Gasper: Pats won't pick up Washington's option, but want him back [merged]

[BradyManny]

Pats not picking up K. Washington's option but hope to bring him back

Per Reiss:

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

Cap repercussions? Based on Miguels page, looks like he was about a 1.8 mill hit for next year. I believe his deal was structured in such a way that we could decline his option and not have to pay the remaining signing bonus, correct?

 

[JDSal45]

Re: Pats not picking up K. Washington's option but hope to bring him back

I believe his cap number will be zero. The option was not picked up, so his deal is essentially zero after 2007. In fact, I believe the Pats will receive a CREDIT of $800,000 because they were charged a pro-rated portion of the bonus in 2007 they are now not picking up.

J D Sal

 

[BradyManny]

Re: Pats not picking up K. Washington's option but hope to bring him back

I believe his cap number will be zero. The option was not picked up, so his deal is essentially zero after 2007. In fact, I believe the Pats will receive a CREDIT of $800,000 because they were charged a pro-rated portion of the bonus in 2007 they are now not picking up.

J D Sal

Alright, thanks for the input.

On that same line of thinking - I'm guessing Stallworth's deal has similar repercussions if and when he is cut?

 

[DefenseRules]

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

K. Washington update
Posted by Mike Reiss, Globe Staff
February 13, 2008 09:00 AM

The Patriots have informed WR Kelley Washington that they don't plan to pick up his $4 million option bonus but are interested in him returning with a reworked deal, an NFL source told the Boston Globe's Christopher L. Gasper.

If the sides don't reach a reworked deal, Washington, a top special teams performer, will become an unrestricted free agent Feb. 29.

When Washington signed with the Patriots on March 13, 2007, the key part of the contract was a $4 million option bonus that the team had to decide on paying before the 2008 league year started (Feb. 29).

If the Patriots picked up the bonus, Washington's contract would extend through 2011. If the Patriots did not pick up the bonus, Washington would become a free agent.

While he did not catch a pass and played in only 37 offensive snaps this season due to the depth and health of others at the position, Washington seemed to enjoy playing for the Patriots after spending the first four years of his career with the Bengals. That would seemingly give the team an edge in re-signing him to a new deal.

I just heard this reported on WEEI also.

 

[KevinFaulk-33]

Re: Pats not picking up K. Washington's option but hope to bring him back

Do Stallworth have the same contract? I remember that the option is in Stallowrth's contract also.

 

[dhamz]

No suprise there.

I'd expect Washington to test the free agent market with an eye on a team where he can actually play WR.

Depending on how our extremely uncertain WR position plays out, that may even be back here.

 

[BelichickFan]

Re: Pats not picking up K. Washington's option but hope to bring him back

Do Stallworth have the same contract? I remember that the option is in Stallowrth's contract also.

Yeah, Stallworth has a (bigger) option also. There's basically no way it'll be picked up IMO as Gaffney was playing more than him at the end of last season.

 

[Rob0729]

According to Miguel's cap page, he has $860k left of prorated signing bonus and his cap # is scheduled for $1.77 million (assuming after bonus). So, we should get about $900k back in cap space.

Washington is worth getting a Larry Izzo type of deal or a little bit higher because of his age, but he didn't see the field as a WR this year and cannot be paid much more than the minimum.

 

[SeanBruschi54]

Maybe this coming season they can offer him playing time too. I think if they want him strictly as a ST's player then he will leave. JMO.

 

[BelichickFan]

According to Miguel's cap page, he has $860k left of prorated signing bonus and his cap # is scheduled for $1.77 million (assuming after bonus). So, we should get about $900k back in cap space.

His entire signing bonus was $300K :

http://www.patscap.com/capfootnotes.html#washington

The proration is complicated by the team option - the cap repercussions I don't understand - but I'm confident he doesn't actually have $860K of proration left when the option is officially not picked up.

 

[Rob0729]

His entire signing bonus was $300K :

http://www.patscap.com/capfootnotes.html#washington

The proration is complicated by the team option - the cap repercussions I don't understand - but I'm confident he doesn't actually have $860K of proration left when the option is officially not picked up.

Maybe you are right. I guess I should have read Miguel's notes. I do remember now that his original signing bonus was nothing. Maybe he hit escalators or incentives that brought it up to $860k. Many players have Super Bowl bonuses. Only Miguel knows how he came up with that number.

Miguel moved him to released and has him as a $240k bonus cap hit. So I guess you are right.

 

[RayClay]

I wouldn't be surprised to see him back. He'd be ideal as a 4/5 receiver who plays teams.

Of course he might get more playing time elsewhere, but don't underestimate the effect of going from a losing org to the Pats. He looked like he was really enjoying himself.

Probably depends on his perception of his chance to catch some balls.

 

[BradyManny]

I wouldn't be surprised to see him back. He'd be ideal as a 4/5 receiver who plays teams.

Of course he might get more playing time elsewhere, but don't underestimate the effect of going from a losing org to the Pats. He looked like he was really enjoying himself.

Probably depends on his perception of his chance to catch some balls.

I agree with all of that, but one reason why I think he might not be back is that the Pats didn't get a good sense of how he would fare as a receiver. With Stallworth likely going and Gaffney maybe going, we need some guys we can count on as a wideout, not just as an STer. As I suggested in another thread, I'm for bringing back Reche. I do think CJax is going to be a nasy #3, but we need some insurance and some things we can count on at the receiver spot besides Moss/Welker.

 

[Va_Pats_Fan]

Here's what I find interesting about this, its what not was said. Why did this "league source" know that Washington's bonus was not picked up, but had no info on Stallworth? Could that mean that Stallworth will be paid?

 

[dhamz]

Here's what I find interesting about this, its what not was said. Why did this "league source" know that Washington's bonus was not picked up, but had no info on Stallworth? Could that mean that Stallworth will be paid?

All it means is the Pats have decided not pick up Washington's option and that Washington or someone in his camp told Gasper.

It means nothing about Stallworth.