Steelers place franchise tag on kicker Jeff Reed

The Pittsburgh Steelers announced this morning that unrestricted free agent kicker Jeff Reed has been designated as the team’s franchise player for the 2010 season.

The Steelers will tender Reed a one year offer worth $2.814 million.

A franchise player designation gives the club a first-refusal right to match within seven days an offer sheet given to the player by another club after his contract expires. If the club matches, it retains the player. If it does not match, it receives two first-round draft choices as compensation.