mgteich

I've been away for awhile. Where do we stand? I think that Hightower and Bequette are the only unsigned draftees. What are the best sources for our current cap info?

The last I looked, we were in reasonable shape with $6.6M carried over for 2011 and the ability to borrow for 2013, 2014 and 2015 if needed.

patchick

The keeper of jetscap.com (an occasional poster here) is doing a great job with the whole division this offseason. Here's his Pats page:

New England Patriots Salary Cap 2012

PATSYLICIOUS

The next source

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patfanken

Jason has us at almost $13M under the cap....and we will need every dollar going forward. Next year we are going to have a number of guys who will be going into their contract year. But perhaps the biggest concern would be to extend Gronk/Hernandez. If the Pats want to avoid having to spend top dollar, next season would be the prime to time to work out a deal for either or both. It isn't going to be easy given it will take close to $18-20MM/yr to do both.

That's a lot of money to tie up for 2 receivers, neither of whom are WRs. I'm sure that's a key reason the Pats can't/won't make a long term deal with Welker. If they did it on his terms, they be looking at tying up approximately 20-24% of their cap space on 3 receivers. It ain't gonna happen.

So even though the Pats can roll over the $13MM into next season, and will get rid of most of the $11MM they have in dead money, That $20-24MM might look good right now, but I bet most of it is going to spent very quickly

jmt57

Next year there will need to be some major contract restructures, with or without Welker. Brady restructuring helped the Pats a great deal this year, but in both 2013 and in 2014 his cap number is $21.8 million. Then you have Vince Wilfork at $10.6 and $11.6, and Logan Mankins at $10 and $10.5. Now we hear that the big cap increases that had been expected may not be coming after all, and the cap will remain relatively flat. That means that about one-third of the cap as of now is allocated to just three players - and if Welker does get an extension it may be about 40% of the cap going to four players.

Floyd Reese is going to have a major challenge on his hands.

patsfan13

There will be some dead cap hits coming off the books though for Bodden, Light, Ocho(?) and so on.

My guess is that they are already looking at the 'big picture' going forward.

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Urgent

They will need to bundle some of that available 2012 cap space forward.

They should call the Cowboys and Redskins for advice.

But seriously, looking at some roster bonuses or other provisions within the CBA will be critical to retaining a strong team in 2013.

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everlong

I can't believe some of the names still with dead money and especially Ty Warren.

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MoLewisrocks

The Pats are in pretty good shape even with Brady at $22M next year. $99M against the cap ($124ish) so $25M under plus $14M or so to rollover. And 48 players under contract. The guys they have to be concerned with not named Welker are Vollmer (who may have to wait until they are more confident he can be durable), Chung and Arrington. They are likely why you won't see any 2012 deal for a TE, although if they can't get one or two of those guys done they may shift focus to one of the TE's after Thanksgiving - as they did shifting from Welker to Mayo. There is plenty of cash and cap for Welker. And Brady's cap hit won't remain as is. While they could restructure one more time doing so would set them up in a bad position leverage (including tag cost) wise. That is why I think he gets an extension heading into 2013. And it will make his cap hits much more manageable down the home stretch - the hits for which will not be felt until the cap has risen due to the TV deals and getting past the borrowing stretch they are currently undergoing to prop it up.

supafly

I agree very much about Brady getting an extension next year, as that would certainly be in their best interest.

I also think that the high majority of the money that we are under this season gets carried over for next year, when Chung, Arrington, and Vollmer are due (as you stated). Couple those players with the ongoing Welker saga, and the potential to possibly save a bit by re-upping one of the TE's a yr early, and they will indeed have their work cut out for them.

Of course the positive in all of this is that the front office and BB are one of the best in the league and quite rehersed in dealing with such issues.

I'm certainly in agreement with patsfan13 in regards to them being ready for the 'bigger picture,' as you can take that to the bank for sure.

The 2 best things to happen for the improvement of this situation this current season is to somehow extend Welker at a good price, and also to save as much money heading into next season as possible. I don't see extensions coming for either Chung or Vollmer until they can prove durability, at least not until very late in the season anyway.

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