RayClay
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So, everyone is more than happy that we have kept so much cap money in reserve.
We'll have this discussion again after we lose a game or two, presuming that such thing could happen.
Yes, this represented a very detailed explanation of what excess cap room might be used for. I was asking a different question. Each year we discuss approximately how much cap money is needed for the season, usually to cover in-season injuries. IIRC, that number has been about $2M, plus you have often suggested that team keeps a bit of a cushion, perhaps a million in case of an unusual number of injuries or to cover incentives. That total has been around $3M. Obviously there is additional money needed before the Game 1.7 possible reasons for the Patriots to have about 9.5 million in cap space on September 13, 2014 | Patriots Salary Cap lists seven possible reasons for the Patriots cap space.
You seem very bitter about having some cap money in reserve. I'm not sure why. We've carried over money in the past, including from last year to this year. It seems to be SOP to not have your back against the wall in order to be able to maneuver during the season, and have some wiggle room. If you look at available cap space rather than money spent, it's not that huge. I guess I don't understand why you seem so upset about something that we've known about all season.
We're 6-2 at the half-way point of the season. We were 6-2 in 2010 and 2013 as well. We were 5-3 in 2011 and 2012. We've won 12 or more games each of the past 3 seasons, and been to the AFCCG for the past 3 seasons. I trust the FO knows how to spend Mr. Kraft's money reasonably wisely.
Folks seem to think that I am bitter because we chose not to spend $3.5M on 2014 and instead keep the money for the future. That isn't the case. Belichick made a choice. We shall see/specualte in the next 11 games whether it was reasonable or not to choose to forgo the additional players that even part of this money might have brought.
Who the F is 'we'.
Since when is an estimate of how much may be needed for in season transactions set in stone?Bitter is not the correct word. Confused in the correct word.
Miguel analyzed the situation for us for months, discussing all the off-season cap tradeoffs and how much the team would need for all the offseason items, up to and including Player 52, Player 53 and the Practice Squad. The analysis was often, detailed and incredibly well done. The need was clearly stated in mid-July. We would need $2M for injury replacements during the year, and a suggested $4M for NLTBE incentives that would affect the 2015 cap. This was not a recommendation to the team, just a detailed analysis. This $4M was higher than in past years, since the possible incentives were higher.
And did the team choose to keep $6M? No, the team instead kept an additional $3.5M more in reserve. Perhaps, a contract extension with McCourty or Gostkowski or Vereen will be announced next week. My point is that JUST PERHAPS we needed more front seven depth on the 2014 team. This is not a new idea. We discussed this all through the offseason. And I don't think that it is unreasonable to discuss such issues at the half-way point of the season.
Clearly, my timing was bad. Discussing needs after a big win makes no sense to most. We can revisit this in a few weeks.
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I appreciate the optimism who see us at 6-2, and see us losing no more than 2 more games as has occurred in the past three seasons. We should be optimists. Why not?
If you bothered to read Miguel's article he listed at least 7 mill of NLTBE that have a good chance of being earned.Yes, this represented a very detailed explanation of what excess cap room might be used for. I was asking a different question. Each year we discuss approximately how much cap money is needed for the season, usually to cover in-season injuries. IIRC, that number has been about $2M, plus you have often suggested that team keeps a bit of a cushion, perhaps a million in case of an unusual number of injuries or to cover incentives. That total has been around $3M. Obviously there is additional money needed before the Game 1.
This year, you suggested that the incentives were higher and that the team might keep not $1m, but $4M as cushion for a total of $6M (including the $2M for injuries).
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I appreciate your tremendous efforts in helping us understand how the team might use the ACTUAL cap room kept, rather than that needed for injuries or a cushion; that is what the team might do with the additional $3.5M of cap room, that the team has chosen NOT to use in 2014.
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Folks seem to think that I am bitter because we chose not to spend $3.5M on 2014 and instead keep the money for the future. That isn't the case. Belichick made a choice. We shall see/specualte in the next 11 games whether it was reasonable or not to choose to forgo the additional players that even part of this money might have brought.
If you bothered to read Miguel's article he listed at least 7 mill of NLTBE that have a good chance of being earned.
Add in 2 mill for injury replacements which we probably hit already through 3 trades/signings and there is the whole 9 mill.
It seems that they did exactly what you say they should do but you write this whiny post because you have the numbers wrong.
I am not talking about signing someone of Mankins cap value. As andy quite reasonably argued throughout free agency, the need I have been speaking about was for depth at LB, DE and DT. IMHO, even $2-4M might have provide additional significant depth. Belichick was not willing to pay that kind of money for other than a 3-down starter. And since, we had starters that Belichick was fine with, that was not going to happen. It is likely that no one available was worth $7M to Belichick.The proper question (if there is one) is which players did Belichick pass on at what costs in order to carry $9.5M of cap obey into the season.
The primary reason that number is that high is due to trading Mankins.
I would assume that if the Patriots knew that they could not reach an agreement with Mankins, they would have made the trade a long time ago. That, in turn, would have given them time to sign another player of corresponding value/cap space/cash early in free agency.
The Pats are working with asystem that an Economist by education, concieved, and a good business man allowed to be implemented. The over riding theme is to be competitive for a Lombardi year in and year out. No other organization has been so successful for so long as the Kraft/ Belichick combo.Let us be clear. I am simply giving folks the reference to the discussion by Reiss of the different approach taken by the patriots, one that in 2014 put the team at the bottom of both cap AND cash spending.
We have heard many explanations of how we need the money for the future, for incentive that hit next year for the extraordinary number of key free agents, and other reasons. I am merely the messenger.
Year after year, I have heard criticism of teams that are at the bottom of the list, with lost of cap money available and at the bottom of cash spent. Well, now if such criticism is valid, we should look into the mirror.
I am NOT criticizing. Kraft and Belichick believe that this is the best long-term solution for the patriots and their record speaks for itself. However, we just MIGHT stop our holier than thou attitudes towards other teams that have cap room available and spend at the lower end.
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THE FACTS ARE WHAT THEY ARE
In 2014, the New England Patriots have CHOSEN to spend less cash and less cap money than almost any other team.
Bottom Line: a misleading summary by the usually reliable Reiss of a more nuanced article by Seifert.
I am not talking about signing someone of Mankins cap value. As andy quite reasonably argued throughout free agency, the need I have been speaking about was for depth at LB, DE and DT. IMHO, even $2-4M might have provide additional significant depth. Belichick was not willing to pay that kind of money for other than a 3-down starter. And since, we had starters that Belichick was fine with, that was not going to happen. It is likely that no one available was worth $7M to Belichick.
Belichick always had that money available, as long he knew that Mankins cap hit was not acceptable. So, either Mankins would have restructured his contract, freeing up money, or he was going to be moved, freeing up money. In either case, the cap money was there to spend.
I read just fine.Reading has been your problem for quite awhile. We both read the article that AFTER THE FACT listed all the places that we might spend the cap money.
Suggested by who? Miguel wrote the article that suggested we needed 9.5mil cushion that you cited to say we are being cheap.I was discussing the projections and suggestions made in July (you could have read the blogs if you chad chosen to), as I stated. I am NOT going to quote from Miguel. It's late. I'm tired. HOWEVER, let me just point out that Miguel did NOT suggest that there should be a reserve for 100% of the NLTBE bonuses that will might affect us next year. Perhaps $7M will be earned, but a 100% cushion is not what was suggested.
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Of course we should ignore discussions that were based on incorrect facts.And yes, perhaps we should IGNORE all the articles and discussions made throughout the offseason that suggested what we should or should have a cap to start the year. You certainly have. Perhaps, we should be reduced to stopping all speculation and only comment on actions AFTER Belichick has made them and discuss why Belichick was right in making them.
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Did you really just pull a Deus Irae? You are better than that. Just to be sure, are you actually saying that my opinion is invalidated because instead of having one I just agree with everything, therefore you are smarter and more objective than me? Really?It is quite reasonable to have the approach that you do, to conclude that every decision by Belichick is correct and that he has made the correct decision with regard to every tradeoff.
Such homerism is fine.
It has nothing to do with 'after a win'. I don't see anywhere that I have said the decisions were good, great, bad, or indifferent, simply that you are wrong about what cushion is required if we do not want to push money to next year.IMHO, it also fine to question the use of 2014 cap monies. I understand that you have great support for your position after a win. Obviously, we have no needs that should have been met.
What did Akeem Ayers cost?And please spare me you usual "who would I have signed". That really isn't relevant. As Belichick has demonstrated with Ayers, he knows how to find players. The proper question (if there is one) is which players did Belichick pass on at what costs in order to carry $9.5M of cap obey into the season. Perhaps there was no front seven player available anywhere at under say $2M of 2014 cap money that might have helped us in case of injury (or any running back). Belichick made the decisions, threw the dice as he chose, and has counted on street free agents and trades to meet the depth needs at DL and LB, and has used the Practice Squad for a running back. And yes, we are 6-2.
Those players were added after injuries. You are the one saying the injury reserve should have been less. With your plan, we wouldn't have been able to afford them. Amazing that a conservative approach to spending leads to being able to acquire players after injuries and you are complaining that we shouldn't have done that. I guess you want Vellano, White and Moore out there.I have nothing but congrats to Belichick for the success of the offense, and for securing players who fit in so quickly. As we all might recall, expecting new players to fit in on defense doesn't always work. This year, we hope that the strategy will work FOUR times: in Walker, Ayers, Cassillas and Branch. Sometimes one hits the trifecta, sometimes not so much.