In brief: Seahawks will put franchise tag on Trufant

In what has become an annual event, the Seattle Seahawks are expected to play a game of tag again today.

As reported by NFL.com, Seattle is planning to use its franchise tag for the sixth time in seven years when cornerback Marcus Trufant officially gets the designation today.

Trufant, who would have become a free agent next week, remains the Seahawks’ property for one more season but at a cost. He will make $9.465 million – the average of the top five highest-paid cornerback salaries – for the 2008 season.

No official announcement was made Wednesday by the team, and Trufant’s agent did not return a phone message. But Trufant is a logical candidate for the tag because of his heightened value after a Pro Bowl season.

Trufant, 27, finished second in the NFC with seven interceptions in 2007 and capped off the career year with his first trip to Hawaii.

The decision means that kicker Josh Brown is likely to test the free-agent waters after being designated the franchise player last season.

“NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hopes the NFL is close to an agreement that will allow former New England employee Matt Walsh to tell the league about the tapes he is said to have made of the St. Louis Rams’ walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl.

“Indianapolis Colts president Bill Polian said tight end Dallas Clark signed a new six-year contract with the team. Terms were not disclosed, but a source close to the negotiations said the deal will make Clark the NFL’s highest-paid player at his position.

“The Oakland Raiders placed the franchise tag on cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, keeping him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

“The Green Bay Packers designated defensive tackle Corey Williams as their franchise player. Green Bay also cut veteran tight end Bubba Franks.

“The Tennessee Titans tagged defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth as their franchise player to keep him from leaving as a free agent.

Golf

Woods comes back

Tiger Woods produced another incredible comeback in the desert, playing the final five holes in 5-under-par to turn what looked like certain defeat into an unlikely victory in the Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana, Ariz.

Woods fell behind J.B. Holmes on the first hole when his tee shot sailed into the desert and out of play, and he was three holes down with five to play after taking a penalty shot.

But he turned it around quickly, winning the next four holes, capped by a 35-foot eagle putt on the 17th. He escaped with a 1-up victory on the 18th when Holmes missed an 8-foot putt.

Racing

Gordon penalized

Robby Gordon was docked 100 points and his crew chief was suspended for six races and fined $100,000 as NASCAR penalized 10 teams in its three different national series for infractions found at Daytona International Speedway.

Dale Earnhardt Jr. was one of seven drivers penalized for Nationwide Series infractions, and six crew chiefs were suspended. Todd Bodine, winner of the Truck Series race, and two crew chiefs were penalized.