Question for Miguel

[The 12th Man]

I read somewhere that Vince Wilfork will get about a $500,000 increase in his salary next year as an escalator clause in his contract for making the Pro Bowl. Is that true? And if it is, do any of the other guys who made the Pro Bowl (obviously not Asante) have anything of that nature? Thanks.

 

[The 12th Man]

I think I just answered my own question as I read the contract details of each player on your salary cap page. Looks like Moss earned his full $5 million now by making the Pro Bowl. I think Brady also will get a $500,000 increase for the Pro Bowl and possibly $250,000 each if the team makes the AFC Championship game and the Superbowl. He would also get $500,000 for MVP award and another $250,000 for Offensive Player of the Year if I read it correctly. Mike Vrabel would get $100,000 escalator next year. I think that's it, but let me know if I missed someone else or if I read something wrong. Looks like our cap will be in worse shape then we thought.

 

[The 12th Man]

So if I added it up right, it looks like we need to subtract 1.1 mil from our next year available money and if the Pats make the Superbowl and Brady (very likely) gets MVP and OPY awards, that will be an additional 1.25 mil. Correct? Total subtraction of 2.35 mil? Ouch. I'm happy for the guys, but I just wish we had more cap room to resign certain guys.

 

[BlitzFritz]

this is a great monlogue you are providing dude!

(its intertesting, no worries)

 

[DaBruinz]

One of the things that I have learned during the Belichick era is to not worry about the salary cap. Pioli is a master at manipulating it to the Pats advantage.

One of the things that has gone unreported is whether or not the Pats adjusted any contracts to push money into next year. The Pats had some 6 million in free cap space during the year. There is no way that Pioli let that money just go "POOF" into nothing. I am sure he pushed money into next year.

It will be interesting to see just how much money they pushed into next year.

 

[Miguel]

One of the things that I have learned during the Belichick era is to not worry about the salary cap. .

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=55218

had me convinced otherwise

 

[Miguel]

I think I just answered my own question as I read the contract details of each player on your salary cap page. Looks like Moss earned his full $5 million now by making the Pro Bowl. I think Brady also will get a $500,000 increase for the Pro Bowl and possibly $250,000 each if the team makes the AFC Championship game and the Superbowl. He would also get $500,000 for MVP award and another $250,000 for Offensive Player of the Year if I read it correctly. Mike Vrabel would get $100,000 escalator next year. I think that's it, but let me know if I missed someone else or if I read something wrong. Looks like our cap will be in worse shape then we thought.

Brady's and Vrabel's bonuses were in their prior contracts. I do not know if the bonuses carried over to the current contracts.

 

[Miguel]

I think that's it, but let me know if I missed someone else or if I read something wrong. Looks like our cap will be in worse shape then we thought.

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=68210&highlight=escalator

 

[MoLewisrocks]

One of the things that I have learned during the Belichick era is to not worry about the salary cap. Pioli is a master at manipulating it to the Pats advantage.

One of the things that has gone unreported is whether or not the Pats adjusted any contracts to push money into next year. The Pats had some 6 million in free cap space during the year. There is no way that Pioli let that money just go "POOF" into nothing. I am sure he pushed money into next year.

It will be interesting to see just how much money they pushed into next year.

One way or another they will push it all in. That's why those early lists on cap room are really just early guesstimates. They may already have some others on the list who have LTBE's they won't make that will balance some of the escalators that are achieved. I think most day one draftees and players signing second deals have incentive or escalator language in their contracts, unless their agents are morons, and we only hear about those details if someone in the media gets to see a contract or the agent chooses to tout a provision to pump up the deal he struck.

I think we are fine cap wise to bring everyone back who is willing to be reasonable and take a deal that isn't either highest paid for the position or every last nickle they could squeeze out of the open market. Pioli has said in the past, what matters most to them is part of the formula used to decide how much we want them. If max money is their overiding goal, they likely don't really fit the system here, part of which is based in more broadbased distribution of the pie.

With the exception of Asante, who is playing under the tag, and Wilfork and Mankins who are still under rookie deals, our other pro bowlers already left some money on the table to play or remain here - so paying them incentives for this years level of performance is not a problematic occurrance.

 

[mgteich]

We have about $6M that will be rolled over into next year. Most of expected that this wll be approximaely sufficient to cover playoff, probowl, SB and other incentives. The $2.35M is neither a surprise nor a problem.

So if I added it up right, it looks like we need to subtract 1.1 mil from our next year available money and if the Pats make the Superbowl and Brady (very likely) gets MVP and OPY awards, that will be an additional 1.25 mil. Correct? Total subtraction of 2.35 mil? Ouch. I'm happy for the guys, but I just wish we had more cap room to resign certain guys.

 

[jct]

Moss triggerred a lot of incentives...
not really 6M$ after that subtraction.

 

[alamo]

One of the things that has gone unreported is whether or not the Pats adjusted any contracts to push money into next year. The Pats had some 6 million in free cap space during the year. There is no way that Pioli let that money just go "POOF" into nothing. I am sure he pushed money into next year.

I believe they have until the middle of next week to do so.

 

[The 12th Man]

Thanks. I guess I'll just drop it for now and worry about it when the time comes. BB and Pioli do know what they're doing.

 

[DaBruinz]

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=55218

had me convinced otherwise

I can be frightened and not worry that BB and Pioli will handle it accordingly.

 

[DaBruinz]

I believe they have until the middle of next week to do so.

I thought they had to have it completed by the 14th game of the season, in all honesty.. but you may be right.. Hopefully Miguel chimes in on that.

 

[mgteich]

QUESTION
Are the 2008 option amounts for Washington and Stallworth "true" options. Or do they turn into guarantees if we do not exercise them?

 

[DaBruinz]

QUESTION
Are the 2008 option amounts for Washington and Stallworth "true" options. Or do they turn into guarantees if we do not exercise them?

Everything that I have read says that if the Patriots do not pick up the options, stallworth and washington become free agents.

 

[mgteich]

I understand that much. However, often options are structured such that the team will owe money even if the option is not taken. In other words, we migh choose not to exercise Washingon's option and still owe him a bonus equal to his 2008 salary.

I expect that you are correct and that they are true options, but times are slow and I was just checking.

If both are true options, the team is in very good shape. We can negotiate with Moss and Gaffney, knowing that we have a source of cap funds if needed. And then when we know whether Moss and/or Gaffney has extended, we can begin restructuring discussions with Stallworth and Washington. Of course, all of this is in addition to having Welker and Jackson locked up long-term.

Everything that I have read says that if the Patriots do not pick up the options, stallworth and washington become free agents.

 

[Miguel]

I believe they have until the middle of next week to do so.

IIRC,they have until the EOB, the 27th.