Cap Magic - Still $4M Available + Wilfork

[manxman2601]

The only concern I have with McCourty is how much does he expect to receive. His brother got $43M from the Titans and has an APY of around $7.2M, he isn't even an all pro.

I hope that's the money McCourty's looking for. I'm more worried about Jarius Byrd's contract.

 

[Patsrock]

That was under the old CBA.

Under the new CBA, the date by which all teams must be under the cap is Sept. 4th.

I do not believe this to be true. Contracts/trades will not be approved unless the team has the room to make the deal.

 

[Keyser Söze]

We have a new Marquise Cole, his name is Kyle Arrington.

don't say that out loud!! The homers here say it's technique to never look for the football.

 

[ATippett56]

don't say that out loud!! The homers here say it's technique to never look for the football.

Kyle Arrington:

Tender on the inside, burnt to a crisp on the outside?

 

[Miguel]

That was under the old CBA.

Under the new CBA, the date by which all teams must be under the cap is Sept. 4th.

Not true. Starting on 4PM March 11th teams have to remain under their 2014 adjusted cap number for the entire League Year.

See https://www.neworleanssaints.com/ne...-Answers/9477a4a1-30f0-418e-ae0e-f4c30d79cf19

which probably can be found on every team's website. It was the 1st google hit.

 

[Brady6]

A buddy of mine, a Chargers season ticket holder, told me today the Chargers covet Vince should he be released.

I am sure Wilfork will be highly coveted. His old age is greatly exaggerated in my opinion, he just turned 32 at the end of 2013, he has always kept himself in excellent condition, and his game is built as much on intelligence as any player in the NFL. On the flipside, I do not think the coveting will be accompanied by the coin that Wilfork is expecting, the Patriots are playing their cards and not letting him hit the market until every other team has spent, in addition I do not think nose tackles earn lucrative contracts in the NFL these days.

I am hopeful that they reconcile.

 

[Brady6]

Why extend Connolly? Both he and Wendell had poor years. Would
rather cut him to get cap space.

Connolly ideally would be the backup for the OG and OC, but he is a capable starter and I would not release him, he is not that expensive and he offers value at OG and OC. What I would do is convert the 1-year $3M remaining on his contract to a 2-year $5M contract, with $3M guaranteed ($2M signing bonus, $1M base for 2014 guaranteed). That drops his 2014 cap figure to about $3.1M from $4.1M and his 2015 cap figure becomes $3M but if he is cut we only have $1M in dead money, which is the actually less than the $1.1M we would have in dead money if we cut him this year.

 

[patfanken]

I am sure Wilfork will be highly coveted. His old age is greatly exaggerated in my opinion, he just turned 32 at the end of 2013, he has always kept himself in excellent condition, and his game is built as much on intelligence as any player in the NFL. On the flipside, I do not think the coveting will be accompanied by the coin that Wilfork is expecting, the Patriots are playing their cards and not letting him hit the market until every other team has spent, in addition I do not think nose tackles earn lucrative contracts in the NFL these days.

I am hopeful that they reconcile.

No one is going to covet Vince Wilfork UNTIL he proves he can even pass a physical to get on the field. NO ONE. Do you know if he's even going to play this year. Does any of us? NO! He's not in the Gym losing weight and running like a mad man. He in the islands with his family. I'll bet, that as of today, even he doesn't know when or IF, he'll be able to play.

On the other hand, IMHO, the only reason I can see why the Pats haven't already released him in order to get some badly needed cap relief to finish off the excellent start to this off season, is that maybe Vince is further ahead on his rehab and lost weight and looks great. Anyone claim to have seen Vince this off season?

 

[patfanken]

Connolly ideally would be the backup for the OG and OC, but he is a capable starter and I would not release him, he is not that expensive and he offers value at OG and OC. What I would do is convert the 1-year $3M remaining on his contract to a 2-year $5M contract, with $3M guaranteed ($2M signing bonus, $1M base for 2014 guaranteed). That drops his 2014 cap figure to about $3.1M from $4.1M and his 2015 cap figure becomes $3M but if he is cut we only have $1M in dead money, which is the actually less than the $1.1M we would have in dead money if we cut him this year.

MG, and I have had this discussion. I'd love to be the fly on the wall when they discuss the G/C positions.

Now I'm one of the earliest supporters to move Cannon to RG. From what everyone here has been talking about lately, we and the media, by this point all pretty much assume its going to happen. But what if BB doesn't feel that way.

The way I look at it, if we resign Wendell, we add to the running game at the expense of the passing game. Moving Connolly back to C could improve the pass protection at the expense of the running game. In either case, a lot depends on how the Pats staff view Wendell's and Connolly's strengths and weaknesses. And believe me that aren't going to rely on PFF or FO's for their evaluations

A third option would be to draft the best C in the draft at 29, where he likely would be available, and plug him right in and hope to God he's a quick study, and doesn't need a year to settle in. Sounds like a plan, but would a rookie be THAT much better, vs. the loss of a DT, or TE option at that spot?

BOTTOM LINE: easily one of the most interesting aspects of the off season is how the Pats are going to handle this situation.

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

Why extend Connolly? Both he and Wendell had poor years. Would
rather cut him to get cap space.

Use the draft to upgrade the position

 

[jsull87]

Cutting Adrian Wilson and extending McCourty, Gostkowski and Connolly could potentially save somewhere in the ballpark of $4M. Add in another $4-8M with Wilfork, and the team could have $12-16M in space to work with.

Agree on the numbers, but i don't think we should all be assuming Wilfork is gone so quickly.

I can see us keeping him up until trianing camp honestly. If he's healthy then he will be kept, if not then he will be cut then. I can't see logically why we would do anything different if we don't have to (cap wise)