By Mary Kay Cabot, The Plain Dealer
CLEVELAND -- The Browns will franchise linebacker D'Qwell Jackson if they can't sign him to a multi-year deal, a league source told the Plain Dealer Friday.
The 2012 franchise salary for linebackers is expected to be about $8.8 million, and teams can designate franchise players Monday through March 5. The free agent signing period begins March 13 at 4 p.m. 
"We're looking for a long-term deal and that's what both parties would like to accomplish before free agency starts," said Jackson's agent, Brian Mackler.
Fresh off a sensational comeback season, Jackson is seeking a five-year deal that would keep him in Cleveland for the remainder of his career, a source said.
"Both sides are working very hard to get something done," said Mackler, who characterized the talks as going "OK."
A team can use the franchise tag on only one player. If the Browns are able to reach a deal on a long-term contract with Jackson by March 5, they can use the franchise tag on another player, such as kicker Phil Dawson, who's also set to become a free agent. Dawson was given the franchise tag last season and earned $3.175 million. If he's franchised again, he'd earn a 20 percent raise over his 2011 salary, or about $3.8 million.
Jackson tore pectoral muscles in 2009 and 2010 and missed 26 games. He signed an incentive-laden one-year deal before the 2010 season worth up to $4.6 million. He responded with a Pro Bowl-caliber season in defensive coordinator Dick Jauron's new 4-3 scheme, leading the team with 158 tackles and tying for fourth with a career-high 3.5 sacks.
He also finished first in the NFL with 116 solo tackles and second only to Washington's London Fletcher (166) in combined tackles. The performance enabled Jackson to hit all of his incentives and earn the full $4.6 million. Toward the end of the season, he re-iterated what he's been saying for years: that he wants to finish his career as a Cleveland Brown.
"Do I want to be back? This is where I started," Jackson said. "That's not even an afterthought to me. Yes, I want to be with the Browns, no question about it. I'm here in this locker room and I like the guys I'm playing with right now. That's all that matters."
Jackson said then he feels a sense of loyalty to the Browns for bringing him back after his two injury-shortened seasons.
"They indicated they wanted me back when they gave me an opportunity to come back after an injury; that was enough for me," Jackson said. "That told me that they wanted me back. I was out for 26 games and they could've easily gone in a different direction, but they didn't. I owe it to them in a sense."
Jackson was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month in September and was a first alternate to the Pro Bowl behind Baltimore's Ray Lewis and Kansas City's Derrick Johnson. He also earned the club's Ed Block Courage award by a vote of his teammates and finished second to Detroit's Matt Stafford for NFL Comeback Player of the Year.
"I've gained a strong appreciation for what he is as a player, as a man, as a professional," coach Pat Shurmur said during the season. "He's the full package, in my opinion. His production's been great. What he means to the team behind the scenes is outstanding. He could be the recipient of a lot of awards in my mind. I think the world of him."
Shurmur also said during the year that he "absolutely" wanted Jackson wrapped for multiple years. "Tremendous player. We'd love to have him here," Shurmur said.
In December, Browns General Manager Tom Heckert said of Jackson, "You can pretty much say he's going to be here."
If Jackson receives the "non-exclusive" franchise tag, a team would have to give the Browns two first-round picks to sign him.
http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2012/02/cleveland_browns_will_franchis.html
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