The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

1niksder wrote:

Red_One43 wrote:This quote is from the "Cooley Will Do Anything" article posted this thread.

We will likely find out if Cooley is willing to put his money where his mouth is when it comes to doing whatever it takes to remain in Washington. Cooley is set to make $3.8 million this season, which is quite a bit for a player who is going to be used in small doses. A pay cut seems like an inevitability if Cooley is going to stay with the Redskins through the rest of 2012.

Even though the cap situation is not forcing us to make Cooley take a pay cut, with the $18 mil hit next year, Cooley, as a back up, will most likely be asked to take a cut to remain with the team. Any unused cap money can be rolled over to next year. Next year will will need every mil we can get to insure we get the final pieces that we want. It's a smart business decision. Cooley already understands.

Cooley will have to perform to make the roster in 2012, weather he restructures or not. If he makes the roster and doesn't re-work his deal, $5,785,000 cap hit next year will definitely be a issuse regardless of his performance. It's not a must this year but that's not something I can say for next year.

skinsfan#33 wrote:

Red_One43 wrote:Tandler and El-Bashir: Will Cooley Make the Team?

Tandler:

Bottom line, I think the team and Cooley’s agent sit down next week and see if they can agree on compensation more in line with the player’s expected role with team. If they can, Cooley will stay; if not, he goes.

El-Bashir:

Yeah, his cap hit ($6.23 million) is high and, at 30, his mileage is higher. But Cooley's versatility, leadership and value off the field are priceless.

One of the talking heads on Sirius NFL radio brought up a point before training camp started. He said (wish I could remember which it was) that he didn't expect Cooley to even get into camp before the Skins cut him. His reason was that the Skins wouldn't risk exposing him to injury if he wasn't in their plans, because if he got hurt then the team would be on the hook for his entire contract this year.

Maybe 1Nik can weigh in if that is true.

No one has reported that the team has asked Cooley (yet) to restructure his contract. If his salary was an impediment to him making the team then they would have gotten it done prior to exposing him to the risk of injury.

To me the tea leaves show several things:
- The organization wants him on the team this year (and why wouldn’t they)
- They may want him to take a pay cut, but it won’t keep them from keeping him this year
- The team would rather have him than dead cap space next year
- The team would rather take his cap hit this year, than next.
- They can afford to keep him this year and then cut him as a June 1 cut next and not have to worry about the $18M cap penalty next year

It all adds up to Cooley making the team.