Dion Lewis - RFA or UFA in 2016?

Ok, this is getting frustrating because I have seen various posts on this subject (one of which mine). I cited Miguel and Over the cap and they originally classified Lewis as a RFA:


"The Pats will have until the start of the 2016 League Year to (sign) these potential RFAs (Josh Kline, James Develin, Dion Lewis, Brian Tyms, Sealver Siliga, and Darius Fleming). The 2015 tenders were $3.354 million for the 1st round tender, $2.356 million for the 2nd round tender, and $1.542 million for original round tenders. The minimum increase is 5%. The maximum increase is 10%"


http://www.patsfans.com/salary-cap/...riots-offseason-scorecard-updated-on-7302015/


http://overthecap.com/free-agency/new-england-patriots/



Now I'm seeing this on Patscap:


CapSpace=$3,076,876 ‏@patscap 6h6 hours ago
Therefore, I should have included Dion Lewis in the 2016 UFA list.


https://twitter.com/patscap


When I looked at NFL.com for Dion's career games played I saw the following:

2011 - 15 games Philadelphia
2012 - 9 games Philadelphia
2013- Placed on IR - 0 games
2014- o games played
2015- lets assume he plays over 6 games for us


http://www.nfl.com/player/dionlewis/2495469/profile

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dion_Lewis

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000234584/article/dion-lewis-placed-on-cleveland-browns-ir-list



Now, unless I'm counting incorrectly, that is 3 accrued seasons (2011, 2012, and including 2015):


"In order to accrue a season, a player must be on (or should have been on) full pay status for six or more regular season games.

As with players earning Credited Seasons, a player can’t accrue seasons if he is on the Exempt Commissioner Permission List, the Reserve PUP List, a team’s practice squad, or the Injured Reserve List.

The following is a list of free agents by Accrued Seasons:

• Exclusive Rights Free Agents – Two or less Accrued Seasons
• Restricted Free Agents – Three Accrued Seasons
• Unrestricted Free Agents – Four or more Accrued Seasons

https://in2theleague.wordpress.com/2013/05/29/nfl-cba-series-credited-vs-accrued-seasons/


I would appreciate an explanation on this from someone who truly understands it because I can't see why he wouldn't be a RFA next year.

Makes sense to me, but what do I know...

Made a mistake before when I thought Lewis was going to be a RFA.

Got my own Faq backward.
Q: What are the differences between a credited season and an accrued season?
A: A credited season determines the minimum salary of a player with X numbers of credited seasons. An accrued season determines when a player reaches free agency. If a player at the end of his contract has 3 accrued seasons, he will become a RFA. If he has 4 or more accrued seasons to his credit, he will become an UFA. A player need 6 games to get credit for an accrued season; 3 games to get credit for a credited season. Games on IR count in the accrued season calculation but do NOT count in the credited season calculation.

The CBA defines as an accrued season as
Section 1. Accrued Seasons Calculation:
(a) For the purposes of calculating Accrued Seasons under this Agreement, a player shall receive one Accrued Season for each season during which he was on, or should have been on, full pay status for a total of six or more regular season games, but which, irrespective of the player’s pay status, shall not include games for which the player was on: (i) the Exempt Commissioner Permission List, (ii) the Reserve PUP List as a result of a nonfootball injury, or (iii) a Club’s Practice Squad.

Miguel said:

Made a mistake before when I thought Lewis was going to be a RFA.

Got my own Faq backward.
Q: What are the differences between a credited season and an accrued season?
A: A credited season determines the minimum salary of a player with X numbers of credited seasons. An accrued season determines when a player reaches free agency. If a player at the end of his contract has 3 accrued seasons, he will become a RFA. If he has 4 or more accrued seasons to his credit, he will become an UFA. A player need 6 games to get credit for an accrued season; 3 games to get credit for a credited season. Games on IR count in the accrued season calculation but do NOT count in the credited season calculation.

The CBA defines as an accrued season as
Section 1. Accrued Seasons Calculation:
(a) For the purposes of calculating Accrued Seasons under this Agreement, a player shall receive one Accrued Season for each season during which he was on, or should have been on, full pay status for a total of six or more regular season games, but which, irrespective of the player’s pay status, shall not include games for which the player was on: (i) the Exempt Commissioner Permission List, (ii) the Reserve PUP List as a result of a nonfootball injury, or (iii) a Club’s Practice Squad.

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Thanks Miguel. But can you please explain this in layman's terms?

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Thanks Miguel. But can you please explain this in layman's terms?

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It sounds like it means that he'll be a UFA regardless, because his 3rd season, which he spent on IR, would have been his "RFA" season, so this season with NE will be his 4th accrued season if he plays in 4 more games or lands on IR.

I believe the only way he wouldn't be a UFA is if he is cut (or inactive for 11+ games) before he plays his 6th game, signs with a team, and does not play in any games.

I'm sure Miguel or someone with better knowledge will correct me if I'm wrong in short time.

Question for Miguel: Do playoff games count towards an accrued season? Also, is "games played" meaning active for the game or are you required to play at least one snap?

strngplyr said:

Question for Miguel: Do playoff games count towards an accrued season? Also, is "games played" meaning active for the game or are you required to play at least one snap?

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Playoff games do not count. Games played means being on the 53-man roster.

Miguel said:

Playoff games do not count. Games played means being on the 53-man roster.

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Interesting that it's not specific enough to mean "gameday active", sounds like a rare player friendly rule.

Miguel said:

Playoff games do not count. Games played means being on the 53-man roster.

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Ok, Im still confused.....I only see 3 accrued seasons......2011 (15 games), 2012 (9 games), and this season.

IR seasons are not supposed to count....what specifically am I missing?

RI Patriots fan said:

Ok, Im still confused.....I only see 3 accrued seasons......2011 (15 games), 2012 (9 games), and this season.

IR seasons are not supposed to count....what specifically am I missing?

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IR seasons count for the accrued season calculations.

IIRC, the only time being on the 46-man active roster as opposed to being on the 53-man roster/IR/PUP makes a difference is determining practice squad eligibility.

Miguel said:

IR seasons count for the accrued season calculations.

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Ok, so the information from my link was incorrect about the IR.

So Lewis is an UFA for 2016. Oh well.

RI Patriots fan said:

Ok, so the information from my link was incorrect about the IR.

So Lewis is an UFA for 2016. Oh well.

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The link was right. It was talking about credited season which is different from an accrued season.

RI Patriots fan said:

Ok, so the information from my link was incorrect about the IR.

So Lewis is an UFA for 2016. Oh well.

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I'm not too worried about that. Lewis isn't likely to leave the team after just one season. Journeymen don't tend to leave teams that accept them, especially after being given a starting role.

The only concern I have with Lewis is whether he can hold onto the ball. If he continues to fumble, and if Belichick is forced to bench him, it would be a HUGE waste of talent IMO. He has got to get this under control, quickly, or else it will impact his career.

Miguel said:

The link was right. It was talking about credited season which is different from an accrued season.

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Ok, thank you.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

I'm not too worried about that. Lewis isn't likely to leave the team after just one season. Journeymen don't tend to leave teams that accept them, especially after being given a starting role.

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If Lewis' role continues as it has in the first two games, and his performance gradually improves, and the Pats keep winning, he'll become a made man in the NFL, for the first time. He'd be a fool not to take a big payday from any team that'll offer it. Sentiment won't matter. It'll be his one opportunity to create financial security for himself, which always comes first for NFL players. And it should.

betterthanthealternative said:

If Lewis' role continues as it has in the first two games, and his performance gradually improves, and the Pats keep winning, he'll become a made man in the NFL, for the first time. He'd be a fool not to take a big payday from any team that'll offer it. Sentiment won't matter. It'll be his one opportunity to create financial security for himself, which always comes first for NFL players. And it should.

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Fair enough. But winners tend to want to remain around other winners

If he keeps doing what he's doing now, I'm sure the Pats will find a way to pay him.

Chiuba E. Obele said:

If he keeps doing what he's doing now, I'm sure the Pats will find a way to pay him.

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Yeah, I hope so too. As Brady said, Lewis is primed to become a folk hero in NE because the team has never had someone with his quickness before.

How soon we forget Danny Woodhead

Chiuba E. Obele said:

Fair enough. But winners tend to want to remain around other winners

If he keeps doing what he's doing now, I'm sure the Pats will find a way to pay him.

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1) Players prefer to be paid rather than stay on a team that is not willing to pay them.

2) Belichick has made it clear just how much he values RB's.

3) We shall see. However, if Lewis continues to do well, I suspect that SOME team will be willing to pay more than we will be. We've had this situation with Woodhead and then with Vereen. I was psyched that Lewis was an RFA. Oh well.

Dion Lewis - RFA or UFA in 2016?

Rex Ryan saw the title to this thread and claims that he is a UFO.

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