Mike Richards and Evgeny Kuznetsov also scored for the NHL-leading Capitals, and Braden Holtby made 28 saves while becoming the first goaltender in franchise history with consecutive 40-win seasons. His glove stop on Carl Hagelin with 32.8 seconds left preserved the victory. After losing to the defending Stanley Cup-champion Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday, Washington again avoided losing back-to-back games in regulation. Evgeni Malkin and Patric Hornqvist scored for Pittsburgh, which holds the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference. Backup goaltender Matt Murray stopped 34 of the 37 shots. The Capitals allowed the first goal for the 15th time in their past 18 games, this time the result of a turnover by Dmitry Orlov. On a 2-on-1 with Phil Kessel, Malkin kept the puck and scored 6:14 in to give the Penguins the early lead. Pittsburgh had seven shots and Washington none in the first 8-plus minutes until a Capitals power play turned the tide. A series of penalties clogged up the rest of the first period. With the teams at even strength 3:45 into the second, Sidney Crosby made the Penguins’ second goal happen. Crosby cruised through the neutral zone, finding defenseman Olli Maatta, who fed Hornqvist at the side of the net for an uncontested goal. Just 39 seconds later, the Capitals answered when Richards scored through a screen set by winger Tom Wilson. Another series of penalties — two infractions against the Penguins, both with embellishment also called against the Capitals — followed before Washington’s second line got on the board. Veteran winger Justin Williams controlled the puck behind the net and sailed it to Kuznetsov on the edge of the crease. The budding Russian star swatted at the bouncing puck and knocked it past Murray at 16:04 of the second period to tie the score.

Hurricanes 3, Devils 1

Joakim Nordstrom scored on a rebound with 1:29 left and Carolina defeated New Jersey in a game between teams fading from playoff contention. Derek Ryan, playing his first NHL game at age 29, also scored as the Hurricanes snapped a three-game losing streak. Eddie Lack was outstanding in making 29 saves, and Nathan Gerbe scored into an empty net with 21.2 seconds to go. Adam Henrique scored for New Jersey, which lost its third straight and sixth in seven games. Cory Schneider had 17 saves. With the score tied at 1, Elias Lindholm juggled the puck on his stick at center ice and skated in on Schneider. The goalie stopped his shot but Nordstrom was in the right spot when the puck came to him to the left of the net.

Oilers

Connor McDavid scored his second goal in overtime to lead Edmonton a victory over Buffalo in an anticipated matchup against another top rookie, Jack Eichel. Cam Talbot made 31 saves for the Oilers, and Edmonton began a four-game trip with its second straight win. McDavid and Eichel provided a buzz for this one even though the Oilers and Sabres are both among the NHL’s bottom five teams. McDavid was the first pick in last year’s draft and Eichel went second, and both players are considered potentially generational talents. McDavid scored 22 seconds into the game, and then got the winner by blowing past Buffalo’s defense seconds after Eichel spun around a defender and missed just wide with a twirling backhand shot.