1. This was completely expected. And if it wasn’t something most around the league already knew was coming, Ron Rivera pretty much ended any doubt at the Super Bowl.

2. Sure, the last two franchise tags haven’t worked out for the Panthers, but Short isn’t Josh Norman. Or Greg Hardy.

3. Short’s agent, Joel Segal, is much, much more experienced with NFL contracts than the agent Norman used last spring.

4. The franchise tag for defensive tackles is expected to cost about $13.5 million. That number will be finalized in the next few days if the NFL announces the 2017 salary cap during the combine.

5. The Panthers used a nonexclusive tag on Short, which means another team could offer him a contract. If that happened (it RARELY does), Carolina would have the choice to match or get two first-round picks.

6. Whether or not Short signs the tender in the next few months, the Panthers and his people now have until July 15 to agree on a multiyear deal.

7. It’s too early to predict if the sides will come to an agreement. They’ll likely reignite talks this week at the combine, but here’s a good reminder:

Wednesday Franchise Tag deadline is really a placeholder status before “true deadline” of 7/15. Don’t expect much negotiating before then.

— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) February 27, 2017