Clayton posts preliminary cap projections for all 32 teams

[MoLewisrocks]

These do not include RFA tenders (we have BJGE at $1.9M I believe but tender numbers may change if other numbers reportedly are like raising minimum salaries). Obviously Rookie contracts are not yet included pending they actually sign something and replace those currently counting against the cap. They are based on the reported $120M cap and don't account for use of the reported lone $3M exemption in 2011. 7 teams are reportedly over the $120M cap.

Cap situations*

Team Status
Arizona $37.3 million under
Atlanta $13.9 million under
Baltimore $5.33 million under
Buffalo $35.9 million under
Carolina $30.6 million under
Chicago $37. million under
Cincinnati $35.9 million under
Cleveland $33.3 million under
Dallas $18.9 million over
Denver $1 million under
Detroit $16.6 million under
Green Bay $62,600 under
Houston $7.6 million under
Indianapolis $2.7 million over
Jacksonville $31.4 million under
Kansas City $34.3 million under
Miami $13.6 million under
Minnesota $5.1 million over
New England $7.57 million under
New Orleans $11.7 million under
N.Y. Giants $11.3 million over
N.Y. Jets $1.2 million over
Oakland $10 million over
Philadelphia $13 million under
Pittsburgh $10 million over
San Diego $19.4 million under
San Francisco $18.9 million under
Seattle $39 million under
St. Louis $35.6 million under
Tampa Bay $59.2 million under
Tennessee $10.3 million under
Washington $10.6 million under

*Does not include restricted free-agent tenders.

Reggie Bush among potential cap casualties - ESPN

 

[Rob0729]

Well, now they are saying there may be a soft cap for the next few years. I guess being under the cap might not mean much.

 

[NEGoldenAge]

Clayton is a moron and a dbag. Anything he writes is almost garunteed to be agenda driven and inaccurate.

 

[mgteich]

I suspect that the cap floor will have a very large effect on free agency. While there is no match, the ream so far under are likely to also to have cash floor issues.

There is lots to spend for those $10M or more under the cap. 20 teams are more than $10M under for a total of over $500M. They will be bidding up the cost of free agents.

The rest of the teams seem in normal cap shape (1 team $18.9M over and final 11 a total of $18M over).

 

[HomerSchooled]

Awesome. I've been waiting for a more up to date view of all the team's situations. Good to see Indy and the Jets over. Hopefully it actually means something.

 

[37Harrison]

How in the F is Washington under the cap???? And by that much?!?!?!

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Well, now they are saying there may be a soft cap for the next few years. I guess being under the cap might not mean much.

I think that may be some misinterpretation spin dating back to LaCanfora's feels like spin. For a while the league pondered letting teams carry forward their unused cap from 2009. But Clayton said that met with too much disapproval so was scuttled. Then there have always been those who hoped/insisted dead cap would die with the old CBA. No indication that has ever been discussed. I think people are making too much out of spin which is already underway pending the votes.

The $3M exemption may be the means to keeping high priced vets. Nothing a cap does will keep the underperforming ones...at least on the well managed teams. If they are raising minimum salaries they may be raising the formula for veteran minimum deals - if they in fact still exist. That formula was always tough for vets to swallow because it so severely limited what they could be paid. Clayton says the $3M 2011 exemption becomes 3 $1.5M exemptions in 2012. That may be all there is to this sense that veterans will be protected (as opposed to an actual soft cap which I think the have nots would have really squawked about for competitive purposes). That may replace veteran minimum deals for cap purposes.

7 teams are currently over the cap. And frankly, that's not all that unusual a circumstance before the new league year begins. And there used to be more of that before the cap imploded. If owners went through all of this to lower player costs, I can't see them adopting a deal that would potentially undercut that goal. Some of the people forwarding that premise are also conspiracy theorists who think this is all part of a plan Jerry and Robert hatched because they would secretly love a $140M that drove several of the have nots out of the league...

 

[patriot lifer]

I'm a little surprised the Jets are over. Despite the new deals I thought that GM would have been a bit more cautious. I guess the first order of business for them is making sure Harris isn't being paid $10 million.

I don't know how reliable his data is but I'm sure it's not far off.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Without RFA tender money and number of players from the club's 2010 53 included it's hard to see what over or under really means. We do know that the Pats have probably more of their 53 signed and included in the amount stated than many.

 

[sbpatfan]

Pittsburgh is 10 over, does that include Woodley?

 

[Rob0729]

Pittsburgh is 10 over, does that include Woodley?

Yes. Franchise tag numbers still count against the cap and he actually signed his tender. So technically, he is no longer a franchised player, but a player under contract.

 

[HomerSchooled]

So who are going to be the big winners in FA this season? Looks like Chicago is poised to spend big again, and they'll probably want to grab a bit of the spotlight back from Green Bay. Tampa and KC may be appealing to free agents as teams on the rise with plenty of cash to spend. I keep hearing Philly's itching to make a move. St. Louis could be a draw for one of the big receivers. Any guesses on who may head where?

Here's my shot in the dark: Santonio Holmes goes elsewhere and takes the big money that the Jets can't give him. Considering all the maneuvering the Jets already did before the lockout, it's hard to believe they'll be able to manage market value for any of their bigger free agents. I think that means Holmes and Cromartie walk, and to save face the Jets manage to resign one or a couple of Edwards, Ellis, or Pool.

 

[BlueThunder]

Here's my shot in the dark: Santonio Holmes goes elsewhere and takes the big money that the Jets can't give him. Considering all the maneuvering the Jets already did before the lockout, it's hard to believe they'll be able to manage market value for any of their bigger free agents. I think that means Holmes and Cromartie walk, and to save face the Jets manage to resign one or a couple of Edwards, Ellis, or Pool.

That sounds about right...but certain Jet fans think that their Gang Green is going to be ok and Tangenius will pull a rabbit out of the hat.....

Will be fun watching them scramble to field as effective a team as they had last season....

 

[MoLewisrocks]

How in the F is Washington under the cap???? And by that much?!?!?!

They had been working on cleaning up their cap position for a couple of seasons and they took full advantage of what they could do last season in absorbing all of Haynesworth's $21M option in the uncapped season. They can now cut him if they want to and save more. The cap is a little like life, takes money to make money (or cap room).

 

[BlueThunder]

There are a few teams that can sign just about anyone they go after...

HOW did Tampa get that much under ??????

 

[HomerSchooled]

That sounds about right...but certain Jet fans think that their Gang Green is going to be ok and Tangenius will pull a rabbit out of the hat.....

Will be fun watching them scramble to field as effective a team as they had last season....

Honestly, it's hard to see how they resign anyone given they already trimmed their obvious fat (Woody, Jenkins, Taylor, Gholston). Signing Harris long term may free up a couple million, but not enough to pay ANY of their free agents a starter's salary.

I'm not an expert, and I'm actually expecting them to pull a rabbit out of their hat in some way. As far as I can tell, they can't sign anyone, so I'm guessing they'll manage to resign a couple players. But Holmes and Cromartie could each pull as much as or maybe even more than 8 million a year on the open market, and it's hard to believe there's anything the Jets could do to keep those two around.

 

[BlueThunder]

I forgot about them losing JT.....he wasn't spectacular, but was a solid player for them....vets like that are tough to replace...

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

There are a few teams that can sign just about anyone they go after...

HOW did Tampa get that much under ??????

Tamper is cheap. They're a prima facie example why the NFLPA* (justifiably in my view) want a high salary floor. Tamper signed lots of young players. Got a blind squirrel hit the QB lottery and drafted some good players. But despite contending for a playoff spot into December, they couldn't fill the stadium and had weekly blackouts.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Honestly, it's hard to see how they resign anyone given they already trimmed their obvious fat (Woody, Jenkins, Taylor, Gholston). Signing Harris long term may free up a couple million, but not enough to pay ANY of their free agents a starter's salary.

I'm not an expert, and I'm actually expecting them to pull a rabbit out of their hat in some way. As far as I can tell, they can't sign anyone, so I'm guessing they'll manage to resign a couple players. But Holmes and Cromartie could each pull as much as or maybe even more than 8 million a year on the open market, and it's hard to believe there's anything the Jets could do to keep those two around.

From what I've seen, the Jets will probably have to sign Harris long term, restructure Sanchez, and cut Bryan Thomas if they want to make significant headway with the cap.

 

[HomerSchooled]

From what I've seen, the Jets will probably have to sign Harris long term, restructure Sanchez, and cut Bryan Thomas if they want to make significant headway with the cap.

Cutting Bryan Thomas seems nuts to me. He's arguably got the friendliest contract on the team. He lead the team in sacks, and he's only making 3.7 million for the year. Given that many thought they had troubles rushing the passer last season, they've got no upcoming youth behind him, and their 3rd and 4th team leaders in sacks are already FAs, I doubt they could put his cap value to any better use. Tomlinson seems like a feasible cut at 3.1 million, but he was their leading rusher last year, and nobody behind him really lived up to expectations. The point is, there's no one they could cut without obviously harming the team.

Restructuring Sanchez and signing Harris long term seems the obvious answer, but that can only go so far. Harris will be looking for at least 8 million a year, and given that his fellow (and certainly inferior) ILB Bart Scott is already making that, he may even end up closer to 9 million a year. They'll likely only be able to save 1-2 million off the franchise tag with him. As for restructuring Sanchez, I haven't a clue. Tons of QBs have done it in the past, and it's not like Sanchez is going to give up any money. What's the history for these sorts of deals? What's usually gained?