Football question -- what is "tendering" a player?

[theHandpuppet]

I've been reading about potential off-season trades, losses, etc of restriscted and unrestricted free agents and I keep reading phrases such as "Bengals likely to tender Joe Blow..." or "Packers may tender Billy Butterfingers".

Is this just another way to say the club is looking to trade a player, perhaps in exchange for draft picks?

Thanks in advance for explaining this.

[Redbear]

1. Offered the player a contract.

Usually used in the context of tendering an offer to keep the player from being an unrestricted free agent.

[northzax]

2. to add to redbear's comment

it is usually an offer to a restricted free agent, the Bengals make and offer, but the Packers, as the current team, have the right to match the offer and keep the player.

[Yavin4]

3. I Thought That It Involved Lube

Ooops, sorry.

[Beezer]

4. Return of the Scabs?

Get ready for strike ball 20 years later (1987-2007) could strike in 07 mean Vince Evans returns to QB scab team for raiders as he did in 87?

[Jack Rabbit]

5. Spiking his steroids with MSG

!!

[northzax]

6. I think that's 'tenderizing' a player

and it's not reccomended, unless you are bigger than he is!