Olindo Mare

Kicker Olindo Mare gets Seattle Seahawks Franchise Tag

Seattle Seahawks kicker Olindo Mare will get $2.8 million in 2010 season

February 18, 2010 - On Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, after missing two field-goal attempts in a Week 3 home-loss to the Chicago Bears, coach Jim Mora labeled Seattle Seahawks' kicker Olindo Mare's performance "absolutely unacceptable." But the 36-year-old, Olindo Mare never missed a field-goal again. Today, the Seahawks designated him their franchise player and gave him a one-year contract offer of $2.8 million, which would nearly double Mare's salary from a year ago. The "franchise player" designation prevents Mare from becoming an unrestricted free agent, meaning one less position the Seahawks must worry about for their 2010 roster. The franchise tag obligates Seattle to make Mare a one-year contract offer equal to the average of the five highest-paid kickers in the league. Last year, his second season with the team, Mare made $1.5 million.

A franchise player may still negotiate with other teams as a free agent, but there is a severe restriction for a team trying to sign the player. If he were to sign an offer sheet from another team, the Seahawks would have the right to match the offer and retain him or receive two first-round picks as compensation. Mare is still free to sign a long-term contract with Seattle, but applying the franchise tag douses the interest he would have received in free agency, as no team is going to give up two first-round picks for a kicker.

In his two years with the Seahawks, Mare has made 48 of the 53 field goals he's attempted and consistently boots kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. Last season, Mare also broke the previous franchise record of 16 straight field-goals set by Norm Johnson by making his final 21 field-goal attempts.

New Orleans Saints release Kicker Olindo Mare

Kicker Olindo Mare cut after one bad season with New Orleans Saints

February 27, 2008 - The New Orleans Saints cut Kicker Olindo Mare after one bad season with New Orleans Saints. Earlier in February, the Saints re-signed veteran Martin Gramatica making Olindo Mare expendable. In December, Olindo Mare suffered a season-ending hip injury and is still recovering. Martin Gramatica made all five of his field-goal attempts last season after being signed as Mare's replacement.

Olindo Mare acquired from Miami Dolphins

Trade for 6th round draft pick

April 3, 2007 - Kicker Olindo Mare was acquired by the New Orleans Saints from the Miami Dolphins in trade for 6th round draft pick. Mare spent his first 10 seasons with the Miami Dolphins organization. Pro-bowler Olindo Mare is one of the league's most consistent kickers at 81 percent in field-goals. Olindo is also one of the league's best in kickoffs with a league leading 24 touchbacks last season. Mare, 33, had his most inefficient season in 2006, making his final nine field-goal attempts and 26 of 36 overall. Five of the misses were from 50 yards or greater.

Mare is from Hollywood, Florida (near Miami), but the Miami Dolphins have been wanting to trade Mare ever Jay Feely was signed last month. Dolphins General Manager Randy Mueller said, "It's all part of a process, as you know. It was a business decision. I think it's good for everybody. New Orleans was one place Olindo wanted to go and kick. They're a really good team, and you know how kickers are. They like to get indoors. Good for him. Olindo is a guy who gave his heart and soul to the Dolphins for 10 years. Sometimes change is a part of this business. We elected to take a different route. It's nothing bad about Olindo. We all like and respect him." Mare leaves as the Dolphins' all-time leader with 245 field goals and 1,148 points and a 81% accuracy (245-out-of-303).

Mare salary is $1.5 million in each of the next three seasons, and has roster bonuses of $250,000 due in 2008 and 2009.