Urgent
In the Starting Line-Up
- Joined
- Mar 1, 2005
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There are a couple players on the bubble that have some significant cap impacts.
Of course teams can always find some place to restructure, but on the flip side we saw how it impacted the team during the Lawyer Milloy exit.
The players:
Alex Smith and Ben Watson both would appear behind Baker and Thomas, given production and injuries. However, Alex Smith carries and expensive $1.5mm salary with no bonus. Watson carries a $900K salary with $500K bonus. That means that it costs the Patriots $500K to release Watson, and nothing to release Smith. Releasing Smith saves $1.5mm.
Paris Lenon and Eric Alexander - Lenon, who has looked poor when on the field but mostly has been off it, has an $800K salary with no bonus, so the team saves $800K with his release. Alexander similarly has a $620K base with no bonus.
Shawn Crable, however, has a $570K bonus cost if he is cut. Rob Ninkovich, by contrast, has a $535K salary with no bonus. So releasing Crable over, say, Ninkovich costs the Patriots $570K.
Since the Patriots are closer to the total cap than most teams, this is noticeable. Won't drive decisions, but could be a factor on the margin.
Easy to release: Alex Smith, Paris Lenon, Eric Alexander, Rob Ninkovich
Hard to release: Ben Watson, Shawn Crable
Also note that, if LeVoir starts the season on PUP, that will cost the team another $500K+, the cost of replacing him on the roster with O'Callaghan or Britt.
Of course teams can always find some place to restructure, but on the flip side we saw how it impacted the team during the Lawyer Milloy exit.
The players:
Alex Smith and Ben Watson both would appear behind Baker and Thomas, given production and injuries. However, Alex Smith carries and expensive $1.5mm salary with no bonus. Watson carries a $900K salary with $500K bonus. That means that it costs the Patriots $500K to release Watson, and nothing to release Smith. Releasing Smith saves $1.5mm.
Paris Lenon and Eric Alexander - Lenon, who has looked poor when on the field but mostly has been off it, has an $800K salary with no bonus, so the team saves $800K with his release. Alexander similarly has a $620K base with no bonus.
Shawn Crable, however, has a $570K bonus cost if he is cut. Rob Ninkovich, by contrast, has a $535K salary with no bonus. So releasing Crable over, say, Ninkovich costs the Patriots $570K.
Since the Patriots are closer to the total cap than most teams, this is noticeable. Won't drive decisions, but could be a factor on the margin.
Easy to release: Alex Smith, Paris Lenon, Eric Alexander, Rob Ninkovich
Hard to release: Ben Watson, Shawn Crable
Also note that, if LeVoir starts the season on PUP, that will cost the team another $500K+, the cost of replacing him on the roster with O'Callaghan or Britt.