Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Gmanc711]Heres my question, if 2007 is a potentially uncapped year. Why dont we just resign the entire team to new contracts, have 2006 be a nice easy year financially, and then just dish it out next year?[/QUOTE]

This was essentially my question to Canuck a few posts ago. There is a rule in place called the 30% rule which prevents this from being possible.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

All I'm saying is that until somebody can point to a certain contract and explain to me why that contract is going to ruin our salary cap, I'm not going to believe that the Skins are in cap trouble. Because in 2007, there are exactly FIVE PLAYERS who would cost us more to cut than to keep: Lavar, S Taylor, S Moss, C Rogers, and J Campbell. EVERY OTHER PLAYER WOULD [b]SAVE[/b] US MONEY IF WE CUT THEM. And Lavar is the only one I can see us wanting to get rid of from that group.

If the CBA does not get extended, then we're in trouble though. Of couse so is half of the NFL, so it's not a problem specific to the Skins.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

Here's another article. Sorry for more parrot talk but this article is written by a Skins fan so at least it's fair.

And for the record I LOVE that parrot pic Matty. Too bad he's wearing dirty-bird-green. Is there such a thing as a burgundy and gold parrot?

[url]http://redskins.scout.com/2/501221.html[/url]

Cap-tastrophe?

Over the weekend, two almost identical articles by Pete Prisco of CBS Sportsline and Len Pasquarelli of ESPN.com came to almost identical conclusions in regards to the Redskins salary cap situation. They both claimed to have talked to a trio of cap experts from various places and these experts told them that the Redskins were in a cap situation that was so untenable that they may be forced to make drastic cuts to get under the cap. The Redskins, they say, may be forced to play the 2006 season with 15-20 rookies making the minimum in order to get in compliance with the cap rules. There would have to be an unprecedented bloodbath in regards to the roster.

As those two writers are notorious for their frequent anti-Redskins biases, their pieces were immediately met with derision from all around Redskins nation. “There they go again,” was the common refrain.

Well, this observer, accused of being a homer far more often than he’s called anti-Redskins, is here to tell you that, as painful as it may be to say it, what Pete and Lenny said is by and large true. If there is not extension of the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) before the free agency period begins on March 3, the Redskins will officially take up residence in the dreaded cap hell. The Redskins took a gamble and, as of right now, it looks as though they may well lose it.

The gamble they took was to insert roster bonuses into the contracts signed by Marcus Washington, Clinton Portis, and others. Since these bonuses are not guaranteed, they all count towards the 2006 salary cap, pushing it up to a number that is some $20 million over the limit, which will likely come in at $95 million.

The Redskins had to structure those deals in that way in order to make them acceptable under the current collective bargaining agreement between the NFL and the NFL Players Association. The gamble that they took was that the CBA would be extended and revised before the ’06 free agency season began. That would allow them to guarantee the roster bonuses for those players, meaning that they could spread out the impact over the life of the contract. That would, for example, lower Shawn Springs’ cap number by some $2.3 million, Portis’ by $2.25 million. The cap savings by this accounting procedure would total $15 million. The rest of the overage could easily be handled by cutting some fringe players and restructuring some other contracts.

It was a reasonable gamble at the time the contracts were drawn up. The NFL and the NFLPA have never before gone to the brink of an uncapped year, which is what 2007 would be under the current CBA, before extending the agreement. However, we find ourselves about 10 days before free agency starts and a CBA extension does not appear to be imminent. In Sunday’s Washington Post an NFLPA representative said that the chances of reaching a deal were not very good. That doesn’t mean that it can’t happen or won’t happen. It means that every minute that passes without a new agreement pushes the Redskins a minute closer to entering cap hell.

Without a CBA extension the Redskins will need some very creative measures, some very painful decisions and/or some unprecedented cooperation by many players to get under the cap. There will be an article here Tuesday on WarpathInsiders.com that will look at some creative options. Right now, though, let’s focus on the latter two.

One of the problems with cutting players is that with the contracts structured as they are and the fact that most of the contracts are pretty new, there isn’t much money to be saved in releasing a lot of players with big camp numbers. For example, LaVar Arrington counts about $12 million towards the ’06 cap, but releasing him would result in a slightly higher cap charge than that because of uncharged money already paid to him. It’s like being upside down on a car loan, when the car is worth less than the payoff amount. Cutting Arrington would the put Redskins further away from the goal of being able to get under the cap. The same is true of such players who might be considered expendable in a crisis such as Mark Brunell and Davis Patten.

Now, to be sure, there are players that the team could release that actually could save money. Some of these players are ones that the Redskins would rather not cut such as Marcus Washington, Ladell Betts, Jon Jansen and Joe Salave’a. However, the Redskins could cut those four plus Taylor Jacobs, Renaldo Wynn, Pierson Prioleau, Phillip Daniels, James Thrash, Cory Raymer, John Hall, Patrick Ramsey, Walt Harris, and Matt Bowen and still be about $8 million shy of being able to make it under the cap.

To realize the maximum cap savings, which are obviously necessary, these players would have to be replaced with rookies earning the minimum salary. Thus the “15-20 rookies” alluded to by Prisco and Pasquerelli.

The Redskins will not release all of the players on the list above. To make up the difference and to clear the remaining cap space they will have to restructure some contracts and, in the process, ask some players to give back real money.

This doesn’t happen very often. Usually when you hear about a player redoing his contract to help the team create cap room he doesn’t give up a dime. It’s usually just a matter of deferring something or guaranteeing all or part of a salary to spread out the cap hit. The player is not, as many believe, “taking one for the team” when he cooperates in such restructurings.

But it appears that if the Redskins are going to be able to scrape under the cap without losing some key players in the prime of their careers some players are going to have to take a pay cut, plain and simple. And if they don’t, well, the Redskins will enter another level of hell altogether.

Again, more on that in an article here on Tuesday. The point here is to tell you that, without a CBA extension, Chicken Little (and Pete and Lenny) will be right. The sky will be falling. A whole slew of players that have been solid contributors will be gone. There will be so many young players on the roster that the team mascot will have to be changed to Barney. The Redskins won’t be able to afford any free agents; heck, they won’t be able to afford cab fare for a free agent from Dulles to Redskins Park.

There is the possibility that a CBA extension will get done and none of this will have to happen. It’s very difficult to assess the chances of that happening; it may not look good now but a breakthrough in the negotiations could occur at any time. But if it doesn’t, well, things will get ugly. If you’re a Redskins fan, keep your fingers crossed, hang a horseshoe in a appropriate spot, be on the lookout for four-leaf clovers, or whatever you do to try to bring on good luck. This isn’t typical media anti-Redskins spin.

It’s the real thing.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

Just a point about that article, it's all entirely dependant upon a new CBA extension. Of course Lenny and Priscoe are right without a new extension, we enter cap hell. But so do about 10 or 15 other NFL teams, it's not a matter of a few teams like the Skins managing their cap poorly. It's the fact that a lack of a CBA will simply screw just about everyone. The CBA is the real issue at hand, not the Skins' cap management.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

This is more like it...

[IMG]http://www.ozbird.com/images/alb18.jpg[/img]

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=CrazyCanuck]This is more like it...

[img]http://www.ozbird.com/images/alb18.jpg[/img][/QUOTE]

I guess I will have to change my name to Parrot fanatic(LOL)

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=#56fanatic]Like I have said since day one when we talked about this subject earlier in the year. They mortgage the future by restructuring deals or reworking deals. Everyone wants to argue that the Redskins have some secret way or dealing with the cap. There is no way around it. They can restructure, rework, cut, release what ever, the fact is they are going to have to pay the price for all this crap since 2000. Whether you people want to believe it or not, its going to happen. And of course the redskins and washington post or who ever gets a little from the Danny is going to say everything is OK, we have planned for this and that. Tell me what organization is going to come out and say, well people, we really screwed up all those previous years. We are going to be in some serious trouble. NO ONE< Enron ring a bell!! All those cap friendly deals that were signed last year, or year before that are going to come up in the next year or two. You think Portis is going to be here, Moss,Washington, all those guys who have the backloaded deals, HELL NO. I hope I am here when all this goes down so I can start my own thread, TOLD YOU SO!![/QUOTE]

don't think you were the only one :P moss will be here though cause the backloaded part of his contract is still equal to his current production, washington too... portis probably not, but only because no one ever wants to pay an RB 5mill+ a year.

danny's big ssecret was to backload as the cap increased each year until a new tv deal came up and explode the cap in which case they'd already be set. It hasn't work out that well though.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Gmanc711]Heres my question, if 2007 is a potentially uncapped year. Why dont we just resign the entire team to new contracts, have 2006 be a nice easy year financially, and then just dish it out next year?[/QUOTE]

30% rule... you're limited in how much people's base salary in contracts can change each year to prevent people from preparing for an uncapped year by minning everyone out.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=CrazyCanuck]
[url="http://redskins.scout.com/2/501221.html"]http://redskins.scout.com/2/501221.html[/url]

Cap-tastrophe?
... Cutting Arrington would the put Redskins further away from the goal of being able to get under the cap. The same is true of such players who might be considered expendable in a crisis such as Mark Brunell and Davis Patten.
[/QUOTE]


that's wrong... patten would save money (though with replacement cost, not much). Brunell would save a TON of money, but i guess only if the CBA gets signed.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

Does anyone know which other teams are is worse cap shape right now? In other words, what other teams are projected to be at least $20 million over next year's cap?

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

Schneed and #56fanatic, I think you guys are talking past each other. I don't think either of you really disagree with what the other is saying, you are just talking about two different things.

I think Schneed correctly points out that our problems will not be severe if the CBA gets extended. I think #56fanatic correctly points that our past spending habits will come back to screw us if the CBA doesn't get extended. I think both of you will agree about those two points.

Schneed, you pretty much pointed this stuff out, I just thought that it might help if a "3rd party" pointed it out too.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Ramseyfan]Does anyone know which other teams are is worse cap shape right now? In other words, what other teams are projected to be at least $20 million over next year's cap?[/QUOTE]

jets are 30$mill over i think, and the raiders arent looking good either...

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

Matty had a link a ways back that detailed every teams finances and several are way over the cap. The only justification for singling out the Redskins, IMO, is if these other teams are not bumping up against the 30% rule the way we are. These other teams may be able to restructure and get well within the framework of the draconian rules that are triggered by the expiration of the CBA. My guess is that Pirsco and Pasta did not delve that deeply into it and are simply taking potshots at their favorite target (with some justification). Our specific problem seems to be these roster bonuses and some of the other over-the-cap teams might not have that problem.

George Micheal ran a clip from Coach Gibbs tonight and Joe was asking all the fans to "pray that this CBA thing gets worked out" or words to that affect.

My worry, based on the signals coming fom Upshaw, is that the players would prefer to let the deal expire. They can decertify and then exist in a baseball like world free of the cap. Either that or the owners will, as a crippling strike draws near, panic and give them a much better deal than would ever happen before March 3 or 9 or whatever the latest deadline is. If Snyder suspects this is the case he should tell the other owners to shove it on revenue sharing. IMO, the NFLPA is driving the train at this point - not the Browns and the Bengals. If you are going to make concessions, make them to Upshaw because he is the one who can save us from "cap hell". If there is no deal and the last capped year kicks in, we have no motive to give an inch on revenue. We'll need every penny of it to buy our Super Bowl team in 2007.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[url]http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/numbers.asp[/url]

here it is again, every team's cap situation

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72][url]http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/numbers.asp[/url]

here it is again, every team's cap situation[/QUOTE]

Here's another one:

[url]http://www.profootballweekly.com/PFW/Commentary/Columns/2006/reynolds022006.htm[/url]

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

How in the hell do the Raiders manage to field a team every year... weren't they something like $30M in the hole at this time last year? Yet they managed to sign Jordan and Moss?

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72]How in the hell do the Raiders manage to field a team every year... weren't they something like $30M in the hole at this time last year? Yet they managed to sign Jordan and Moss?[/QUOTE]

gannon took a HUGE paycut and then retired to bail them out. They got screwed when woodson ssigned a 10$mill franchise offer that they were only using to try to get trade value.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

Its going to be very interesting to see how this works out in the end. Obviously were not the only team in this situation, so are ALL the good free agents that are let go, going to just go to one team?? I dont see why guys wouldnt want to restructure their contracts because most free agents are going to be making a whole lot elsewhere either, wouldnt that be right??

Ugh, this is a bad situation, that I feel might get a whole lot worse.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Gmanc711]Its going to be very interesting to see how this works out in the end. Obviously were not the only team in this situation, so are ALL the good free agents that are let go, going to just go to one team?? I dont see why guys wouldnt want to restructure their contracts because most free agents are going to be making a whole lot elsewhere either, wouldnt that be right??

Ugh, this is a bad situation, that I feel might get a whole lot worse.[/QUOTE]

Yeah you're right, a lot of players might be willing to swallow some bitter pills and take paycuts, because if the CBA doesn't get extended all hell will break loose. Players are going to get axed all over the damn place, there will be so much player movement our heads will be spinning. At that point, the market will be flooded with free agents, it will be a buyer's market, and they likely won't get quite what they're worth. So players might see some wisdom in just staying where they are and taking a paycut. We shall see.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Schneed10]Yeah you're right, a lot of players might be willing to swallow some bitter pills and take paycuts, because if the CBA doesn't get extended all hell will break loose. Players are going to get axed all over the damn place, there will be so much player movement our heads will be spinning. At that point, the market will be flooded with free agents, it will be a buyer's market, and they likely won't get quite what they're worth. So players might see some wisdom in just staying where they are and taking a paycut. We shall see.[/QUOTE]

I think you're really over-stating the amount of problems other teams are going to have if there's no extension before the start of the new cap year. Other teams have not constructed their contracts leaving as little leeway as the Skins and may have left themselves a lot more room to operate because it potentially was the last capped year. For many teams it won't be much different than getting under every other year so what would be their hurry?

On the player's side with the Skins it's not a matter of just taking less this year but also of changing salaries thoughout their contracts. So why commit to taking less in the future when there will either be no cap or a cap in place including a lot more revenue than is shared now?

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

I dont think anybody posted this link by fox sports cap analyst.

[url="http://redskins.scout.com/2/501659.html?refid=400"]http://redskins.scout.com/2/501659.html?refid=400[/url]

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Monksdown]I dont think anybody posted this link by fox sports cap analyst.

[url="http://redskins.scout.com/2/501659.html?refid=400"]http://redskins.scout.com/2/501659.html?refid=400[/url][/QUOTE]

Am I crazy or does this guy's scenario have salaries incresing by more than 30% left and right? For instance, he proposes Griffin's base salary go from 1.5m to 2.25m. Isn't this a 50% increase. What am I missing here?

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=70Chip]Am I crazy or does this guy's scenario have salaries incresing by more than 30% left and right? For instance, he proposes Griffin's base salary go from 1.5m to 2.25m. Isn't this a 50% increase. What am I missing here?[/QUOTE]
yea i was thinking the same thing...unless the 30% crap includes the signing bonus but i have no idea

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Mattyk72]How in the hell do the Raiders manage to field a team every year... weren't they something like $30M in the hole at this time last year? Yet they managed to sign Jordan and Moss?[/QUOTE]

That's why they're in the worst position in the league as far as cap space is concerned.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Ramseyfan]That's why they're in the worst position in the league as far as cap space is concerned.[/QUOTE]

The Raiders will have no problem getting under the cap. They can save 18M by cutting 2 players and let's face it they stunk with those players so they can do just as well without them.

[url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2341755"]http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2341755[/url]

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

When are the Redskins gonna start making some moves. There is only one week till free agency. Gotta get guys resigned before they test free agency and make our cuts. Or does it have something to do with them waiting for the CBA agreement

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

the chiefs have similar problem like the skins in terms of poorly structured contracts for a dead cba.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=bigm29]When are the Redskins gonna start making some moves. There is only one week till free agency. Gotta get guys resigned before they test free agency and make our cuts. Or does it have something to do with them waiting for the CBA agreement[/QUOTE]

if they start making deals and the cba doesns't get done then keeping royal might cost us improtant starters.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

Pretty sure the J. E. T. S. Jets, Jets, Jets, are in worse shape than we are. Unless they can convince Chad to agree to a 8 million dollar a year pay cut.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=bigm29]When are the Redskins gonna start making some moves. There is only one week till free agency. Gotta get guys resigned before they test free agency and make our cuts. Or does it have something to do with them waiting for the CBA agreement[/QUOTE]

Unfortunately, if the CBA doesn't get extended, it appears that the only thing we will be doing is cutting guys. And, as has been noted, we will likely need to cut more guys than just Bowen, Raymer, etc. We will likely see some key guys gone.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Monksdown]Pretty sure the J. E. T. S. Jets, Jets, Jets, are in worse shape than we are. Unless they can convince Chad to agree to a 8 million dollar a year pay cut.[/QUOTE]

It's not a good sign though when we are comparing our cap situation to the Jets. Maybe this cap thing actually exists after all.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

So if it doesnt get extended, then this year we will be screwed. But after that there is no cap?

If that is the case then isnt Dan Snyder's dream coming true in 2007?

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Monksdown]So if it doesnt get extended, then this year we will be screwed. But after that there is no cap?

If that is the case then isnt Dan Snyder's dream coming true in 2007?[/QUOTE]

Yes. If the CBA doesn't get extended this spring, the Gang of 9 (the 9 high revenue clubs) are just going to dig in their heels and take the league to an era of no salary cap. We'll be buying free agents left and right.

I did realize something though, even though the league will be worse off without a salary cap and will resemble MLB going forward, all the NFC East teams are part of the Gang of 9. Our division should remain very strong and stay very competitive, because every team can afford to bid for free agents. I think as Redskins fans we'd still have a fair amount to look forward to if the salary cap ceases to exist. It would be a shame for the league, but the NFC East should return to the dominance seen in the 80s and 90s.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

Hot dogs are going to cost $14 in 07

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Schneed10]Yes. If the CBA doesn't get extended this spring, the Gang of 9 (the 9 high revenue clubs) are just going to dig in their heels and take the league to an era of no salary cap. We'll be buying free agents left and right.[/QUOTE]

From the look of things ([url="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2343073&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines"]http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2343073&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines[/url]) 2007 is going to be a capless season. Dan Snyder will be living in a perpetual wet dream.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=Schneed10]Yes. If the CBA doesn't get extended this spring, the Gang of 9 (the 9 high revenue clubs) are just going to dig in their heels and take the league to an era of no salary cap. We'll be buying free agents left and right.

I did realize something though, even though the league will be worse off without a salary cap and will resemble MLB going forward, all the NFC East teams are part of the Gang of 9. Our division should remain very strong and stay very competitive, because every team can afford to bid for free agents. I think as Redskins fans we'd still have a fair amount to look forward to if the salary cap ceases to exist. It would be a shame for the league, but the NFC East should return to the dominance seen in the 80s and 90s.[/QUOTE]

You don't think that if there was an uncapped season that the blockbuster deals that the Yankees strike to bring people like A-Rod to New York would also happen in the NFL? It would just get worse and worse until the average fan could no longer afford to go to a game.

It's expensive enough to make it to a football game and some of those salaries are no where near the level of professional baseball. I couldn't imagine the contracts. It might seem cool in the long-term and for the people who watch it on TV, but I try my hardest to make it to at least 3-4 Skins games a year and I don't want to spend 200 bucks a ticket to make it.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

As fans we WOULD have a lot to look forward to if you don't look at the big picture. I know the Redskins fall into the category of the "haves" but will we all be so happy if/when Dan steps aside and the Skins become the "have-nots".

Hopefully by that time we would have had 10 Super Bowl trophies in a row. :)

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

I personally do not want the cap to disappear. The cap makes seasons unpredictable and exciting. The NFL is the model sports league, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

People do realize that if the cap goes away and Gibbs leads us to more trophies, people will say, "yeah, but they only did it because they outspend everyone." I strongly believe that we can be a great franchise with the cap and I'd love to see Gibbs lead us to the promised land with the cap in place.

Re: Salary Cap Analysis
 

[QUOTE=TheMalcolmConnection]You don't think that if there was an uncapped season that the blockbuster deals that the Yankees strike to bring people like A-Rod to New York would also happen in the NFL? It would just get worse and worse until the average fan could no longer afford to go to a game.

It's expensive enough to make it to a football game and some of those salaries are no where near the level of professional baseball. I couldn't imagine the contracts. It might seem cool in the long-term and for the people who watch it on TV, but I try my hardest to make it to at least 3-4 Skins games a year and I don't want to spend 200 bucks a ticket to make it.[/QUOTE]

Good point, didn't think of that. I don't go to games, I like watching on TV better. It probably will affect ticket prices.