OT: Jets Cap Nightmare in 2013

[patfanken]

Every couple years I read a Jets cap hell thread here. While the Jets like many teams may have to make a couple roster moves that they wouldn't otherwise make, most teams find themselves in that situation every few years. And folks are assuming that the 2013 Jets don't draft ANYONE capable of filling the vacated slots or sign any bargain FAs who rise to the occasion like the guys we Pats fans love when they sign with us.

Jets suck.

Robo had it correctly. The Jets aren't in Cap Hell, but rather Cap Heck. For the last 2 years the Jets have been limited to minor FA moves and little or no roster improvement. After the 2010 season the Jets left 8MM in supposed cap space unused because they knew they needed it for salary increases in 2011. Its the same this year, where they have around $6MM left that will never be used.

They can cut Scott, Pace, and Hunter and free up a lot of cap space, but while vastly over paid, Scott and Pace are decent players that they will have to replace....and it won't be easy. For the next year or two, the Jets will continue to lose ground to the Bills and Pats in the talent race simply because those teams will continue to be able to use BOTH FA and the draft to restock players, while the Jets will be limited to the draft. That's a huge disadvantage.

Felger may say the "the cap is crap", but what the Jets HAVEN'T been able to do in FA the last 2 years is proof positive that bad cap management DOES affect your ability to add players. No the Jets aren't in cap Hell, to the extent they have to let a lot of effective players go, but their situation is being helped either.

There was no question that the gap between the Pats and Jets HAD closed in the last couple of years, but its starting to widen again even though I thought the Jets did a good job in the draft this season (especially late in the draft) Not only that, though Jet fans don't want to here it, they have more to worry about than the Pats in the division this year. The Bills are a real threat to them......and us.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Two realities here.

1) The Jets will figure a way around the cap constraints, just like nearly every other team always does. Tannenbaum is more than smart enough to do that.

2) We have to remember that the Jets gave up a boatload to trade up to draft Sanchez in 2009 on the assumption that he would start strong and develop into a Championship QB quickly. Their roster and cap plans were built around selling a lot of PSLs and winning it all in 2010 or, maybe, 2011. They didn't plan on the Sanchise tossing almost as many Picks as TD's in his first three seasons with a cumulative Pass Rating that starts with a "7."

 

[patfanken]

Two realities here.

1) The Jets will figure a way around the cap constraints, just like nearly every other team always does. Tannenbaum is more than smart enough to do that.

2) We have to remember that the Jets gave up a boatload to trade up to draft Sanchez in 2009 on the assumption that he would start strong and develop into a Championship QB quickly. Their roster and cap plans were built around selling a lot of PSLs and winning it all in 2010 or, maybe, 2011. They didn't plan on the Sanchise tossing almost as many Picks as TD's in his first three seasons with a cumulative Pass Rating that starts with a "7."

The fact is that the Jets HAVEN'T figured out a way to get "around the cap constraint" the last 2 seasons.

In dire need at WR they were forced to settle for a guy who was out of the league for 2 year (Burress), and a guy who was already done when he got there, and released a few games into the season. This season they were limited to signing 2 SS's to risk free contracts, and a minimum wage OT late in the FA process. At a time were they were desperate to improve the RT position, they did nothing when there were players out there who could have helped....simply because they didn't have the money.

Just a thought. We all know that this 120MM cap was fudged by the league in order to get the CBA done. That in reality the true cap # would be actually lower than that if the league hadn't "borrowed" some revenue going into the future.

What happens if the the league finally gets tired of the NFLPA constantly suing them and says FU, next year's cap is going to be a TRUE number, which is likely to be around 116MM. While it would hurt the Pats like everyone else, it would cripple teams like the Jets.

 

[reflexblue]

I'm lobbying for a Revis contract hold out.

Bevis is just the kind of guy who would hold out for the last dime, I fully expect him to. That would be fun to watch.

 

[p8ryts]

It's monopoly money, and they've got a bunch of players that won't be returning. They'll be fine, more's the pity.

Much ado about nothing. Every year we hear these horrors about some team and their future cap. Then it always works out in the end. Creative accounting.

 

[BlueThunder]

Well, I wouldn't mind seeing the Pats add Mike DeVito out of that group. And with the Pats already having Gronk, Hernandez, Fells, and Ballard under contract, I don't see them looking at Keller.

And I don't mind seeing the Jets flounder..

I think that "floundering" would be used for Miami.....

Crash and Burn would be more apropos for the J-E-T-S

 

[sly24]

Don't pretend that observing it isn't fun.

I enjoy every minute of it haha

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

The fact is that the Jets HAVEN'T figured out a way to get "around the cap constraint" the last 2 seasons.

In dire need at WR they were forced to settle for a guy who was out of the league for 2 year (Burress), and a guy who was already done when he got there, and released a few games into the season. This season they were limited to signing 2 SS's to risk free contracts, and a minimum wage OT late in the FA process. At a time were they were desperate to improve the RT position, they did nothing when there were players out there who could have helped....simply because they didn't have the money.

Just a thought. We all know that this 120MM cap was fudged by the league in order to get the CBA done. That in reality the true cap # would be actually lower than that if the league hadn't "borrowed" some revenue going into the future.

What happens if the the league finally gets tired of the NFLPA constantly suing them and says FU, next year's cap is going to be a TRUE number, which is likely to be around 116MM. While it would hurt the Pats like everyone else, it would cripple teams like the Jets.

Exactly. In reply to the numerous posts that "everything will be okay," it's "monopoly money," etc. just look at the lack of resources they've had the last couple of years. Nobody's saying they won't be able to field a team, just that their ability to get any better, or even field the same level of talent, will be greatly hampered.

 

[Spiral]

You think Yankee fans are worried about any trade deadline moves that the Red Sox may make this year?

Me neither.

I feel the same way about the Jets.

 

[goheels22002]

But this is the year that Mark "Unlimited ceiling" Sanchez becomes an elite QB....

....or Tim Tebow's backup.

 

[patchick]

Every couple years I read a Jets cap hell thread here.

Quite so. Of course, they genuinely would have been last time if Goodell hadn't given them a get-out-of-hell-free card.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Quite so. Of course, they genuinely would have been last time if Goodell hadn't given them a get-out-of-hell-free card.

I do remember the sudden loophole inserted in the new CBA where retroactively if you had somehow "known" to cut guys prior to a date, their dead cap was forgiven. Only a handful of the 32 teams somehow knew to take advantage of this windfall. Too bad the Pats weren't psychic.

 

[Sicilian]

....or Tim Tebow's backup.

Man, as a Pats fan, it doesn't get any better. Oh no, the Jets finally wised up and replaced Sanchez... with Tim Tebow. That's like someone saying, "I'm sorry sir, we're out of chocolate ice cream... so here's some Super Fudge Brownie ice cream instead!"

 

[Joker]

Man, as a Pats fan, it doesn't get any better. Oh no, the Jets finally wised up and replaced Sanchez... with Tim Tebow. That's like someone saying, "I'm sorry sir, we're out of chocolate ice cream... so here's some Super Fudge Brownie ice cream instead!"

or, for a Rats fan, it's like the deli man says "we're out of head cheese...how about a pound of toe cheese instead?.."

 

[Rob0729]

Two realities here.

1) The Jets will figure a way around the cap constraints, just like nearly every other team always does. Tannenbaum is more than smart enough to do that.

2) We have to remember that the Jets gave up a boatload to trade up to draft Sanchez in 2009 on the assumption that he would start strong and develop into a Championship QB quickly. Their roster and cap plans were built around selling a lot of PSLs and winning it all in 2010 or, maybe, 2011. They didn't plan on the Sanchise tossing almost as many Picks as TD's in his first three seasons with a cumulative Pass Rating that starts with a "7."

Correction, the Jets will figure out a way to minimize the damage of their cap restraints. They were limited this season in what they did. They were in desperate need of a #2 WR in a free agency that was deeper at WR in probably a decade and signed Chaz Schillen as their lone free agent signing at that position. They are now forced to start a rookie WR who comes from a triple option offense in college (may help when Tebow is on the field, but not when Sanchez is) who had 49 catches for his entire college career. I don't think highly of Hill, but even if he turns into a stud he will likely struggle this year.

If they had the cap room, they might have been able to make a run at a Reggie Wayne or another older, but effective WR for a short term solution while they developed a receiver they got in the draft if it was Hill or someone else,.

 

[Ring 6]

Robo had it correctly. The Jets aren't in Cap Hell, but rather Cap Heck. For the last 2 years the Jets have been limited to minor FA moves and little or no roster improvement. After the 2010 season the Jets left 8MM in supposed cap space unused because they knew they needed it for salary increases in 2011. Its the same this year, where they have around $6MM left that will never be used.

They can cut Scott, Pace, and Hunter and free up a lot of cap space, but while vastly over paid, Scott and Pace are decent players that they will have to replace....and it won't be easy. For the next year or two, the Jets will continue to lose ground to the Bills and Pats in the talent race simply because those teams will continue to be able to use BOTH FA and the draft to restock players, while the Jets will be limited to the draft. That's a huge disadvantage.

Felger may say the "the cap is crap", but what the Jets HAVEN'T been able to do in FA the last 2 years is proof positive that bad cap management DOES affect your ability to add players. No the Jets aren't in cap Hell, to the extent they have to let a lot of effective players go, but their situation is being helped either.

There was no question that the gap between the Pats and Jets HAD closed in the last couple of years, but its starting to widen again even though I thought the Jets did a good job in the draft this season (especially late in the draft) Not only that, though Jet fans don't want to here it, they have more to worry about than the Pats in the division this year. The Bills are a real threat to them......and us.

Their cap issues are, and have been very real. They are unable to upgrade weak spots (WR, RT, S, DL, LB) with viable FAs. But mostly their desperate and ongoing lack of depth is the truwe result of their long running cap issues.

 

[Deus Irae]

Correction, the Jets will figure out a way to minimize the damage of their cap restraints. They were limited this season in what they did. They were in desperate need of a #2 WR in a free agency that was deeper at WR in probably a decade and signed Chaz Schillen as their lone free agent signing at that position. They are now forced to start a rookie WR who comes from a triple option offense in college (may help when Tebow is on the field, but not when Sanchez is) who had 49 catches for his entire college career. I don't think highly of Hill, but even if he turns into a stud he will likely struggle this year.

If they had the cap room, they might have been able to make a run at a Reggie Wayne or another older, but effective WR for a short term solution while they developed a receiver they got in the draft if it was Hill or someone else,.

The Jets were trying to get into the Peyton Manning Sweepstakes. That should tell us all we need to know about just how "bad" their cap situation was, and it tells us that it wasn't a problem.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

The Jets were trying to get into the Peyton Manning Sweepstakes. That should tell us all we need to know about just how "bad" their cap situation was, and it tells us that it wasn't a problem.

Except that they did not heavily pursue Manning, and that was probably because they couldn't afford him, or Manning would simply realize that they would have no money anywhere else and probably wasn't thrilled ending his career with Santonio Holmes as his only WR.

Getting into the Manning sweepstakes does not mean they would have been able to sign him. Obviously it would have required a ton of contract restructuring and a way to dump Sanchez, whose absence would need to happen in order for that signing to take place.

Anyone who thinks the Jets don't have cap problems right now are delusional. They have tons of holes and the best they could do this offseason was two risky safeties that no one else wanted and Tebow, who for all his fanfare only makes about $2M per year. You think they didn't pursue any major upgrades because they are just content with their current personnel?

Next year it's going to get worse. They'll be in the same position money-wise, as this offseason, where they free up relatively little cash by making some maneuvers and cuts, but now they'll have a lot more holes due to more departing free agents, and most likely, players from 6-10 teams are less likely to take a pay cut/restructure for a losing team.

 

[Deus Irae]

Except that they did not heavily pursue Manning, and that was probably because they couldn't afford him, or Manning would simply realize that they would have no money anywhere else and probably wasn't thrilled ending his career with Santonio Holmes as his only WR.

Incorrect. What happened was Manning refusing them.

Getting into the Manning sweepstakes does not mean they would have been able to sign him. Obviously it would have required a ton of contract restructuring and a way to dump Sanchez, whose absence would need to happen in order for that signing to take place.

Always funny to read people insisting on things that run counter to history. Why would they have pursued him if they didn't think they could afford him? As you point out, restructuring, etc... were avenues available.

Anyone who thinks the Jets don't have cap problems right now are delusional. They have tons of holes and the best they could do this offseason was two risky safeties that no one else wanted and Tebow, who for all his fanfare only makes about $2M per year. You think they didn't pursue any major upgrades because they are just content with their current personnel?

People said the same things about the Colts every year. They still found a way to field elite teams for more than a decade, and it didn't require fire sales and mega bloodletting. The delusional people are those who think the cap is some kind of rock hard ceiling that can't be gotten around, despite a decade of evidence to the contrary.

Next year it's going to get worse. They'll be in the same position money-wise, as this offseason, where they free up relatively little cash by making some maneuvers and cuts, but now they'll have a lot more holes due to more departing free agents, and most likely, players from 6-10 teams are less likely to take a pay cut/restructure for a losing team.

The Patriots signed a slew of players for under $10 million dollars this year. The idea that the Jets can't worth the cap in the same manner is simply not accurate.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Incorrect. What happened was Manning refusing them.



Always funny to read people insisting on things that run counter to history. Why would they have pursued him if they didn't think they could afford him? As you point out, restructuring, etc... were avenues available.



People said the same things about the Colts every year. They still found a way to field elite teams for more than a decade, and it didn't require fire sales and mega bloodletting.



The Patriots signed a slew of players for under $10 million dollars this year. The idea that the Jets can't worth the cap in the same manner is simply not accurate.

Right, because I'm sure Manning didn't check the salary caps and potential competitiveness of potential suitors. Are you nuts? Rex Ryan is the most aggressive, star-hungry coach in the league. The Jets have brought in Brett Favre, Ladanian Tomlinson, and numerous other "big names" to sell tickets and, presumably, win games. Every sign of logic suggests the Jets would have pursued Manning if they had a realistic shot. Tell me how they could have swallowed a $20M cap hit this year when all they could afford were leftover free agents. If they could have simply "restructured" as you suggest, then where are the impact players this offseason and why didn't they free up more money? There were plenty of star players. Why not Mario Williams? He costs less than Manning and they need a pass rusher. You must be crazy to think the Jets just didn't want to make a splash this offseason. Crazy.

The difference is the Colts were smart in giving their "big money" to Manning, Harrison, Wayne, Freeney, Clark, etc. When you have your core players living up to their big contracts, you can still be competitive and even elite. The Colts were full of holes as well, but those deficiencies could be overcome with superstars playing like superstars. The Jets, on the other hand, do not have a good enough core to stay competitive. They've paid Cromartie, Harris, and Sanchez a boatload of money. This isn't Manning, Wayne, and Harrison here. These guys don't win games for you, they are merely experienced players who at times show flashes of stardom.

Again, the comparison between the Jets and other teams (the Pats in your other example) are not exactly apples to apples comparisons. The Pats signed some role players for under $10M per year to add to a team that was already 27-5 over the last two seasons and are well-stocked all around. The Pats are adding complementary pieces to the puzzle- the Jets will literally need to replace 10 starters on a team that wasn't even that good as it was.

There's not a lot of sense arguing anymore. If you really think the Jets are not in salary cap trouble, and this offseason isn't already glaring evidence of that fact, you will obviously never accept it. The most aggressive, risk-taking management in the NFL had a very disappointing season, believes in the "win now" philosophy, and got Laron Landry, Yeremiah Bell, and Tim Tebow as their answer. Explain that.