Pats have second-lowest spending limit

[BadMoFo]

For some reason, I thought we had more. Jets cut most of their team and now are $36 million under the limit.

Adam Schefter
Tampa Bay working with most salary cap space
Posted: Adam Schefter | Adam Schefter | Tags: Free Agency 2009

On the eve of free agency, some teams are positioned too well, and others not so well. Based on numbers gathered Thursday — and these are fluid, changing with each roster move that each team makes — here are the teams with the most and least salary-cap room heading into the start of free agency.

MOST
Tampa Bay — $61 million
Kansas City — $57 million
Philadelphia — $48 million
Denver — $37 million
Green Bay — $34 million

LEAST
Carolina — $1.9 million
New England — $3.2 million
Indianapolis — $6.6 million
Pittsburgh — $7.4 million
Washington — $8.1 million

 

[Blizzzard]

How did Philly get that far under the cap?!?!?

 

[Mack Herron]

Is this right?

Miguel?

Who's running this team anyhow?

 

[Terry Glenn is a cowgirl]

For some reason, I thought we had more. Jets cut most of their team and now are $36 million under the limit.

This must include Cassel's franchise numbers... right?

 

[BadMoFo]

This must include Cassel's franchise numbers... right?

Yup, I'm sure this is just about everything. I wonder if we can even afford to pick up Pierre's tab.

 

[Jimke]

Better hope Cassel is traded ASAP.

 

[pats1]

Miguel has it closer to $8M.

 

[signbabybrady]

Miguel has it closer to $8M.

I am wondering if maybe the tenders and a few other moves may have taken up 5 mil???? otherwise I trust Miguel more.

 

[spacecrime]

I guess this answers those who said we could franchise cassel and still have plenty of money to sign FAs.

Wonder if the Pats will make some cap-related cuts now? If so, Kevin Faulk looks to have a bigger salary than what he is worth. Not that he isn't an asset, but that $4 million dollars would be put to better use on a CB, IMO, if we could get a decent one for that.

 

[Rob0729]

I'm not so worried about it. I never thought the Pats would be a big player in the first days of free agency where players are way overpaid and many are way overrated. They can free up cap space if needed to acquired second tier free agents pretty easily. There are some well overpaid players who can be traded or cut.

 

[Miguel]

Miguel has it closer to $8M.

As I say on my page, my numbers do NOT include the cap impact of expected tenders to the Patriots' ERFAs and RFAs or the escalators that may been reached by Logan Mankins, David Thomas, Ryan O'Callaghan, Ross Hochstein, or LeKevin Smith. Adam's may.

 

[carolinatony]

"Better hope Cassel is traded ASAP."


I agree with you. Can't do much until this happens.

 

[Gunnails]

Who is in charge of the Pats cap now that your GM is gone?

 

[VJCPatriot]

I guess this answers those who said we could franchise cassel and still have plenty of money to sign FAs.

Wonder if the Pats will make some cap-related cuts now? If so, Kevin Faulk looks to have a bigger salary than what he is worth. Not that he isn't an asset, but that $4 million dollars would be put to better use on a CB, IMO, if we could get a decent one for that.

And people thought that my idea of cutting Vrabel and Green were heartless. If the Pats are that hard up against a cap. Those moves may become a reality sooner rather than later. Particularly if the Pats are serious about acquiring Peppers and PAYING him.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Who is in charge of the Pats cap now that your GM is gone?

some combination of Nick Caserio, Floyd Reese, and Belichick

 

[stinkypete]

I guess this answers those who said we could franchise cassel and still have plenty of money to sign FAs.

Wonder if the Pats will make some cap-related cuts now? If so, Kevin Faulk looks to have a bigger salary than what he is worth. Not that he isn't an asset, but that $4 million dollars would be put to better use on a CB, IMO, if we could get a decent one for that.

I was looking at that the other day. I'd think Faulk would be willing to take a reasonable pay cut, especially given the low money deal that Brandon Jacobs just signed, and the rumor that Derrick Ward is only seeking $2-$3 million per year.

Given the role Faulk plays on this offense, I'd probably cry if he gets cut.

 

[stinkypete]

some combination of Nick Caserio, Floyd Reese, and Belichick

Hmmm...I wonder if Bringing in Reese has anything to do with the job he did rebuilding the Titans after they went through cap hell. Tennessee really is Reese's team.

 

[pats1]

Hmmm...I wonder if Bringing in Reese has anything to do with the job he did rebuilding the Titans after they went through cap hell. Tennessee really is Reese's team.

But it surely wouldn't have anything to do with Reese putting them in cap hell in the first place - just for the Titans could make one last run at it in 2003. Keep in mind he was fired after 2006. I know he has a history with Belichick, but Reese wasn't exactly in high demand during his two years at ESPN. He was supposedly openly campaigning for a spot with the Lions after this past season before Belichick brought him in.

Granted, Reese did make some good picks in the late 90s and again in his last few years with the Titans, but it's not like he rebuilt the team (again, much of the team's failures in 2004-2006 was his own doing) and saw it through; the Titans really didn't find success until 2007 (after he was fired) or really 2008. He just drafted many of the key players in the 2007-2008 successes.

Or, as Florio puts it:

ProFootballTalk.com - TITANS SHOULD FIRE FLOYD REESE AGAIN

 

[pats1]

some combination of Nick Caserio, Floyd Reese, and Belichick

With a heavy, heavy dose of Belichick. At this point, I see Caserio having more influence in personnel matters than financial ones (even though, as Pioli said at the combine, he has a strong business background), and Reese being there as that veteran cross-football voice that was lost when Pioli left.

 

[cstjohn17]

For some reason, I thought we had more. Jets cut most of their team and now are $36 million under the limit.

I guess that we can stop all the nonsense that the Pats are the only ones who know how to operate in the cap era.