February 21st, 2011 
Matt Loede 
Posted in 
The Vikings on Monday passed over wide out Sidney Rice and instead used their franchise tag to retain outside linebacker Chad Greenway. The teams 2010 leading tackler was set to be a free agent this offseason.
“Chad’s an important part of our team and his play speaks for itself. He’s productive and has continued to improve each year he has been in the NFL,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said in a statement.
The Vikings did not use an “exclusive” tag on Greenway, so other teams will be able to bid on him. However, the Vikings would have the choice of matching any offer for Greenway or receiving two first-round picks as compensation.
Last season the 28-year-old had 144 tackles last season and has led the team in tackles the last three seasons. Greenway has been with the Vikings for five years and has been a starter for four of those seasons.
The franchise tag is expected be around $10 million for linebackers.
Tags: 
Transition tag for Greenway.
Why do you keep saying that when it isn’t true?
Nonexclusive tag is same as transition. Team can make Greenway a offer. Vikings have right to match. That is what Seifert said.
Hey everybody what do you think about Vikings drafting Cameron Jordan
(Steve Jordan’s son) with Vikings first pick????
What does he play?
Defensive end Projected first round and moving up draft board in first round. He is a beast for d.e.
greenway is a great player, but what if we let him go in order to get two 1st rounder as a compensation. We could have in total of three 1st round pick and use one of them to draft Akeem Ayers to replace Greenway… just a thought
Pretty impressive $ 10 million. Wow!
Hey, anybody else feel like ordering champagne?
Nobody will offer two first rounders for Greenway. If for some reason they did, I would be tempted to take the deal despite how much I love Greenway.
Two 1st rounders for Greenway? Bye Chad. Zag is right, no chance.
I say we go with Jumpin’ Joe and draft for defense. I dont know who, Ayers, Steves boy. Ill let the experts like Adam figure that out.
DEFENSE!!!
yeah, nobody’s gonna give us 2 ones for him in their right mind (mike lynn)
who would ya get for that? AP, manning?
When Dugan gets back from giving the Dalai Lama humility lessons, he is gonna be really ticked off that the Vikings wasted the franchise tag on Greenway.
Hey Speilman, you can’t spell “Franchise” without using “Dugan”, you would end up with some stupid word like “Frchise”
Ole, i’d be willing tibet that dugan will be totally magnanimous after that meeting, he won’t be ticked off, and he’ll summon childress and favre to an incense-filled room at the top of the ids building and forgive them both for 2010
time to purchase a greenway jersey than.