Cap check

[WhiZa]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

So if we have 7.1 million left in cap space why did TB have to restructure for Moss's 1 year (3 mil) deal?

 

[NE39]

http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/

So if we have 7.1 million left in cap space why did TB have to restructure for Moss's 1 year (3 mil) deal?

Because they had to trade for his contract before restructuring it, thus they had to fit his old salary before restructuring it. That required some $9M in cap space.

 

[BHSL2]

All this spending and they still have 7 million left!. How do they do it...

 

[bbabin]

I agree, after all these offseason acquisitions, it's surprising to see so much money left.

What about the cap in the future though? Do any of these signings (AD, say we do keep Stallworth, etc.) put us in a financial bind in the next few years?

 

[patsgo]

I agree, after all these offseason acquisitions, it's surprising to see so much money left.

What about the cap in the future though? Do any of these signings (AD, say we do keep Stallworth, etc.) put us in a financial bind in the next few years?

they have it all planned out they dont put themselves in those cap hell situations have faith in beoli

 

[DaBruinz]

And that is money they are going to have to push into next year to help out with things. Unless, of course, they sign Asante. Then things the REALLY interesting.

 

[PatrioticDynasty]

And that is money they are going to have to push into next year to help out with things. Unless, of course, they sign Asante. Then things the REALLY interesting.

Don't they have to sign the rookies as well? and are there any TC kickers for vets coming up?

PD.

 

[patfanken]

Usually having that much cap space going into the season means that someone is likely to have have his contract extended some time this year. Last year they carried several million in cap space into the season and ended up redoing Koppen's contract.

If they don't use the bulk of that money elsewhere, I wouldn't be surprised to hear about Warren being extended about sometime in December.

 

[BelichickFan]

Don't they have to sign the rookies as well?

It'll cost less than $2M on this year's cap to sign all the rookies. All but Meriweather will cost almost nothing.

 

[DaBruinz]

I think that Paxton is going to get an extension and will also be the beneficiary of a phony LTBE bonus to push money into next season. How much will depend on how much money the Pats free up from the Samuel situation.

That being said, the Pats do still have to spend 3-4 million on their rookies, as was mentioned earlier.

 

[BelichickFan]

Usually having that much cap space going into the season means that someone is likely to have have his contract extended some time this year. Last year they carried several million in cap space into the season and ended up redoing Koppen's contract.

If they don't use the bulk of that money elsewhere, I wouldn't be surprised to hear about Warren being extended about sometime in December.

I agree and it we can re-do Samuel, which would save us several million this year, we caould extent 2-3 key guys.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Though that was the reported rationale at the time, I'm not sure that's entirely correct. I recall reading somewhere that teams are not required to be in compliance with the cap (i.e. not over) throughout the offseason. Just in March prior to the opening of FA and then again prior to the opening of the season. Teams that aren't in compliance can then be forced to comply via the league voiding contracts beginning with the last FA deal signed until the team is in compliance.

I think the team simply looked at their long range cap graph and decided because they were spending substantial cap this season on potentially short term deals they wanted the continuing flexibiity to be in position to comfortably make some additional veteran signings knowing they could push any unused excess cap forward during the season via LTBE after the dust settled. Had they not restructured Brady's deal they would be right up against the cap now without any additional signings like Brown or perhaps a juicy veteran camp cut. And looking at tweeking some other players deals that could well adversely impact those players cap viability in 2008.

Tweeking Tom's deal is the most painless way to create space without creating a looming problem because we bit the bullit and didn't restructure him last season (and still rolled excess cap money forward), and therefore there is ample cap room still remaining at the end of his deal (current 2010 cap hit $10.2M under likely a $125M+ cap) to tweek his $14M cap hits in 2008 and 2009 as well if need be. And he will be here for several more seasons and will likely be getting his deal redone/extended to reflect that in the next year or two.

If they resign Asante, which I doubt unfortunately, they would need more cap space going forward. But some of that would be created by the very deal they sign him to because it would have a 2007 cap hit likely half what the tag is presently costing and we could be rolling forward double digit excess cap into 2008 - when the cap is already scheduled to rise another several million to $116M I believe. They are in fine shape going forward even if Stallworth remains and his deal isn't adjusted. That after all was basically Deion's money anyway.

 

[BelichickFan]

That being said, the Pats do still have to spend 3-4 million on their rookies, as was mentioned earlier.

I think it'll be around $1.7M or so when it's all said and done.

Maroney's cap hit last year was $1.15M, Thomas and Mills were aound $400K each, they're good comps for Meriweather and Brown - the others will be looking at minimums, they may even save money as the rookie minimum is less than the vet minimum. Once the rule of 51 takes effect (if it hasn't already), it'll cost us little.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

before you guys get too excited look at the cap hits of the free agents (namely AT) signed this year. If I remember correctly they were rather backloaded. Obviously they figured it's better to have the cap room and then simply restructure or move the cap space forward, but it isn't like they took regular cap hits on the new guys and then have all this room.

 

[DaBruinz]

before you guys get too excited look at the cap hits of the free agents (namely AT) signed this year. If I remember correctly they were rather backloaded. Obviously they figured it's better to have the cap room and then simply restructure or move the cap space forward, but it isn't like they took regular cap hits on the new guys and then have all this room.

All contracts are somewhat backloaded just for the idea that a player is getting a raise each year when his salary goes up.

Thomas' contract is the only really BACKLOADED contract. Thomas has a 3.4 million cap hit this year with cap hits for the following years at 5.4, 6.4,9.4,and 10.4. The last two years are debatable as to whether he'll still be with the Pats.

Stallworth and Washington's contracts are misleading because they are 1+ contracts. I still don't comprehend why the Pats signed Washington to the contract that they did. That is the only contract that's been a head-scratcher to me. Washington has been an under-achiever since he got into the league.

In fact, if you look at Stallworth's contract, its actually a pretty level contract. Washington's contract, after a balloon payment in the 2nd year, actually drops by nearly 4 million for the 3rd year.

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

All contracts are somewhat backloaded just for the idea that a player is getting a raise each year when his salary goes up.

Thomas' contract is the only really BACKLOADED contract. Thomas has a 3.4 million cap hit this year with cap hits for the following years at 5.4, 6.4,9.4,and 10.4. The last two years are debatable as to whether he'll still be with the Pats.

Stallworth and Washington's contracts are misleading because they are 1+ contracts. I still don't comprehend why the Pats signed Washington to the contract that they did. That is the only contract that's been a head-scratcher to me. Washington has been an under-achiever since he got into the league.

In fact, if you look at Stallworth's contract, its actually a pretty level contract. Washington's contract, after a balloon payment in the 2nd year, actually drops by nearly 4 million for the 3rd year.

Thanks DaBruinz, you did the work I was too lazy to do. Yeah, I was pretty much thinking of Thomas, though I believe Welker's is also backloaded. I'll be happy to ignore Stallworth and Washington as you suggest, since they are basically one year deals.

Isn't a lot of the cap hit for the final two years of Thomas's contract guaranteed? I didn't think they had built it so they could cut him. I guess the question is simply, what are his salaries those last two years?

 

[TomBrady'sGoat]

Ok, I looked it up. He makes salaries of 4.9M and 5.9M in '10 and '11. They're a little over half of his hits for those years, and more than I thought they were.