mayoclinic

Florio reports that the NFLPA is planning for a minimal cap increase for 2013, only about $400K/team:

NFLPA expects small increase in salary cap | ProFootballTalk

That's pretty much what Robert Kraft had predicted and planned for, contrary to the expectations of some. The new TV revenues kick in in 2014, but the cap may not increase for some time:

NFL - Soaring revenues won't coincide with salary-cap growth - ESPN

A number of teams will be very hard squeezed in 2013:

- The Jets have $140M cap figure in committed contracts.
- The Saints are looking at a $16M cap crunch, not including FAs such as OT Jermon Bushrod and DT Sedrick Ellis:

Saints facing a cap mess in 2013 | ProFootballTalk

Lots of others will be squeezed. The Pats will probably be in pretty good situation, but things will be tight, as usual. While that won't be fun, it probably favors the smart organizations (such as the Pats).

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

PatsWickedPissah

2 types or orgs will be fine. Well managed franchises like the Pats and lucky inept franchises who throw just the right combo of stuff forward to where they get cap relief.

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This is known as "bad luck." RAH

Foxypats

This is one of the many reasons that I am so glad that Brady is our QB. How many times has he negotiated his contract to make it more cap friendly? I like Brees, but he doesn't come across as someone that will do that. If he re negotiated, they could probably keep either Vilma or smith. Maybe I am wrong, but it will be interesting to see if he takes one for the team!

BlueThunder

With Edelman,Welker,Vollmer, Talib,and Woodhead among the players having to be resigned, where are Pats regarding cap space for next season? I go to Jet Cap site for Pats and it looks like they are at 104Mil with 43 signed. There is another 6Mil or so to be brought forward from this season? That should mean there is about 23Mil avail, No?

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mgteich

The 6 million will be partially (or fully) used up for bonuses associated with 2012 performance.

Also, note that that $6M should be allocated to draftees, enough players to reach 53, the Practice Squad, IR players and a reserve for injuries during the season.

So, I have that $23M down to about $11M, depending on the amount needed for 2012 bonuses.

You list Welker, Talib, Vollmer, Edelman and Woodhead. I would add Arrington. We may all think that he should be replaced as our nickel, but signing a quality nickel back will not be free by any means. In any case, we clearly need to re-sign or sign 2 CB's, 2 WR's and an OT. For me, a 3rd down back like Woodhead is extremely valuable, but still the 6th priority.

BTW, this is NOT an especially long list of off-season needs. I suggest that we will/should draft a front seven defensive player and a defensive back.

I don't know the restrictions on how often a player can restructure. Certainly, restructuring of existing contracts is usually a method to make cap monies available. For example, can Brady be restructured or would he need a new contract to reduce his cap hit?

patfanken

The first thing that has to get done is a Brady extension. The team isn't going to carry a $21MM cap number on him. What will be interesting to see is what he takes and how it is structured. He doesn't need the money. Right now he and his wife are working on the future financial security of the great-great-great-great-great-great grand kids. At this point its all about comparing dicks with his peers.

In my opinion the question Tom should be asking is how much can I take and still be assured I will be surrounded by enough quality players to see me through my the declining years of my career. He probably only has about 2-3 more years before we will start to see some visible slippage in the relative quality of his play. But that being said, given his head, and his competitiveness, after that time it is likely that he can still remain a top 15 QB for another 3 years.

While Tom can still carry a team now and for the next couple of years, in those last 3-4 years he will need to have players around him who can help carry him. To do that we will need the cap room to help give him that support. He needs to be a big part of us having that ability and this next extension will be the method

For Tom its all about the rings, not the dollars. It probably never has been, about the money, but it certainly can't be now. Its ironic that he has the power to make sure that he is well surrounded with talent in his final years here.....or not. I can only guess what the deal will end up being, but the results will be telling....and have long term effects.

mayoclinic

God knows I'm not a capologist. But assuming a 2013 cap of $121M and the numbers from the Jets page as a starting point, we have about $104M in salaries for 43 players plus dead money leaving $17M, plus a $6M carry over, making a starting point of $23M. Anything beyond that would have to be gained by roster cuts or contract restructurings to the currently signed 43 players.

As MgT notes, the $23M may be partly illusory when you factor in bonuses, PS players and the 2013 rookie pool.

Current FAs include:

- OT Sebastian Vollmer
- WR Wes Welker
- CB Aqib Talib
---------------------------------------
- WR/PR Julian Edelman
- RB Danny Woodhead
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- CB Kyle Arrington
- LB Dane Fletcher (RFA)
- TE Michael Hoomanamanui
- DE Trevor Scott
- CB/ST Marquice Cole
- LB Tracy White
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- S Pat Chung
- DT Ron Brace
- LB Niko Koutovides
- WR Deion Branch
- WR Donte Stallworth
- CB/ST Derrick Martin

I've probably missed a few, and I've grouped them into rough tiers based on my guess as to priority.

My guess is there's going to have to be some careful prioritizing, some hard lines about how far to go with specific players, and some trimming and restructuring. I don't see a lot of fat to trim.

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"OVER Loading at ANY position can create a Fatal Advantage. THAT is what interests ME. Attacking With Concentrated Force. THAT is what WINS. In the words ~ more or less ~ of General Patton: 'I'm fighting a WAR, here. Let the B*****ES worry about their FLANKS.' " - Off the Grid

"The key to any successful organization is to anticipate things, not react to them." - Michael Lombardi

AndyJohnson

This really isn't what you think it is. Players do not sacrifice anything when they restrructure to free up cap space. They simply convert salary to bonus, so it gets amortized.

Deus Irae

That's really not bad at all. The bolded players will need to get paid well. The underlined players may need salary bumps but should stay very reasonable. The rest are non-returning or minimum guys.

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AndyJohnson

And with 43 signed those 5 plus 5 draft choices fill out your roster, so anything left is for upgrading.