The 30% Rule

As I'm working through potential ways for the Redskins to reduce their cap number in 2009, I'm bumping up against the 30% Rule, and I'm sure Vinny and the gang are too. I'm starting this thread because I need help on the interpretation of the rule. If anyone has access to a copy of the CBA as written today, that would be helpful, or if you just know the answer or can link to other helpful information, I can proceed down the road of crunching numbers and posting a plan here on the site.

The 30% rule states that any contracts signed during the last capped year (2009) that stretch into years thereafter (2010 and beyond) must have base salary increases (defined as salary + roster bonuses, but not signing bonus allocations) no more than 30% from one year to the next. In simpler terms, if a player's base compensation in 2009 is $1 million dollars, his 2010 base compensation cannot be any more than $1.3 million.

This prevents the Redskins from using their standard contract restructuring practice. I've got a way around this, but only if I'm interpreting the 30% rule correctly:

My understanding is the 30% limit on increases only applies when comparing 2009 to 2010 base compensation. I haven't seen anything indicating a team can't give more than 30% when comparing 2010 to 2011. In other words, while $1.3 million may be the max a contract can show in 2010, I know of no reason why a team can't just jack up the base compensation in 2011 to $10 million if they want.

Does anybody know if this is possible? Or does the 30% rule apply to all future years?

Thanks in advance for the info.

I got the answer myself. Per the CBA, Article XXIV, Section 8, Part B:

(b) No NFL Player Contract entered into in a Capped Year and extending into the Final League Year or beyond may provide for an annual increase in Salary, excluding any amount attributable to a signing bonus as defined in Section 7(b)(iv) above, of more than 30% of the Salary provided for in the Final Capped Year, per year, either in the Final League Year or in any subsequent League Year covered by the Player Contract. For example, without limitation on any other applicable example, a four-year Player Contract signed in the 2011 League Year, assuming that it is Capped, may not provide for an annual increase of more than 30% of the 2011 League Year Salary, excluding amounts treated as a signing bonus, in any of the three additional League Years covered by the Contract.

In other words, the 30% Rule limits teams from increasing base compensation in all out years, not just in 2010. This severely limits the Redskins in their ability to restructure contracts, and in my judgment increases the likelihood that veterans nearing the end of their contracts will be jettisoned to clear cap space.

I got the answer myself. Per the CBA, Article XXIV, Section 8, Part B:



In other words, the 30% Rule limits teams from increasing base compensation in all out years, not just in 2010. This severely limits the Redskins in their ability to restructure contracts, and in my judgment increases the likelihood that veterans nearing the end of their contracts will be jettisoned to clear cap space.

Any guesses who is most likely to be shown the door based on your research?

Instead of starting a thread I'll just pose the question here: when can we expect some changes to the roster i.e. guys let go, restructured etc?

How about changes to the coaching staff? I get the feeling coaching changes (if they're coming) can happen anytime. Just saw Green Bay canned like half a dozen. Crazy.

Any guesses who is most likely to be shown the door based on your research?

I'd say Marcus Washington is the most likely. Cutting him would save us $4.5 million in cap space.

I'd say Marcus Washington is the most likely. Cutting him would save us $4.5 million in cap space.

I'm a little bummed but figured that was the story. Have only seen him play live once but I loved his enthusiasm out there. I've heard some suggestions he could be cut then resigned (for the much lower value he's probably worth) when nobody comes knocking. Any insight there?

Also, why Marcus over Springs? I thought cutting Springs would save like $5 mill looking at the cap sheet (other thread).

I'm a little bummed but figured that was the story. Have only seen him play live once but I loved his enthusiasm out there. I've heard some suggestions he could be cut then resigned (for the much lower value he's probably worth) when nobody comes knocking. Any insight there?

Also, why Marcus over Springs? I thought cutting Springs would save like $5 mill looking at the cap sheet (other thread).

Yeah cutting Springs would save $6 million. But I'm also going by the behavior of the coaching staff, tendencies we've observed from Vinny, and to some extent inside info from JLC.

Blache started Springs over Rogers coming down the stretch. It's clear the team still thinks he is the top CB on the team. Vinny doesn't seem scared of having old guys around either, after all he traded for Jason Taylor. And everything we hear from JLC seems to indicate the 'Skins coaches seem to feel Springs is viewed as an indispensable member of the defense as he is capable of locking down top WRs like Terrell Owens and catching the ball when he gets a shot at it.

My opinion of him is very high, as well. When healthy he is a top flight CB. The "when healthy" part is certainly the issue though.

I think they bring Springs back with a new 3 year deal or something like that to get his cap number down.

Jeez I really thought w/ Hall in town Springs would be the one "top corner" to get the boot, especially w/ his massive salary. Then do we boot Rogers or retain three extremely talented corners? Add Landry and Horton in that equation and we're insanely talented in the secondary (as 4 of those 5 guys probably just continue to get better at this point in their careers w/ Springs holding more or less steady).

Unless we get blown away with an offer, Rogers will be back next season. That I'm sure of. I remain unconvinced that Rogers would ever leave the team, but I'm not so sure he's getting a long term deal here.

Either way, end of contract, plus a RFA year, and then (theoretically) a franchise tag year, and Rogers is here through 2011, without actually signing a longer deal. I imagine those would be his three best years, so it might actually make sense to not resign him.

Unless we get blown away with an offer, Rogers will be back next season. That I'm sure of. I remain unconvinced that Rogers would ever leave the team, but I'm not so sure he's getting a long term deal here.

Either way, end of contract, plus a RFA year, and then (theoretically) a franchise tag year, and Rogers is here through 2011, without actually signing a longer deal. I imagine those would be his three best years, so it might actually make sense to not resign him.

I would tend to agree. It will be tough for the Redskins to clear cap space this year, and they can't easily afford to give up the additional $1.5 million in space that would result from trading Rogers. They need to create enough space to resign DeAngelo Hall as they appear intent on, resign the Red Snapper, resign Suisham (or a kicker like him), and make any other free agent moves they intend to make. The math works out in such a way that taking a $1.5 million hit from trading Rogers becomes no insignificant task. I think he stays.