2019 NE CAP SPACE

[long distance]

ok, lets open a thread for cap since its a recurring subject on multiple threads any many people are deeply worried . which hopefully can be avoided

At the moment - going by @Miguel of course - NE cap is at 12.4M

(note: Slater's picked up option already accounted for)

id follow this with one post that made most sense so far and has many basic info in place
(hope @Kenneth Sims doesn't mind -- expand for full post)

Those waiting for a Brady extension to increase salary cap space might be waiting for awhile. Greg Bedard mentioned this in a “BSJ” column today and I’m pretty certain he’s right.

Per the CBA, a player’s salary cap figure can’t be negotiated down more than once in a calendar year. Last August Brady’s cap figure was lowered by a simple restructure to offset the $5 million of LTBE incentives he was given as a contract sweetener but were not earned. Remember? Because of this, the Brady extension can’t be filed and any cap savings realized until August.

But don’t despair. The following are moves that could be made to create space if needed in the interim:

Release Clayborn $ 3.5 million
Bennett simple restructure $ 3 million
Hightower simple $ 3 million
Cannon simple $ 3 million
Mason simple $2.5 million

That’s $ 15 million of additional cap space easily obtained if needed by just converting salary less the minimum salary to bonus for the player and releasing Clayborn. $6 million more can found by doing it to Gilmore, but it can’t be done until October (same reason as Brady). I’m sure the Patriots would be loathed to push this much money forward, but it is there to make moves if needed.

you can also calculate it approx. for yourselves here:
New England Patriots Salary Cap Calculator | Over The Cap


to sum it up: some additional 15M easily . 20+ possible . more depending on timing (Brady, Gronk, Gilmore..)

when counting new additions divide reported apy by 30-50% to get approx 2019 hit

as @luuked said they will not do anything of the above until they need to (new big contract being all but signed). there are plenty of reasons to keep that obscure..
___

I hope @Miguel can chip in here. Maybe @Ian can lure him back for a moment to put some fans here out of cap depression..

 

[long distance]

here a quick overview of the business so far to put cap in perspective


RE-SIGNINGS
IOL 63Schwenke — 1y/0.9M
WR 13Dorsett — re-signed — 1y
OLB 55Simon — re-signed — 2y
CB 30J.McCourty — re-signed — 2y
__

RFA TENDERS
31J Jones* - 2nd round tender — 3M
10Gordon - orig.rd tender (2) — 2M — *could be reinstated before TC
__

TRADES / FA SIGNINGS
DE Bennett, PHI — trade — NE 2020 5th for PHI 2020 7th
RB/ST Bolden — UFA signed — 2y
__

FUTURES CONTRACTS
DT David Parry - futures
OL Jake Eldrenkamp (C+G; 25, futures)
OT Ryker Matthews (CFL; ex BYU,NO, 6’6-322;versatile incl TE)
__

RELEASES
83Allen* (29, 2019, $7.4) — 2.3.
16D.Andrews* (24, 2020, $0.5) — 4.3.

ERFA WR 81C.Hollister* (26) — not picked up — UFA

 

[luuked]

as @luuked said they will not do anything of the above until they need to (new big contract being all but signed). there are plenty of reasons to keep that obscure..

The other thing to keep in mind is just how much you can structure around the cap. Flowers signed essentially a 3 year 18m APY deal and his cap hit in the first year is like 6.4m. Landon Collins signed a contract with an APY of 14m and his cap hit this year is.. 4m.

Is it ideal to do push so much down the line ? Depending on the age and projection how long you will keep a player the exact answer varies but at the end of day the point is that looking at this years number alone is misleading.

You have to look at your intermediate / long-term roster plan as well when you structure deals around. I am sure decisions are already made internally about how to handle your own expiring players in the next 1-2 years. Because deciding which ones to keep or how far to go in negotiations informs how much you can play around with contract structures of new signings.

And this is where rookie contracts really start to be valuable because not only are they cheap but also for ~ 4 years. This reduces the complexity of roster management a lot because you have fewer variables to throw around.

 

[long distance]

NE UFA PICTURE

WR 15Hogan* (30)
WR 84C.Patterson* — @ CHI — 5apy — 6th comp pick
WR 13Dorsett — re-signed — 1y
RB 33Hill (ACL)
OT 77T.Brown — @ OAK — 16.5 apy — 3rd comp pick
OT 68Waddle (27)
OT 67John (26)
IOL 63Schwenke — re-signed —1y/0.9M
DL 90Brown (25)
DL 71Shelton (26)
DE 98Flowers — @ DET — 18M apy — 3rd comp pick
OLB 55Simon — re-signed — 2y
LB 59McClellan* ()
LB 50Humber*
CB 30J.McCourty — re-signed — 2y
CB 25Rowe — @ MIA — 1y/3.5M — comp pick cancells w Bolden
K 3Gostkowski (35)
P 6Allen (29)

 

[ralmat55]

I don’t mind at all. It’s a complex area with lots of misinformation swirling. None of us are experts, and even the experts misunderstand things from time to time.

Having a dedicated thread for the subject is a good idea. A place where we can come to ask questions and try to give answers without both being swallowed up by a larger more active thread.

 

[long distance]

Lets add this for coming TB restructure (possibly only in August)



and dont jump on the poor Volin guy. He was credited by all Rap, Shefty & co yesterday..

 

[Family]

Miguel reposted on his twitter last night:

Part I: Patriots are up against the cap earlier than ever - what that means and how they got here | Boston Sports Journal

The Pats are clearly not in cap hell, and of course they can sign whomever they want, but at what future cost? With larger salaries and their cap situation it is reasonable that they will approach FA more cautiously than other years.

So they can still sign Tate or Cook, but they might think harder at Tate and Cook or some other combination than in the past.

 

[primetime]

Posted this in the other thread but Bedard's understanding of the CBA is incorrect, and Brady could be extended (and his cap hit lowered) without issue even though his cap hit was already lowered once within a 12-month period. The only prohibition in the CBA is on raising a player's salary during the base years of a contract during a renegotiation more than once in a 12-month period.

The question is more whether they'd want to do this, given that it would push part of Brady's $27m 2019 cap hit ($14m of which is base salary) into future seasons. They could conceivably clear $10-12m or so with such an extension by pushing 2019 salary into bonus and prorating it across 2020 to whenever, but that creates complications down the road. I'm guessing they're holding off on extending Brady until they know what they want out of his contract -- whether they'll need the money this year or not, and if they do then how much.

 

[long distance]

Miguel reposted on his twitter last night:

Part I: Patriots are up against the cap earlier than ever - what that means and how they got here | Boston Sports Journal

The Pats are clearly not in cap hell, and of course they can sign whomever they want, but at what future cost? With larger salaries and their cap situation it is reasonable that they will approach FA more cautiously than other years.

So they can still sign Tate or Cook, but they might think harder at Tate and Cook or some other combination than in the past.

Id guess Pats will be/are approaching this FA like they usually do under BB. Taking on good opportunities and add whatever they need to enter Draft without “needs“.

My prediction regarding “no cap“: BB will add top WR w substantial cap hit before draft either via FA (Tate f.e.) or trade. (one can understand “top“ according to his standards)..

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Posted this in the other thread but Bedard's understanding of the CBA is incorrect, and Brady could be extended (and his cap hit lowered) without issue even though his cap hit was already lowered once within a 12-month period. The only prohibition in the CBA is on raising a player's salary during the base years of a contract during a renegotiation more than once in a 12-month period.

They lowered Amendola's salary twice in less than a year (5/16, 4/17), as more evidence.

I'm guessing they're holding off on extending Brady until they know what they want out of his contract -- whether they'll need the money this year or not, and if they do then how much.

There's no real penalty if they push it out and then don't need it; the extra cap space will just carry over into next year.

 

[Pape]

RELEASES
83Allen* (29, 2019, $7.4) — 2.3.

does this show as a 2.3 million dollar dead cap hit for Allen? He was released with 1 year remaining, no bonuses, only salary. He shouldn't have any dead cap money, right?

 

[Family]

Revis is an example of where the cap might be a consideration this year where it wasn't another one. Would they have done that deal in today's dollars in the same situation? If you say yes remember it was always acknowledged that Bill needed Browner too. Would he have extended all of that?

Maybe yes, but maybe no.

Who knows? Maybe if BB felt he wouldn't kill his current cap situation, he might have outbid the Browns for Beckham.

No one knows how the cap affects FA or trades, but there is an effect.

 

[TommyD4207]

Revis is an example of where the cap might be a consideration this year where it wasn't another one. Would they have done that deal in today's dollars in the same situation? If you say yes remember it was always acknowledged that Bill needed Browner too. Would he have extended all of that?

Maybe yes, but maybe no.

He was on the money about picking up the option too (I was definitely for picking it up). In hindsight, Revis gave the Patriots the last 12 weeks he had in his body, and the team dragged him the rest of the way over the finish line.

 

[Uptown]

 

[long distance]

does this show as a 2.3 million dollar dead cap hit for Allen? He was released with 1 year remaining, no bonuses, only salary. He shouldn't have any dead cap money, right?

no, just my note it was march 2nd - for my future reference . forgot erasing

 

[Uptown]

 

[DW Toys]

They lowered Amendola's salary twice in less than a year (5/16, 4/17), as more evidence.



There's no real penalty if they push it out and then don't need it; the extra cap space will just carry over into next year.

OK, Here is a theory Cousins. I will get booed for this but that is the way it is. $9.5mm is WAY TOO MUCH for 32 year old Safety. $13.45mm is his cost. We save the $9.5mm if we cut or trade DM. Great player in his prime but he has slipped. His brother out played him down the stretch. Is that a fair statement?

He either takes a hair cut or he is no different than Lawyer Milloy who was only 29 when he was asked to him to take a cut. Replaced by the 31 year old Harrison. No time for BB to get sentimental.

Harmon is at the ready to replace him and they used Jones as a Safety in the Super Bowl. DM is a great veteran . a Captain and good player but not elite or irreplaceable. Last year on the contract as well. Flores will come get him (or Patricia)

Take the $9.5mm and transform it to a "prove it" on two year younger S Eric Berry, TE Tyler Eifert and the balance on WR Golden Tate. Three areas of attention.....done.

Over that CAP adjustment, the next few we can afford. I know why on Ellington. Returns kicks and your #4 WR. Productive. He should be reasonable. DT Alvin Bailey is at least serviceable. Malcomb Brown was 39 tackles and no sacks. Bailey was 38 tackles and 6 sacks with the Chiefs. Both Bailey and Ellington should be cheap money.

You have to get both kickers signed, but can be replaced.

The guy I really would want is LB Zack Brown. Only 29. Highly productive (96 tackles in 2018 and 127 in 2017). Move Hightower to take the DE snaps that Flowers took. He and Bentley in the middle and you have now created the speed we need. I think Hightower needs less snaps but his forte is not in the open field, it's pressure in the backfield and he sets the edge.
DW Toys

 

[Zuma]

OK, Here is a theory Cousins. I will get booed for this but that is the way it is. $9.5mm is WAY TOO MUCH for 32 year old Safety. $13.45mm is his cost. We save the $9.5mm if we cut or trade DM. Great player in his prime but he has slipped. His brother out played him down the stretch. Is that a fair statement.

He either takes a hair cut or he is no different than Lawyer Milloy who was only 29 when he was asked to take a cut. No time for BB to get sentimental.

Harmon is at the ready to replace him and they used Jones as a Safety in the Super Bowl. Great veteran . Captain and great player but not elite or replaceable. Last year on the contract. Flores will come get him (or Patricia)

Take the $9.5mm and take a "prove it" on two year younger Eric Berry, Tyler Eifert and the balance on Golden Tate. Three areas of attention.....done.

Over that CAP adjustment, the next few we can afford. I know why on Ellington. Returns kicks and your #4 WR. Productive. He should be reasonable. DT Alvin Bailey is at least serviceable. Malcomb Brown was 39 tackles and no sacks. Bailey was 38 tackles and 6 sacks with the Chiefs. Both Bailey and Ellington should be cheap money.

You have to get both kickers signed, but can be replaced.

The guy I really would want is LB Zack Brown. Only 29. Highly productive (96 tackles in 2018 and 127 in 2017). Move Hightower to take the DE snaps that Flowers took. He and Bentley in the middle and you have now created the speed we need. I think Hightower needs less snaps.
DW Toys

He is still playing at a high level regardless of age. He has not slowed down yet. The amount he will get paid in 2019 is in line with other free safety's of his caliber.

 

[SBLIII]

Berry has played 3 games in 2 years. Losing McCourty would not be smart. He is still one of the best safeties. Top 5-7.

 

[primetime]

[whispering] they still think of Gordon as an important part of the team