An overlooked AdamJT13 post

[pats1]

For those who are mad about the Pats "not spending to the cap," it has indeed been done:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=301814&postcount=21

The Patriots gave Antwain Spann a $2,913,410 LTBE incentive, gave Troy Brown a $350,000 LTBE incentive and gave Brown a $50,000 signing bonus, as well.

That is the last post in the thread titled "Money Under the Cap Gone?"

If anyone knows his stuff and gets the inside info, it's AdamJT13. And it's now clear the Pats have in one form or another used all of their cap space for 2006.

 

[jefmblrd]

Why would the Patriots give Spann all of that money?

 

[PATSNUTme]

For those who are mad about the Pats "not spending to the cap," it has indeed been done:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=301814&postcount=21



That is the last post in the thread titled "Money Under the Cap Gone?"

If anyone knows his stuff and gets the inside info, it's AdamJT13. And it's now clear the Pats have in one form or another used all of their cap space for 2006.

Gave Spann Almost $3 mil? No way, something is wrong.

 

[fillylabinga]

This sounds highly dubious to me.

Neither of these guys are signed for 2007. Why would the Pats give bonuses to guys unless they were reworking their contracts?

As much as I would like it to be the case, if the Pats had resigned Troy Brown for next year I think we would have heard about it.

And $3M for Spann? Please.

 

[Flying Fungi]

For those who are mad about the Pats "not spending to the cap," it has indeed been done:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showpost.php?p=301814&postcount=21



That is the last post in the thread titled "Money Under the Cap Gone?"

If anyone knows his stuff and gets the inside info, it's AdamJT13. And it's now clear the Pats have in one form or another used all of their cap space for 2006.

nice catch--thanks for bringing it back to the surface

 

[BelichickFan]

Gave Spann Almost $3 mil? No way, something is wrong.

Jeez, guys, have you been under a rock ?

That's the LTBE "trick" where you give a guy a Likely to Be Earned incentive that is charged against the cap now but when he doesn't earn it, the cap money is "returned" next year - in essence moving the money from this year's cap to next year's.

 

[BelichickFan]

This sounds highly dubious to me.

Do not doubt AdamJT13. He is a legend among amateur cap guys - seriously.

 

[Isaac]

I remember hearing that there was something in the new CBA to prevent excessive use of the LTBE incentive trick. I guess not.

 

[pats1]

Why would the Patriots give Spann all of that money?

It's an accounting trick teams use to transfer cap space to the next season.

After a certain date (in November), all incentives that are added to contracts are automatically LTBE (Likely to be earned) and are thus counted against the current season's cap. Because Spann obviously won't achieve the incentive the Pats gave him, that $2.9 million gets transfered to next season as a $2.9 credit to the Pats' 2007 cap.

 

[fillylabinga]

It's an accounting trick teams use to transfer cap space to the next season.

After a certain date (in November), all incentives that are added to contracts are automatically LTBE (Likely to be earned) and are thus counted against the current season's cap. Because Spann obviously won't achieve the incentive the Pats gave him, that $2.9 million gets transfered to next season as a $2.9 credit to the Pats' 2007 cap.

Thanks for reminding me about this--I remember reading about that loophole now.

But then why split the money between Spann and Brown? Why not have all $3+mm go to Spann? Was that for accounting reasons too? Or did the Pats really give this bonus to Brown?

I hope this is a case of them looking out for their own.

Also, strangely, I feel kind of bad for Spann now.

 

[PATSNUTme]

It's an accounting trick teams use to transfer cap space to the next season.

After a certain date (in November), all incentives that are added to contracts are automatically LTBE (Likely to be earned) and are thus counted against the current season's cap. Because Spann obviously won't achieve the incentive the Pats gave him, that $2.9 million gets transfered to next season as a $2.9 credit to the Pats' 2007 cap.

OK. My bad. It's a bean counter/lawyer trick. But I sure do hope tha Troy got his money.

 

[pats1]

Thanks for reminding me about this--I remember reading about that loophole now.

But then why split the money between Spann and Brown? Why not have all $3+mm go to Spann? Was that for accounting reasons too? Or did the Pats really give this bonus to Brown?

I hope this is a case of them looking out for their own.

Also, strangely, I feel kind of bad for Spann now.

Because Troy actually gets the $50,000. Signing bonuses are guaranteed.

As far as the $350,000 LTBE vs. the $2.9 million, I guess that's just the way it went down.

 

[hwc]

I'm guessing that the $350k to Troy Brown may well be real money in his pocket. As a full-time starter this year, Brown has clearly out-played his contract. He may have hit an incentive and they want the money to count this year.

 

[Seymour93]

Thanks for reminding me about this--I remember reading about that loophole now.

But then why split the money between Spann and Brown? Why not have all $3+mm go to Spann? Was that for accounting reasons too? Or did the Pats really give this bonus to Brown?

I hope this is a case of them looking out for their own.

Also, strangely, I feel kind of bad for Spann now.

I feel the same way. Why do it to Spann? He's actually out there making plays, unlike someone named Mr. C. Jackson.

 

[pats1]

I feel the same way. Why do it to Spann? He's actually out there making plays, unlike someone named Mr. C. Jackson.

It matters not. Nobody is getting paid anything.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Do not doubt AdamJT13. He is a legend among amateur cap guys - seriously.

I don't think there is anything amateur about Adam's understanding of the cap - his access is better than Clayton's.

Sad thing is I've noticed in my periodic travels as a lurker that he's apparently a Cowboys fan.

The union made it clear it now frowns on players agreeing to LTBE's used to circumvent the cap, although I believe they are more concerned about teams using them to achieve the minimum rather than save some room for next year. They also urged players and agents not to agree to them unless there was something in it for the player - in Spann's case, as a PS player, I would imagine making the team was incentive enough. The NFLPA offers far less to a player like that going forward then a greatful and appreciative coaching staff does. And he certainly further endeared himself to this management on Sunday when he pounced on that muffed punt. I think Troy likely got the $50K for accommodating the LTBE, although after what he did Sunday they may add that to whatever they intended to offer him to stick around next year.

 

[Seymour93]

It matters not. Nobody is getting paid anything.

It gives off the image that Spann isn't doing anything so he has no chance at getting the bonus. Your right that in the end it doesn't matter though.

 

[rainmaker]

It gives off the image that Spann isn't doing anything so he has no chance at getting the bonus. Your right that in the end it doesn't matter though.

Not necessary. It may be something like number of INTs that wouldn't be achievable since he doesn't start. Not a big deal for Spann. He doesn't lose anything by it. The players union doesn't like it because they want some player to get paid now for it rather than wait a year.

By the way, where is the sign Troy Brown to another year thread!

 

[pats1]

Not necessary. It may be something like number of INTs that wouldn't be achievable since he doesn't start. Not a big deal for Spann. He doesn't lose anything by it. The players union doesn't like it because they want some player to get paid now for it rather than wait a year.

Spann won't get the money next year either if that's what you mean, but yes, the team will have $2.9 million extra cap space next year to "spend."

 

[unoriginal]

The Krafts are still cheap. They could have printed those contracts off on high quality glossy photo paper, instead they elected to go with low grade brown paper towels.

Just a classless, classless move.