Cap Number and Understanding

[frankcal20]

I wonder how much knowledge many of you have about how the cap situation works. I'm not going to go into great detail but the NFL allows you to spend a certain amount of money each year on players. You can't spend more. We, being the Redskins, are well above that figure already and need to make some drastic changes to our roster to even get under that number.

To bring in some of the free agents that some of you talk of us getting just is not possible. EX: Randle El, Wayne, even T.O. if we were interested.

We are going to need a lot of our players to once again restructure their contracts so that we will have some sort of room to do anything in the free agent market. Not to mention several players not being resigned and several being released or traded for late round draft picks that will be cheap pick ups for us.

I don't claim to be the all knowing of the cap situation and how it works but I do understand the basics which i've noticed a lot of people in here do not.

Those of you who understand it then I'm not talking to you, but the one's that do not, here is a lesson. Boss Hog has given many tutorials on this subject alone. Feel free to research this on this site. You will learn alot from his posts.

[SkinsFreak]

Yes - you are right. If we keep everyone on the current roster and don't restructure any contracts, then yes, we don't have cap space. BUT, who's to say that we won't release some folks and restructure some contracts? Does anyone have a crystal ball? I think that LA already said that he would restructure his contract. One thing I have learned, Dan Snyder is a master business man with impeccable business savvy. No one thought that we would get a 1st round pick last year. We did. And yes we gave up some stuff to get it. Whether or not that was worth it remains to be seen. My point is, Dan can make things happen and probably will. I'm not a capologist, but didn't I hear something about possibly suspending the cap for this year or they are looking to extend the cap number?

DON'T UNDERESTIMATE MY MAN SNYDER!

[Skeletor]

I am not a capologist but I play one on TV...

My understanding of the cap uncertainty is that the collective bargaining agreement, which sets out the rules by which the league operates, is due to expire after 2007. In theory then, 2007 would be a year with no salary cap. However, there is a stipulation that if there is no salary cap, the top 8 teams (i.e. those that make it to the divisional round of the playoffs) would be still have some sort of salary cap, while the remaining 24 teams could spend as much as possible.

You would think an uncapped year would favor the Redskins due to Snyder's deep pockets and the revenue the franchise generates. But, the problem is in 2006. If there is no extension of the CBA we cannot prorate signing bonuses into the future. That means we cannot restructure contracts this year by converting salary to signing bonus to realize cap savings in 2006. That would mean that the Redskins would definately have to cut players to get under the cap. (as would a lot of other teams.)

On the other hand having to cut enough players to get under the 2006 cap would probably keep us from reaching the final eight...

Hopefully, true capologists will correct me where I am wrong...

[hkHog]

I don't know, from everything I have read it seems like it will be pretty easy for us to get under the cap without making any difficult decisions AND have plenty of money to play with in the draft and free agency.

Trimming the Cap--How to Get It Done
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert Large
WarpathInsiders.com Jan 17, 2006

Given that the Redskins will now be looking for some salary cap room in 2006 to improve the player personnel on the team, our resident capologist looks at the major moves Washington can make to create some cap room.


At present the Redskins 2006 cap number is $113.8m (representing 48 players including one ERFA and one RFA), a figure that is $18.8m over the predicted 2006 NFL salary cap of $95m.

1. Guaranteeing Roster Bonuses
Lavar Arrington LB – save $4.9m
Marcus Washington LB – save $1.9m
Cornelius Griffin DT – save $1.9m
Shawn Springs CB – save $2.3m
Clinton Portis RB – save $2.3m

Other smaller amounts from various players – save $1.7m

2. Releasing Players Outright
Matt Bowen SS – save $2.0m
John Hall K – save [BODY].8m
Walt Harris CB – save $2.0m
Cory Raymer C – save $1.0m

3. Trades
Patrick Ramsey QB – save $1.7m (and receive draft pick compensation)

4. Retirements
Brandon Noble DT – save $1.7m

5. Release and resign deals with veterans
James Thrash WR – cut and resign to vet minimum deal plus the $25k signing bonus – save [BODY].4m

6. Restructuring contracts
Randy Thomas G – basic restructure – save $2.2m
Jon Jansen OT – basic restructure – save $2.3m
Mark Brunell QB – basic restructure – save $2.4m

TOTAL SAVINGS (this list only) - $31.5m

This is by no mean an exhaustive list, but just the major savers.

http://redskins.scout.com/2/490049.html

In this list are we getting rid of anyone other than people we have been suggesting should get traded or cut anyway? No, and just by making these changes we would be $12 million under!!!

Redskins Have Options Despite Arrington's Salary

By Jason La Canfora
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, January 19, 2006; E01

The Washington Redskins do not have to renegotiate the contract of LaVar Arrington to meet the NFL salary cap and could get rid of the linebacker while still being able to re-sign their own free agents and add to the roster, according to two experts who have reviewed the team's 2006 payroll.

The Redskins face a $12 million salary cap hit if Arrington is traded or released. He is due a $6.5 million roster bonus by July 15, but that can be converted into a signing bonus prorated over four years to save the team approximately $5 million in cap space in 2006, according to the experts.

But that space is not critical to the Redskins reaching Coach Joe Gibbs's stated goal of keeping the nucleus of the roster together and perhaps adding a key player or two, according to the experts who asked not to be identified because commenting on the Redskins' cap situation could harm their future relationship with the team.

"This isn't a salary cap issue for them," said one of the experts. "They can still get under the cap with that $12 million hit, and not have to really cut anybody they wouldn't want to lose, anyway. This is not a cap issue at all; this is an issue of cash. Does [owner] Dan Snyder really want to give this player a check for $6.5 million? That's what this is all about."

Gibbs was noncommittal about Arrington's future on Monday, but Arrington has been speaking with owner Daniel Snyder recently, team sources said. He is amenable to altering his contract to remain in Washington despite two seasons in which he clashed with the team over treatment of his injuries, his contract and his playing time.

"Right now, I'm a Redskin until I'm told otherwise," he said this week.

The Redskins, like many teams, are over the projected 2006 salary cap of $95 million. Washington has about $113 million committed in players' salaries and bonuses, league sources said, and must be in compliance with the payroll ceiling by March 1.

The two sources said Washington could meet its obligation with or without restructuring Arrington's contract by trading or releasing other players, or reworking other contracts.

By cutting safety Matt Bowen and offensive lineman Cory Raymer, who played sparingly last season; cornerback Walt Harris, who lost his starting job to rookie Carlos Rogers; and place kicker John Hall, who was injured for large parts of the past two seasons, sources said the Redskins could save $6.5 million in 2006 cap space. Defensive tackle Brandon Noble, coming off career-threatening injuries, could retire or, if not, it is unlikely the team would keep him at his $1.7 million base salary. Trading backup quarterback Patrick Ramsey, as expected, would trim another $1.7 million.

Getting quarterback Mark Brunell and tackle Jon Jansen to agree to restructure their $4 million base salaries by converting the money to bonuses that can be spread out over several years against the cap would trim another $5 million. Brunell adjusted his salary last year and Jansen has said he would be open to exploring the idea. Cornerback Shawn Springs, running back Clinton Portis, linebacker Marcus Washington and defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin are among the players who, like Arrington, have large bonuses due in 2006. By restructuring the bonuses, and prorating them, Washington could save about $8 million more under the cap.

All of those moves in total would get the team under $90 million, which would allow them to re-sign key free agent safety Ryan Clark, tight end Robert Royal, running back Rock Cartwright and long snapper Ethan Albright, and leave some room for signing other players. While it might not be enough to land a top-tier free agent such as Indianapolis wide receiver Reggie Wayne, the Redskins would still have other options to create more salary cap space, and, should they keep Arrington at a $7 million cap figure, the opportunity to chase a big-name free agent would increase.

Arrington has a base salary of $545,000. Should the Redskins elect to keep Arrington, there are provisions in his contract that would allow them to alter the deal and prorate the $6.5 million bonus over four years. This would lower his 2006 salary cap amount to $7 million.

Either trading or cutting Arrington would result in him counting $12 million on the team's 2006 cap under the current collective bargaining agreement, although if an extension to the CBA is reached before Arrington's bonus comes due, the Redskins could cut him after June 1 and take a $5 million salary cap hit in 2006 and a $7 million hit in 2007.

No trades become official until March 3, which is also the start of free agency, and two general managers said they believed the Redskins would have difficulty getting more than a mid-round pick for Arrington.

"There's still a market for him," said one AFC general manager who spoke on the condition of anonymity. "But there's also a feeling that they'll eventually end up releasing him, so it's hard to get value for the player."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02276.html

Last year we were supposed to be in cap hell and waht did we do? Only signed TWO first round draft picks and ate $9 mil to get Coles out of town. I don't think the cap is going to affect us nearly as much as you think.

[SkinsHead56]

The Skins are gonna win back to back superbowls.

[1niksder]

I don't know, from everything I have read it seems like it will be pretty easy for us to get under the cap without making any difficult decisions AND have plenty of money to play with in the draft and free agency.

Trimming the Cap--How to Get It Done
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Robert Large
WarpathInsiders.com Jan 17, 2006

Given that the Redskins will now be looking for some salary cap room in 2006 to improve the player personnel on the team, our resident capologist looks at the major moves Washington can make to create some cap room.


At present the Redskins 2006 cap number is $113.8m (representing 48 players including one ERFA and one RFA), a figure that is $18.8m over the predicted 2006 NFL salary cap of $95m.

1. Guaranteeing Roster Bonuses
Lavar Arrington LB – save $4.9m
Marcus Washington LB – save $1.9m
Cornelius Griffin DT – save $1.9m
Shawn Springs CB – save $2.3m
Clinton Portis RB – save $2.3m

Other smaller amounts from various players – save $1.7m

2. Releasing Players Outright
Matt Bowen SS – save $2.0m
John Hall K – save [BODY].8m
Walt Harris CB – save $2.0m
Cory Raymer C – save $1.0m

3. Trades
Patrick Ramsey QB – save $1.7m (and receive draft pick compensation)

4. Retirements
Brandon Noble DT – save $1.7m

5. Release and resign deals with veterans
James Thrash WR – cut and resign to vet minimum deal plus the $25k signing bonus – save [BODY].4m

6. Restructuring contracts
Randy Thomas G – basic restructure – save $2.2m
Jon Jansen OT – basic restructure – save $2.3m
Mark Brunell QB – basic restructure – save $2.4m

TOTAL SAVINGS (this list only) - $31.5m

This is by no mean an exhaustive list, but just the major savers.

http://redskins.scout.com/2/490049.html

In this list are we getting rid of anyone other than people we have been suggesting should get traded or cut anyway? No, and just by making these changes we would be $12 million under!!!

WOW....

This year the Cap was a little more than $86M. This time last year, the Redskins had a projected cap of about $105 million for 2005 (about the same it is projected at now) and yet were able to sign Rabach, Patten, and some Vets to play special teams. We took the cap hit of 9 million for Coles and then signed Moss to a nice deal. In the 1st rd we drafted Rogers and Campbell. and
We came in under the cap …


From what I’ve heard the CBA does affect 2006 in one way …If it’s signed before (I believe) March 1st then contract language in some players contracts allows “the Danny” and other contract negotiators to pro rate some roster bonuses and spread them over the remaining years of their contracts, but if not signed by then we won’t be able to do it. The following players could be affected to save cap space…
Arrington’s $12m becomes $7m after the roster bonus is pro-rated to save $5m
Samuels’s $10m drops to $7m after the roster bonus is pro-rated brings the relief number up to $8m in savings
Springs’s $5.8m drops to $3.55m after the roster bonus is pro-rated kicking in a saving of $2.25m
Washington’s $5m falls to $3.3m after the roster bonus is pro-rated that’s another $1.7m and a running total of about $12m off the projected cap
Portis’s $5.4m becomes $3.2m and saves about the same as Springs
Griffin’s $4.4m drops to $3m for a total of about $16,000,000 in cap relief

“the Danny” may have been counting on this and should it happen not only will it benefit the teams but players like Jansen, Brunell, Thomas, Daniels, Moss, and Taylor could get new deals with current cap money being pushed beyond the 2007 season. Not knowing what savings these deals might bring – I’ll just leave it out there for info purposes

My previous post show how releasing 7 players saved about $10m. On second thought leaving the veteran kickers on the roster until replacements are found would hurt but it lowers the possible saving from the previous post down to a little over $ 8m. So if Roster bonuses can be pro rated beyond the 2006 (the last capped year) we maybe ahead in the game fornext year.

http://www.thehogs.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16809&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=10

and...

We are close to $105 million right now for 2006 plus $3.5 million in dead cap space so something must be done and there is no need to panic. The Skins are reported to be in Cap Hell every mid-season but still seems to go out and get what they perceived to be needed. I say perceived because I guess the F.O. hasn’t perceived a need for a pass rushing DE but I am straying…

The salary cap will always go up, as long as league revenue continues to increase. This year it was a little more than $86 million. Revenue is expected to take a jump because of the mentioned Network and Cable deals that were signed.

Lets say the Cap goes up about 10% and is around $95 million. We have about a million in Cap space in 2005 that can be used to lighten the load in 2006. Next thing to do is redo some contracts. Guys like Sellers, Dockery, Jacobs, and Thrash could sign short term extentions and others like ey, Boschetti, and Molinaro could get longer deals. Now we can look at who we can let go without taking a step back.
As I said Harris saves $2M in cap space, he is a ok 3 corner but $2,000,000.
Next up we ship Ramsey somewhere for something (pass-rushing DE) and save about $ 2.2M
The season will be over so we can get rid of ALL of the kickers… Tupa and Hall together will free up another $1.8M after you throw in Frost and the kicking game will have produced $2,241,000
Injury prone players can find other training rooms to hang out in… Releasing Matt Bowen would save $2M next year, Brandon Noble shaves off another $1.7M

Let’s see I came up with 7 players That I can see not being here and the save a total of $10,141,000 without re-doing any contracts. Whatever the Salary cap number comes out to be the Redskins will not be in as tight of a bind as many predict (every year).

http://www.the-hogs.net/forum/viewtopic. ... sc&start=0

Here’s an updated attempt to look at where the Redskins are. If the Skins release or cut, trade or retiring – M. Bowen -$2M, B. Noble -$1.7M P. Ramsey -$1.7M, W. Harris -$1.5M, J. Hall -$1.2M, C. Raymer-$985K, T. Tupa -$601, A. Brown, -$460, J. Farris, -$460, and D. Frost, -$460 you can knock off $11+ million from the cap

Let say the Redskins are about $21 million over the projected cap ($93M) … If I can come up with $11,034,000 in cap savings I’m sure “the Danny” is working it. He has to be… he and that dude that owns That team in Texas are the biggest opponents of a new CBA. That CBA would cap 2007 and allow for longer restructures. Then roster bonuses can be restructured into signing bonuses that can be pro-rated for longer periods. Players that come to mind include S.Taylor-$1.8M, C. Portis -$2.5M, C. Rabach -$1.5M, S. Springs -$2.5M, C. Griffin -$2M, and M. Washington -$1.9M (this would clear another $14 million in cap space).

I don’t see a new CBA not getting done… so I don’t really see a problem with the cap (as long as the spending remains in check).

Denver, New York Jets, and Da’Raiders are all at least $25M over the projected cap

I come up with a total of about $24 million in cap space saved and would still have option to free up more space (if I were paid to do so)

[Fios]

Another great way to increase cap space is to get a haircut

[1niksder]

Another great way to increase cap space is to get a haircut

If my cup had hair I'd trade it and take the cap hit

[DaRealistJoka]

Looks like the cap can be fix and with room for a big FA.

[riggofan]

I'm not a cap expert. All I know is that we've been hearing for the past 5 years how the Skins are going to be in cap trouble. And somehow we still sign a few players every off season.

Must be magic.

[riggofan]

Why does it bother you so much if Skins fans get on here and run their mouths and speculate wildly about things? Its fun. Who cares whether or not people have studied the cap rules or not?

[Fios]

Why does it bother you so much if Skins fans get on here and run their mouths and speculate wildly about things? Its fun. Who cares whether or not people have studied the cap rules or not?

We're allowed to engage in wild speculation? OK, OK, check this out: Tupac was killed Santa Claus who clubbed him over the head with a 12-year old boy named Tim Tim who is partial to cheddar but doesn't hate swiss and feels Tuesdays should be removed from the calendar.
Who's next?

[frankcal20]

I'm just saying that some people on here just are in a fantasy world and not making thought through posts. We cant trade Clinton b/c our cap hit for his remaining SB would be through the roof and to then resign Larry Johnson. Thats just crazy. Some people have speculated that we could have both...UMMMM NO! I just say live in reality. Let's talk about what is really possible like signing a #2 receiver like Finneran or someone of a lower profile. We are going to have to dump salaries to make this all work. I even think that we will loose a lineman this year. I think that Chris Samuels is a RFA this year. I may be wrong but I wouldn't be supprised to see one of them go.

[EA7649]

We need cap now b/c its time to make a run into further in the play offs and we need a WR

[hkHog]

I'm just saying that some people on here just are in a fantasy world and not making thought through posts. We cant trade Clinton b/c our cap hit for his remaining SB would be through the roof and to then resign Larry Johnson. Thats just crazy. Some people have speculated that we could have both...UMMMM NO! I just say live in reality. Let's talk about what is really possible like signing a #2 receiver like Finneran or someone of a lower profile. We are going to have to dump salaries to make this all work. I even think that we will loose a lineman this year. I think that Chris Samuels is a RFA this year. I may be wrong but I wouldn't be supprised to see one of them go.

Yes, exactly, the Portis/LJ trade is absolute BS because it would destroy our cap.

I also don't think that we can, or should sign Reggie Wayne. He wants to be a #1 and he wants #1 money as well. I do think we can clear the space to sign Randle El or maybe Brandon Lloyd though.

Courtney Brown is a FA again this year too and he was alright in Denver so maybe we will make a run at him again. He played 14 games and could do a decent job in a rotation at DE and he will still be relatively inexpensive, he might be worth the risk. We could definately free up the space to sign him and a good WR.

I think we can make a run at one or two second tier FAs if we really needed to. Maybe we can even sign one of the premier FAs if we really come up with some creative accounting and don't do anything else other than add depth in free agency. Remember, we don't have a first round pick so that means that it isn't going to cost us much to sign our picks. Also, Samuels isn't a RFA so we don't need to worry about that.

[1niksder]

I'm just saying that some people on here just are in a fantasy world and not making thought through posts.

I want to agree with what your saying
But...

We cant trade Clinton b/c our cap hit for his remaining SB would be through the roof and to then resign Larry Johnson. Thats just crazy. Some people have speculated that we could have both...UMMMM NO! I just say live in reality.

Portis contract may have been huge but the Signing Bonus was only $11.5-$11.6 million of which $7,723,000 is left prior to last year and the Coles deal I'd have said 7.7M is a lot but now I don't know. Larry Johnson is under contract so he wouldn't "have to be" resigned. Don't get me wrong having them both would be nice but like a Portis/LJ trade - it'll never happen, but not impossible

Let's talk about what is really possible like signing a #2 receiver like Finneran or someone of a lower profile. We are going to have to dump salaries to make this all work .

That's the thing.... No one KNOWS what's possible. There is no CBA so the impact of future years salaries will have to be considered, if there is no cap in '07 do you really think there won't be one by '08 that this off-season's signing will impact? That's down the road, right now we can only speculatewhat the '06 cap will be and where we stand -none of it is fact becuase the league hasn't put the number out yet. Look back at the numbers that I used (I projected us at $21M over due to a low projection of this years cap) but who am I.

I even think that we will loose a lineman this year. I think that Chris Samuels is a RFA this year. I may be wrong but I wouldn't be supprised to see one of them go.

Samuels just redid his contract last year plus you don't cut a probowler to save $1M, Thomas would cost more to let him go than it would be to keep him, Jansen would save less than a million and is a guy who will probaly redo his contract to free up some of that cap space you say we don't have. Double D. frees up less than half a Mil. Rabach fits about where Jansen is. They'll all be back


Maybe we all should use a little more

[SkinsJock]

Good points but this last one will just take a lot of fun out of some people's lives who just want to punch the keys and see what sort of drivel they can post.

Maybe we all should use a little more

I fully support random thinking and also fully expect that the end results of this off-season will most likely be completely different from most of what we surmise. I am intrigued by some of the "ideas" that some have put forth but am also a little disapointed sometimes that a lot of stuff is just that. I guess we are lucky to have so many good things to discuss and we are spoiled by so many of the posts that have been well thought out and researched that we just have to put up with the ridiculous stuff too!

As far as the players we see on the field this year I think we are not far off and would expect that Gibbs will just do some fine tuning. We are probably going to be able to afford to add some talent at some key positions but I do not think he will want to lose any key players if he can afford it either. We are already a good team and will only be better next season.

That being said - it's funny how it never seems to be how you think it will be at the end of the day.

[ChiefPowhatan17]

I can't believe that walt harris costs us 2 mill against the cap. What a waste.