NFL cap to be 150M in 2016.

[SalemPats]

The NFL's salary could break $150 million by 2016 - ESPN

I'm thinking perhaps we backload a couple of contracts and go into salary hell for a year or two when Brady retires.

 

[FCB02062]

I say Krafty Bob sells the team before he spends $150M on player salaries....as you know, judging from interviews Krafty's content with making the semi finals and being "in contention" every season...he has his three trophies and the lemmings keep paying $50 to park, paying for the most expensive tickets in the league, while Krafty Bob pockets every last nickel and counts it just like Ebeneezer Scrooge. As long as the Pats have Brady and Belichick and Buffalo, NYJ, and Miami remain 5-8 win teams Krafty Bob knows he can stiff the fans with second rate free agents and draftees from Rutgers....because those AFC East titles mean so much...

 

[ripatsfan91]

I wouldn't say backload. But there is no reason we can't afford to keep/resign/extend all of our key players (especially when Mankins and Wilfork will be off the books soon:

This season:
Talib
Edelman
Blount
DMAC
Gost
Fletcher
Svitek

Next Year:
Vereen
Solder
Chandler Jones
Hightower (possibly)

Key is to extend them before the season so you get them at a lower price but ensure long term commitment to them. We have a good core. Build through the draft and keep our own guys. Maybe reach out for one or two guys depending on cap situation.

 

[Brady6]

I wouldn't say backload. But there is no reason we can't afford to keep/resign/extend all of our key players (especially when Mankins and Wilfork will be off the books soon:

This season:
Talib
Edelman
Blount
DMAC
Gost
Fletcher
Svitek

Next Year:
Vereen
Solder
Chandler Jones
Hightower (possibly)

Key is to extend them before the season so you get them at a lower price but ensure long term commitment to them. We have a good core. Build through the draft and keep our own guys. Maybe reach out for one or two guys depending on cap situation.

I would upgrade Svitek; I am confused with everyone valuing him as a member of the team. He was invisible in 2013, we had to use Mankins at LT when Solder was out, Cannon was used at RT and Kline was used at LG and RG.

I would also hold off on extending Vereen and let him play out his contract. He is oft injured and has problems with drops.

 

[Huckleberry1]

I don't think the Patriots operate off of projections unless they have information that essentially guarantees it, they will act as though it is flat and get done what they can and then use the space if and when it comes. However, if the Kraft's have knowledge that the TV deals will drive it up and that the space will definitely be there then they would be more willing to use it.

 

[patsinthesnow]

Andrew Luck could be the first 25 million a year player by the time he's extended......

 

[signbabybrady]

I would upgrade Svitek; I am confused with everyone valuing him as a member of the team. He was invisible in 2013, we had to use Mankins at LT when Solder was out, Cannon was used at RT and Kline was used at LG and RG.

I would also hold off on extending Vereen and let him play out his contract. He is oft injured and has problems with drops.

It went fairly unnoticed but Svitek had his hand in a cast at the end of the year. He was still serving as a back up but I was not surprised they Used Mankins at LT instead of him. Had he been fully healthy I bet he would have been the choice. He did fill in for a short stint at RT when Volmer went down until Cannon filled the spot ( I think he was dealing with something himself).

I would welcome Svitek back as I thought he did good enough at RT when he played and he is very versatile. On the flip side I dont see it as a big need Solder starts on the left with Volmer backing him up, Volmer starts on the right with Cannon backing him up. I am not sold on Cannon as guard and I think he has proven to be a good RT so leave him there as the back up and you can let Svitek walk. Concentration should be on interior Oline help.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I wouldn't say backload. But there is no reason we can't afford to keep/resign/extend all of our key players (especially when Mankins and Wilfork will be off the books soon:

This season:
Talib
Edelman
Blount
DMAC
Gost
Fletcher
Svitek

Next Year:
Vereen
Solder
Chandler Jones
Hightower (possibly)

Key is to extend them before the season so you get them at a lower price but ensure long term commitment to them. We have a good core. Build through the draft and keep our own guys. Maybe reach out for one or two guys depending on cap situation.

Except that all of a sudden, 32 teams just got an early Christmas, too, with an extra $12M to spend. All of a sudden, Julian Edelman and Aqib Talib might be worth bringing in for a look, and Devin McCourty is no longer so sure that $6M annually is a great deal.

 

[signbabybrady]

I don't think the Patriots operate off of projections unless they have information that essentially guarantees it, they will act as though it is flat and get done what they can and then use the space if and when it comes. However, if the Kraft's have knowledge that the TV deals will drive it up and that the space will definitely be there then they would be more willing to use it.

Of course they do otherwise they would only give out one year contracts.

Like any business I dont think they have info that is guarenteed but I am sure they have much better way of projecting the cap than the media and general public do. Its not like the cap is just randomly set every year it based on a complex formula of what the league makes.

 

[Rob0729]

Andrew Luck could be the first 25 million a year player by the time he's extended......

We are talking Jim Irsay. Luck could be the first $30 million a year player. Based on Indy's history with Manning and his contracts, you are setting the sights too low on Luck's deal.

 

[juny]

Andrew Luck could be the first 25 million a year player by the time he's extended......

which makes brady's deal look like a super bargain

 

[SB39]

I don't think the Patriots operate off of projections unless they have information that essentially guarantees it, they will act as though it is flat and get done what they can and then use the space if and when it comes.

While the specific number itself is not guaranteed, it is pretty foolhardy to think the Patriots are operating under the assumption that the cap will remain flat when everyone knows it isn't.