Pats and Ninkovich agree on contract adjustment increase

What the hell are we planning to do with all this cap space? Mayo's restructure will probably put us back to 12 million under.

robertweathers said:

Thats what I'm thinking. Maybe they didn't like the $3.9m hit for 2015 and decided to convert some of his salary ($2.1m) and bonus $600k into a signing bonus + said $ and tack on a year to lower the cap $ for 2015?

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Given that it looks like the team will have a significant cap cushion this year, I think it's more likely the opposite. They guaranteed some salary in future years and pushed it into this season. It may raise his cap hit but he'll ultimately get paid more.

strngplyr said:

It's reliant on his health. He needs to pass a physical to agree to an adjusted deal we've learned.

Could potentially be waiting into the summer to hear from Mayo, speak of, have we heard any health updates? I don't recall any "ahead of schedule" news but no news usually isn't bad news either.

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Last heard he was "medically cleared" to be on the sidelines during the Super Bowl... that is unusual and good news.

Then there was "Miss Mayo" on media day.. so he was around.

DarrylS said:

Last heard he was "medically cleared" to be on the sidelines during the Super Bowl... that is unusual and good news.

Then there was "Miss Mayo" on media day.. so he was around.

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Do players need to be medically cleared to be on the sidelines? I see players in street clothes and crutches at almost every game on TV. They don't look like they're even cleared to walk, yet.

I just bought his jersey, any chance they added more years as well?

primetime said:

Given that it looks like the team will have a significant cap cushion this year, I think it's more likely the opposite. They guaranteed some salary in future years and pushed it into this season. It may raise his cap hit but he'll ultimately get paid more.

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Hes due $1.2m in salary + bonuses in 2016. Not a lot but he'll be 32 next Feb so maybe?

VectorPrime said:

What the hell are we planning to do with all this cap space? Mayo's restructure will probably put us back to 12 million under.

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What is the hold up on the restructure? Health? There could not be more evidence of how inconsequential Mayo is than last season. His cap number vs. actual value is laughable. 7 years - 10 sacks - 3 picks - very little impact (as evidenced by the team winning the SB without him).

@MikeReiss: Via @caplannfl, more on the contract adjustment/pay boost for Patriots DE Rob Ninkovich: http://t.co/ERMmOdFQLd

Maybe it what is sounds like and he is simply getting more. That would be interesting.

First off I will say Ninko deserves a raise. I'll agree with that

However to give raises just out of the kindness of your heart is not how the Pats or almost any NFL team does things.

This could mean that they looked at FA and realized they were not going to spend enough of their cap (cause they need to spend a lot to get up to that 89% number). So instead of over paying a FA they decided to give some to Nink.

Personally I think it shows the pats missed at least in part in FA. The plan was not to cut Revis/Browner and make sure you can give Nink a raise (if that is in fact what is going on).

iapatsfan said:

What is the hold up on the restructure? Health?

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Yes. Until he is medically cleared to play, NE is still on the hook for ~$4.7mm (I think) of guarantees. It is not possible to do anything prior to that.

VectorPrime said:

What the hell are we planning to do with all this cap space? Mayo's restructure will probably put us back to 12 million under.

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I hope we roll over as much of the remaining cap space as we can, we have some big options to pick up and extensions to make regarding HT/Collins/Jones/Solder in the near future. Having an extra 8m pushed into next season will also help if we want to make any unusual splashes since there are no players worth decent money left this season.

patsinthesnow said:

@MikeReiss: Via @caplannfl, more on the contract adjustment/pay boost for Patriots DE Rob Ninkovich: http://t.co/ERMmOdFQLd

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Wait, is Reiss saying that this new deal could add cap space or is he saying that the Pats could have added cap space but chose to do this instead?

strngplyr said:

I hope we roll over as much of the remaining cap space as we can, we have some big options to pick up and extensions to make regarding HT/Collins/Jones/Solder in the near future. Having an extra 8m pushed into next season will also help if we want to make any unusual splashes since there are no players worth decent money left this season.

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Hopefully they can draft Solder's replacement and let him walk. I do not want to see them offer Jones any significant amount of money. If he wants to be paid like a difference maker, they should let him walk. Did anybody notice a drop off from him being out last season? Was it that noticeable when he returned? He can be replaced. I would much rather see them use that money to target Liuget or Poe next offseason. I would place a much higher premium on active disrupters in the middle than a mediocre outside rusher.

VectorPrime said:

What the hell are we planning to do with all this cap space? Mayo's restructure will probably put us back to 12 million under.

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Lots of young vets needing second contracts and it carries over into next year.

Oswlek said:

Yes. Until he is medically cleared to play, NE is still on the hook for ~$4.7mm (I think) of guarantees. It is not possible to do anything prior to that.

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I know he's a leader and a great guy, but that just seems like far too much money for his production level. He's been in the middle of some very bad defenses and made some tackles, but I don't see any way you can justify giving him that kind of money.

VectorPrime said:

Wait, is Reiss saying that this new deal could add cap space or is he saying that the Pats could have added cap space but chose to do this instead?

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It is a raise plan and simple. They are taking free cap space and giving it to Ninko. It will not help the team create cap space. It actively lowers the team's cap space.

The team probably decided they are not going to sign a big name player but still need to spend the money so why not give it to Nink?

iapatsfan said:

I know he's a leader and a great guy, but that just seems like far too much money for his production level. He's been in the middle of some very bad defenses and made some tackles, but I don't see any way you can justify giving him that kind of money.

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Well maybe the just don't like many of the FAs left and decided to make one of their own guys who has been mostly underpaid happy.

BobDigital said:

Well maybe the just don't like many of the FAs left and decided to make one of their own guys who has been mostly underpaid happy.

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Mayo's been underpaid????

iapatsfan said:

I know he's a leader and a great guy, but that just seems like far too much money for his production level. He's been in the middle of some very bad defenses and made some tackles, but I don't see any way you can justify giving him that kind of money.

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My suspicion is that the team agrees with you. For now, their hands are tied.

iapatsfan said:

Mayo's been underpaid????

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No but Ninko has. I think they will try to lower Mayo's cap # once he is healthy.