Titans not using franchise tag on any players

The NFL deadline to designate players with the franchise tag was 4 p.m. EST Monday. The Titans announced their decision on Twitter and on the team's Facebook account with no further comment after coach Mike Munchak and general manager Ruston Webster both talked at the NFL Combine about how much Cook was part of their offensive plans for 2013.

Cook had been the top candidate among their 17 pending free agents for the designation. But a dispute loomed over what position Cook actually pays over the difference between the $6.06 million this season he would have been due if the Titans used the franchise tag on him as a tight end compared to the $10.5 million a receiver designated a franchise player receives in 2013.

Team officials have said they plan to be very active in free agency. Losing that argument over what position Cook plays would have made him the highest paid player on the Titans, topping the $10 million Chris Johnson is earning this season, and tied up a big chunk of their salary cap for this season.

His agent, Christina M. Phillips, did not immediately return a telephone message left by The Associated Press on Monday.

Cook, whose salary was $615,000 in 2012, has 131 catches for 1,717 yards with eight touchdowns in his career. Only Rob Gronkowski of New England has had a higher average per catch (14.6 yards) than Cook (13.8) over the past two seasons.

His best game was Dec. 24, 2011, when Cook caught eight passes for 169 yards, setting a franchise record for a tight end. That topped the 150 yards receiving Dave Casper had Nov. 30, 1980, for the then-Houston Oilers, and also marked the most yardage by a tight end in the NFL since Dallas Clark had 183 yards Sept. 21, 2009, against Miami.