New York Giants pass on using franchise tag

As expected, the New York Giants did not use the franchise tag on any of their remaining unrestricted free agents. The deadline for doing so passed Monday at 4 p.m. ET, meaning that unless they reach a deal with the Giants before March 12 all of the free agents -- including Martellus Bennett, Kenny Phillips, Kevin Boothe and Chase Blackburn -- will hit the open market.

Meanwhile, Bennett was having some fun teasing Giants' fans -- and maybe Tampa Bay Buccaneers' fans -- today on Twitter. First, Bennett tweeted that he was "about to get paid." Which he is, of course. It's just a question of how much and by whom.

Bennett then dropped this very Bennett-like beauty to the Twitter-verse:

Being on the market is a good thing when you're pretty. Last year I was ugly and I did aight. A prettier Marty this year.

— Martellus Bennett (@JoeGryffindor) March 4, 2013

Hmmm. 'Ugly Marty' was worth a one-year, $2.5-million deal to the Giants. Wonder what the price tag for 'pretty Marty' will be after a career-high 55-catch season.