We CAN make the cap room to sign Peppers - Unsubstantianted Claim - New England Patriots Forums

solman · 03-17-2009, 02:31 PM

We can free up an extra $9M if we restructure/extend Brady, Light and Faulk so that their cap hit in 2009 is $1M each. We could use huge guaranteed options due in 2010 for each to make them whole.

We also have other opportunities to free up smaller amounts of cap space.

Once Peppers is on board we can sign a long term deal that frees up more cap space that we can then use to sign our draft picks and make other moves.

I admit that I don't think this will happen. Too many things have to fall in place for any of the Peppers scenarios to work.

But it is NOT the case that we can't make this deal happen. Even if making it happen required us to temporarily clear enough cap space for Pepper's franchise tag.

***NEGoldenAge*** · 03-17-2009, 02:37 PM

I'm not real up to speed on the CBA and contract stuff, but I'm pretty sure that a player's 2010 salary can not excede 130% of 2009's salary.

solman · 03-17-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NEGoldenAge

I'm not real up to speed on the CBA and contract stuff, but I'm pretty sure that a player's 2010 salary can not excede 130% of 2009's salary.

Compensation which is treated as a signing bonus explicitly exempted from this limit.

A guaranteed option bonus is treated as a signing bonus, even if its convertible.

(There is a provision prohibiting the team from exercising such a conversion if it puts them in violation of the 30% rule. I don't know if this would be determined on a prospective or retrospective basis. But even if it is retrospective it wouldn't prevent the move discussed here, merely complicate it).

The_Riddler · 03-17-2009, 02:46 PM

What about Jarvis Green, talk about a guy needing a restructure. He's the first guy I look at.

solman · 03-17-2009, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Riddler

What about Jarvis Green, talk about a guy needing a restructure. He's the first guy I look at.

Absolutely.

But I don't know enough about that huge bonus he is due to know how big the potential savings are.

If it is all real compensation that has yet to be paid, we might be able to save $4M on a similar restructuring.

WhiZa · 03-17-2009, 02:53 PM

anything is possible, it's just about which players you piss off in the process

Shockt327 · 03-17-2009, 02:56 PM

Yup, also, I think people are drastically over-estimating Peppers potential contract.

People are acting like he'd break the bank and get a ridiculous deal. However, I think he's only going to come with a 7 mil cap hit - especially when you consider him changing positions.

Hell, Albert Haynesworth did get a ridiculous deal and his cap number is only at $7 mil for 09, $8.8 for 2010, and $10.6 for 2011.

Calvin Pace's outrageous contract is even lighter, as is Joey Porters.

***jmt57*** · 03-17-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solman

We can free up an extra $9M if we restructure/extend Brady, Light and Faulk so that their cap hit in 2009 is $1M each. We could use huge guaranteed options due in 2010 for each to make them whole.

We also have other opportunities to free up smaller amounts of cap space.

Once Peppers is on board we can sign a long term deal that frees up more cap space that we can then use to sign our draft picks and make other moves.

I admit that I don't think this will happen. Too many things have to fall in place for any of the Peppers scenarios to work.

But it is NOT the case that we can't make this deal happen. Even if making it happen required us to temporarily clear enough cap space for Pepper's franchise tag.

How in the world are you going to get Brady or Light's cap number that low?

***MoLewisrocks*** · 03-17-2009, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by solman

We can free up an extra $9M if we restructure/extend Brady, Light and Faulk so that their cap hit in 2009 is $1M each. We could use huge guaranteed options due in 2010 for each to make them whole.

We also have other opportunities to free up smaller amounts of cap space.

Once Peppers is on board we can sign a long term deal that frees up more cap space that we can then use to sign our draft picks and make other moves.

I admit that I don't think this will happen. Too many things have to fall in place for any of the Peppers scenarios to work.

But it is NOT the case that we can't make this deal happen. Even if making it happen required us to temporarily clear enough cap space for Pepper's franchise tag.

Cannot be done most simply put because of their existing amortized cap which cannot be moved or restructured. Also I believe money that is guaranteed in 2010 but not in the last capped year reverts to the last capped year.

Honestly people, just stop.

solman · 03-17-2009, 02:59 PM

Peppers is NOT signing a long term deal at $7M/season.

He's got nearly $17M coming to him for just a single season if he signs the franchise Tender.

He's going to want compensation in the form of long term guarantees for every penny of that $16.7M he gives back.

Maybe he gives New England a discount, but I think $7M is insane. His agent should insist on resigning before he agrees to that deal.