So now its $3.5million in remaining cap space?

[lutontown_fc]

As per Reiss' blog the Patriots have only $3.5million in cap space to spare this year - thats alot lower than the $6-8million figure most people thought it was.

According to Reiss this lower figure is 'a result of tweaking at least one existing deal with incentives that will credit the team's cap in future years'

Who is this player/are these players?

Reiss contends that the 'Patriots aren't expected to reach an extension today with any of their upcoming free agents (a group that includes CB Asante Samuel, TE Daniel Graham and OLB Tully Banta-Cain) '

Anyone hear anything?

NM

 

[JoeSixPat]

As per Reiss' blog the Patriots have only $3.5million in cap space to spare this year

Cheap bastards! :enranged: I won't be happy until they spend MORE than the cap.

 

[DarrylS]

Cheap bastards! :enranged: I won't be happy until they spend MORE than the cap.

You beat me to it, was gonna start the Bob Kraft is cheap mantra again... their situation is much better than the cap hell they experienced before the BB & SP era.

 

[fgssand]

The restructure is probably a very good thing. Will be interesting to see who it is. Maybe more will be added elsewhere to use up the cash - why wouldn't they??

I had hoped at least one of the FA's would be signed though.

Boy, do we need to continue this win streak for say another 5 games!!

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

The questions appears to be..how much is TBC worth? Is he worth starters money? It's ironic that if Seau did not get injured TBC would be getting a much smaller paycheck next year.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Mike had an interesting comment that caught my eye in his Friday chat.

"I don't think anything will happen with the cap space, barring an unpexpected late change. The team tried with Samuel earlier in the year and couldn't get to a compromise position. Ditto for Daniel Graham. Not sure if any talks were started with Tully Banta-Cain. The salary cap is confusing and there are some intricacies that I think handcuffed the Patriots in trying to consummate these extensions. Not to get too technical, but the intricacies are tied to the high payouts the team had in the two prior years with the Tom Brady and Richard Seymour contracts."

If Miguel is about I wonder if he has any idea what it might be Mike is alluding to. Only thing I can think of is a limit on cash over cap bonus expenditures, but that would not be a league mandated situation to my knowledge, but perhaps an internal one. Still wouldn't make much sense though because they were prepared to give Deion an $8M signing bonus and I can't imagine either of the remaining three players in question (Samuel, Graham, TBC) would be warranting much more than that (if that).

 

[lutontown_fc]

Heh dont worry - im a Belioli kool-aid subscriber!

The thread wasnt a criticism - I was mainly wondering where that extra money went.

It'd be nice to know what players contratc has been 'tweaked' to help us in future years.

NM

 

[pats1]

Cheap bastards! :enranged:

 

[PatsFanInVa]

Would all of you please stop criticizing the Pats, their management, because according to a couple of posters here, you shouldnt say anything negative about them or if you do, you are a troll and not a true fan.

I'M TELLIN MY LAWYER ON YOU!

 

[Pats726]

Mike had an interesting comment that caught my eye in his Friday chat.

"I don't think anything will happen with the cap space, barring an unpexpected late change. The team tried with Samuel earlier in the year and couldn't get to a compromise position. Ditto for Daniel Graham. Not sure if any talks were started with Tully Banta-Cain. The salary cap is confusing and there are some intricacies that I think handcuffed the Patriots in trying to consummate these extensions. Not to get too technical, but the intricacies are tied to the high payouts the team had in the two prior years with the Tom Brady and Richard Seymour contracts."

If Miguel is about I wonder if he has any idea what it might be Mike is alluding to. Only thing I can think of is a limit on cash over cap bonus expenditures, but that would not be a league mandated situation to my knowledge, but perhaps an internal one. Still wouldn't make much sense though because they were prepared to give Deion an $8M signing bonus and I can't imagine either of the remaining three players in question (Samuel, Graham, TBC) would be warranting much more than that (if that).

No..THAT is a good point..techgnical reasons..I wonder..there are not many that know the cap as well as Miguel does..maybe he can speculate..seems there are REAL reasons sometimes beyond anyone's knowledge as to why things do or not not get done...makes one wonder.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Would all of you please stop criticizing the Pats, their management, because according to a couple of posters here, you shouldnt say anything negative about them or if you do, you are a troll and not a true fan.

NEM you are over you quota of responses to the cap questions. Please refrain from these posts or I will have to follow you around the board and give up the rest of my life in the process ... :bricks:

 

[The_Chuck_Rule]

If I'm not mistaken...wasn't there a resigning of Dan Kopen, about mid-way through the season.
Thought I'd heard about something to that affect on WEEI?

My assumption at the time, was that about Half of that Cap-Space was used for that?

not really sure though....

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

The questions appears to be..how much is TBC worth? Is he worth starters money?

Also, they probably don't want to lock themselves in to him. Someone was bringing up the possibility of signing London Fletcher. Put him next to Bruschi, Vrabel back outside and, voila, that's an upgrade. I doubt they want to rush things.

 

[MrBigglesWorth]

Also, they probably don't want to lock themselves in to him. Someone was bringing up the possibility of signing London Fletcher. Put him next to Bruschi, Vrabel back outside and, voila, that's an upgrade. I doubt they want to rush things.

Good points. Let's say the following scenario plays out. They try to sign Fletcher but can't, someone else signs him. While waiting to sign him, then someone give TBC more money than the Pats think he is worth. The PAts would be up the creek a little bit and might be forced to draft a ILB or OLB. I doubt Gardner would be a full time starter.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Mike had an interesting comment that caught my eye in his Friday chat.

"I don't think anything will happen with the cap space, barring an unpexpected late change. The team tried with Samuel earlier in the year and couldn't get to a compromise position. Ditto for Daniel Graham. Not sure if any talks were started with Tully Banta-Cain. The salary cap is confusing and there are some intricacies that I think handcuffed the Patriots in trying to consummate these extensions. Not to get too technical, but the intricacies are tied to the high payouts the team had in the two prior years with the Tom Brady and Richard Seymour contracts."

If Miguel is about I wonder if he has any idea what it might be Mike is alluding to. Only thing I can think of is a limit on cash over cap bonus expenditures, but that would not be a league mandated situation to my knowledge, but perhaps an internal one. Still wouldn't make much sense though because they were prepared to give Deion an $8M signing bonus and I can't imagine either of the remaining three players in question (Samuel, Graham, TBC) would be warranting much more than that (if that).

I'll email him and point out your post

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

Good points. Let's say the following scenario plays out. They try to sign Fletcher but can't, someone else signs him. While waiting to sign him, then someone give TBC more money than the Pats think he is worth. The PAts would be up the creek a little bit and might be forced to draft a ILB or OLB. I doubt Gardner would be a full time starter.

Evidently Fletcher is friends with McDaniels from college - we can only hope

But I don't think Belioli plays scared - although they've made some mistakes with LB I doubt they're thinking they have to sign TBC or they're screwed. Heck, Junior is out there

 

[mgteich]

For me the issue has never been whether Kraft spent the cap. The question was how much of the 2006 cap money would be used in 2006 and how much would be rolled over into 2007 when we don't need it (we are already $30M over) and then to 2008 and to 2009.

 

[cstjohn17]

Smart to use it know, LTBE incentives or other restructures are generally easier to setup than an extension. Extensions by nature are more complex negotiations.

This will give us even more room in 07. Who knows they may even do a little more to get rid of the remaining 3.5.

They are really in solid shape for next year, two first round picks, $30M ~ in cap space and only 2.5 starting positions to filll.
CB - starters to replace (Samuel)
LB - replacement for TBC ot Seau or both
TE - 1/2 TE spot, Graham shares his starting position with Watson

 

[fgssand]

Smart to use it know, LTBE incentives or other restructures are generally easier to setup than an extension. Extensions by nature are more complex negotiations.

This will give us even more room in 07. Who knows they may even do a little more to get rid of the remaining 3.5.

They are really in solid shape for next year, two first round picks, $30M ~ in cap space and only 2.5 starting positions to filll.
CB - starters to replace (Samuel)
LB - replacement for TBC ot Seau or both
TE - 1/2 TE spot, Graham shares his starting position with Watson

Yes - much better shape than last year. But, lots of holes to fill. 30MM and 12 or 14 or however many draft choices will help replenish.

Man are we set up for the long term now.

Just need to secure upper management now....come on Scott P. STAY HERE. BB - you can stay here for the rest of your career.

You both will never find a better situation..IMHO.

 

[VrabelMayeWin]

For me the issue has never been whether Kraft spent the cap. The question was how much of the 2006 cap money would be used in 2006 and how much would be rolled over into 2007 when we don't need it (we are already $30M over) and then to 2008 and to 2009.

It will be interesting to see what they do. According to Miguel's site, we don't have a single "must sign" UFA after 2007 :

"Rashad Baker, S
Ted Bruschi, LB
Reche Caldwell, WR
Jabar Gaffney, WR
Randall Gay, CB
Atrell Hawkins, S
Tebucky Jones, S
Mel Mitchell, S
Lonie Paxton, LS
Chad Scott, CB
Eugene Wilson, S
Mike Wright, DT"

Apologies to Bruschi but he'll be a year older by this time next year. I'd also re-sign Hawkins, Caldwell, maybe Wilson. But that's not a scary list at all.

Maybe we can add a little extra to the offers this year and get a Fletcher or Nate Clements or the like.