What other cap savings can the Pats find?

[stevedogc]

From everything I have read, the Pats cap for 2012 is at 101 mil. Sources say the cap limit next season will be anywhere from 120-125 mil. So the Pats have a round $20 mil to play with. Cutting Ocho will save around 1.5 mil. And I am assuming Wright is going to retire, if not the Pats should release him. Miquel has not updated his page in a bit, but I think that could save the Pats over 2 mil. Any other ideas on where more cap savings can come from.

 

[Sciz]

Cutting Light saves $3.5M. Those 3 are really the only guys that open any more than $1M.

 

[jmt57]

Based on the footnotes info from Miguel's page:

Chad Ochocinco - if the Pats cut hit they take a cap hit of $3 million (the remainder of his prorated signing bonus); his 2012 cap figure appears to be $4.75 million ($3 million salary; $1.5 million prorated bonus; $250k workout bonus); net cap savings of $1.75 million.

Matt Light - if the Pats cut him they take a cap hit of $3 million (the remainder of his prorated signing bonus); his 2012 cap figure appears to be $6.5 million ($3.4 million base salary; $3 million prorated bonus; $100k workout bonus); net cap savings of $3.5 million.

Mike Wright - if the Pats cut him they take a cap hit of $450,000 (the remainder of his prorated signing bonus); his 2012 cap figure appears to be $2.74 million ($2,205,000 base salary; $450k prorated bonus; $85k workout bonus); net cap savings of $2.29 million.


I can't imagine the Patriots needing any additional room beyond that, despite what it may end up costing to re-sign Welker. I'm not in favor of cutting Light, but if push comes to shove where they need a large amount of additional cap space he may be asked to restructure his deal with an extension that would push some of that cap amount into the future.


Miguel's UNOFFICIAL 2011 Patriots Salary Cap Footnotes and Documentation Page

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Thats almost 8 million between three guys. Although i am not for cutting Matt Light i believe he had a good year with us and Vollmer might not be ok next year.

 

[tatepatsfan]

I cannot see cutting Light. We saw the value of having three quality OTs this year (w/ Vollmer's injury). And Light played pretty well this year.

Ochocinco is gone, unless possibly if he agrees to a big pay cut. But most likely he's gone.

Wright will sadly most likely retire. If he wants to fight for a roster spot, he'll likely have to do so at less pay.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Light didn't have a good year. He had an outstanding year. No way in hell should we cut him. To save 3.5m? No bleepin way.

 

[goheels22002]

$20 million is a decent amount of money to mess around with until you figure how much it will take to re-sign WRs Wes Welker and Deion Branch, DL Mark Anderson, RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, G/C Dan Connolly, and special teamer Matt Slater.

Welker is the big ticket guy. There will not be a big market for the others but they have value because they are trusted here. BJGE is an interesting player - he doesn't fumble, gives them 4+ yards per carry and knows his role. Unless they can get a serious upgrade, I think he stays.

Those guys will probably eat up half of that cap money leaving $10 million or so for the rookies and free agents. Not bad, but not a lot after the late two #1s and late two #2s get their deals (probably $4 -4.5 million combined in year one of their deals judging from last season's signings under the new CBA.

Not a terrible spot to be in, but there's not much room for a big-time signing.

 

[LetsGoPats36]

In a world with justice, Mankins would happily restructure after folding like a decrepit ping pong table in the Super Bowl, again. But he seems like the last guy on the team that would restructure.

I knew we had signed Shaun Ellis for a disgusting amount of money, but I had forgotten (or blocked out) that the chump made 5 million last year. That's valuable money to allot to another player(s).

Ocho has to restructure (think 1-1.5 mil) or is gone. I don't see that happening.

Leigh Bodden was making about 5.5 million. Not sure how much we saved dumping him but it had to have been something.

I'm all for cutting Light if it saves 5 million. Veteran OL depth isn't the hardest thing to come by in FA. Hell, we got Brian Waters for 1.5 million this year. Keeping Light on the roster takes away playing time from one of Solder or Vollmer. I'd rather them be on the field if we want the MO of our Oline to change.

I feel like there is a good amount of money for this team to play with but I haven't crunched the numbers or kept up particularly well with Miguel's page. I'll be disappointed if we have another offseason like 2005. We need to make a couple splashes.

 

[patsfaninpa]

Matt Light destroyed Osi. And you people want to cut him? 2 weeks after shutting down Terrell Suggs. Anyone suggesting we cut him should get banished to the IR for failure to understand football.

 

[MP-Logick]

Light only allowed 2 pressures in the Super Bowl, protecting TB's blind side. He had a fantastic season, I hope they keep him around one last year.

 

[NH #1 Pats Fan]

I cannot see cutting Light. We saw the value of having three quality OTs this year (w/ Vollmer's injury). And Light played pretty well this year.

Ochocinco is gone, unless possibly if he agrees to a big pay cut. But most likely he's gone.

Wright will sadly most likely retire. If he wants to fight for a roster spot, he'll likely have to do so at less pay.

Don't cut Light. He came out the same time as Bress and protected his blind side at Purdue. He has done a great job over trhe years and 2011 showed no rust on his tires. Brady needs him for at least one more year.

 

[DonBlackmon55]

Well, do not forget restructures to gain additional cap space.......Steelers are scrambling by restructuring contracts.

I'm not worried about our Cap space. We have plenty.

We do need to cut the losses with Ocho and move on.
Wright should retire unless he wants his brains to look like a fried egg, and
Light we MUST keep for a 1 year deal (despite his antics after SB loss)

 

[Elijah T.]

I think we get 2 million for releasing Bodden, not entirely sure.

No way should we release Light, he was probably a top ten LT in his 11th season.

 

[mgteich]

There will always be restructures if cap money is needed. Light is good candidate.

I expect Wright to retire. Personally, I would cut him if he won't retire. There is simply no reason to keep on paying for him being on IR.

It is extremely unlikely that Ochocinco stays at his current contract. In any case, this is just about a wash. Belichick will cut him a sign another wide receiver, or Belichick will re-sign Ochocinco at a lower contract amount.

The patriots have plenty of cap money for their normal free agency. The could never have enough money to fund what poster want. Belichick just doesn't bring in 3-4 top free agents. It isn't in his nature. There are better ways to build a team, or to improve one.

Based on the footnotes info from Miguel's page:

Chad Ochocinco - if the Pats cut hit they take a cap hit of $3 million (the remainder of his prorated signing bonus); his 2012 cap figure appears to be $4.75 million ($3 million salary; $1.5 million prorated bonus; $250k workout bonus); net cap savings of $1.75 million.

Matt Light - if the Pats cut him they take a cap hit of $3 million (the remainder of his prorated signing bonus); his 2012 cap figure appears to be $6.5 million ($3.4 million base salary; $3 million prorated bonus; $100k workout bonus); net cap savings of $3.5 million.

Mike Wright - if the Pats cut him they take a cap hit of $450,000 (the remainder of his prorated signing bonus); his 2012 cap figure appears to be $2.74 million ($2,205,000 base salary; $450k prorated bonus; $85k workout bonus); net cap savings of $2.29 million.


I can't imagine the Patriots needing any additional room beyond that, despite what it may end up costing to re-sign Welker. I'm not in favor of cutting Light, but if push comes to shove where they need a large amount of additional cap space he may be asked to restructure his deal with an extension that would push some of that cap amount into the future.


Miguel's UNOFFICIAL 2011 Patriots Salary Cap Footnotes and Documentation Page

 

[BlueThunder]

Weren't there rumors that Waters was contemplating retirement?

I'd hate to see him go, but if he did retire and Cannon comes on strong, there's another 2.2 Mil savings off cap.

 

[Elijah T.]

There will always be restructures if cap money is needed. Light is good candidate.

I expect Wright to retire. Personally, I would cut him if he won't retire. There is simply no reason to keep on paying for him being on IR.

It is extremely unlikely that Ochocinco stays at his current contract. In any case, this is just about a wash. Belichick will cut him a sign another wide receiver, or Belichick will re-sign Ochocinco at a lower contract amount.

The patriots have plenty of cap money for their normal free agency. The could never have enough money to fund what poster want. Belichick just doesn't bring in 3-4 top free agents. It isn't in his nature. There are better ways to build a team, or to improve one.

Bring in 3 or 4 high ticket FA's...No BB won't do that.

Nor would I want him too. But he'll spend for the right one or two and continue to use the draft.

I could see a Marques Colston and a Brent Grimes, or a Mario Williams and a Reggie Wayne, or a Brandon Lloyd and a Cliff Avril.

 

[BlueThunder]

Bring in 3 or 4 high ticket FA's...No BB won't do that.

Nor would I want him too. But he'll spend for the right one or two and continue to use the draft.

I could see a Marques Colston and a Brent Grimes, or a Mario Williams and a Reggie Wayne, or a Brandon Lloyd and a Cliff Avril.

Do you really think BB would spend big $$$ for Mario?

Lloyd and Avril would be nice....even just Colston.....:rocker:

 

[mgteich]

In your counting, I would consider Welker a potential high ticket free agent signing, Andre Carter less so.

Bring in 3 or 4 high ticket FA's...No BB won't do that.

Nor would I want him too. But he'll spend for the right one or two and continue to use the draft.

I could see a Marques Colston and a Brent Grimes, or a Mario Williams and a Reggie Wayne, or a Brandon Lloyd and a Cliff Avril.

 

[Elijah T.]

Do you really think BB would spend big $$$ for Mario?

Lloyd and Avril would be nice....even just Colston.....:rocker:

It's possible. We've seen a similar move with Colvin and Thomas, both of them were the most highly sought, high priced pass rushers during that time.

We had cap space then also. Williams is versatile and changes the complexion of the defense on many fronts. He can contain the edge, rush the passer, and his length makes it hard on passing lanes.

If BB doesn't go after him I don't think it'll be because of money. It'll be because he isn't the type of player he wants mentally...imo.

 

[Sciz]

I think Light will definitely stick around unless that cap room is the difference between signing someone like Mario Williams or not signing him. There's really nowhere else to get much cap outside of Light, Wright, and Ochocinco. Restructuring won't work nearly as well for the Pats as for other teams because they don't have many guys with a really high salary. Brady has the highest salary on the team at $5.75M. The Jets have guys with salaries of $10M, $10M, $8.5M, and $7.75M. Even the Dolphins have guys with salaries of $11.2M, $9.3M, and $8.8M. That's 7 guys between the Jets and Phins that all have a higher salary than anybody on the Pats.