Cap Space

[Chevrolet]

Players who opt out will be away from football for a full year and that has to have an impact physically and mentally for 2021.
I completely support their right to opt out this year for any reason. But if I am a GM, it taints how I look at them for next year after a year away from football. Also perhaps a question about how motivated and "hungry" they are for football at this point in their careers. I would not resign Hightower, Chung or Cannon next year. Time to move on and bring in younger hungrier players.

 

[mgteich]

Hightower, Chung and Cannon might have played their last game as a Patriot. And they might be OK with that. After a replacement fits in this year, are they worth the money next year? I think all three are a bit older and were not moving as well as previously. I saw 2020 as possibly the last year for all three before they opted out.

Now that the opt-out deadline has passed, I assume BB will sign a few guys. LB, Oline, Dline, maybe TE or FB? 3 guys? 4? Probably spend $10M to $15M I am guessing and carry over the rest.

1) I agree with regard to Cannon and Chung.
2) Hightower could be back unless there are a few miracles at LB.
3) I still see Andrews as gone.

 

[TomPatriot]

I agree.
I even marked your post a winner.
However, I would note that we absolutely MUST sign a LB or 2, as well as an OL, and probably a TE.

It’s sub-basement shopping, but I’d take a flyer on former 1st round pick Darron Lee, who’s only 25, at the vet min.

 

[luuked]

1) I agree with regard to Cannon and Chung.
2) Hightower could be back unless there are a few miracles at LB.
3) I still see Andrews as gone.

Chung already announced he doesn't plan to retire, so unless he changes his mind I think he will be the veteran presence next year on the roster and then maybe retires/gets released in 2022 when the financial hit is smaller.

According to Lombardi Cannon was already toying with retirement this offseason. So that is a pretty good bet.

Do you think Andrews will have better offers somewhere else ?

 

[NormZauchin]

Players who opt out will be away from football for a full year and that has to have an impact physically and mentally for 2021.
I completely support their right to opt out this year for any reason. But if I am a GM, it taints how I look at them for next year after a year away from football. Also perhaps a question about how motivated and "hungry" they are for football at this point in their careers. I would not resign Hightower, Chung or Cannon next year. Time to move on and bring in younger hungrier players.

John Riggins missed the 1980 season in a contract dispute with the Redskins. In the 1983 season, at age 34, he ran for 1347 yards and 24 touchdowns, the best season of his entire career. His next year was also outstanding. Sometimes taking a year off may be beneficial.

 

[mgteich]

Chung already announced he doesn't plan to retire, so unless he changes his mind I think he will be the veteran presence next year on the roster and then maybe retires/gets released in 2022 when the financial hit is smaller.

According to Lombardi Cannon was already toying with retirement this offseason. So that is a pretty good bet.

Do you think Andrews will have better offers somewhere else ?

Has Andrews opted out yet? My point is that I expected him (wanted him) to do so. COVID and its treatments can cause blood clots.

 

[mgteich]

Chung already announced he doesn't plan to retire, so unless he changes his mind I think he will be the veteran presence next year on the roster and then maybe retires/gets released in 2022 when the financial hit is smaller.

According to Lombardi Cannon was already toying with retirement this offseason. So that is a pretty good bet.

Do you think Andrews will have better offers somewhere else ?

I am still confused, and dense.

1) What compensation (not borrowing) does Chung get in 2020? What is the 2020 cap hit.

2a) If Chung plays in 2021, what is compensation in 2021? How much, if any, did he lose by staying home. What is the 2021 cap hit if he plays in 2021?

2b) If Chung is cut or traded, what is the compensation, if any, to Chung? What is the cap hit?

 

[masterbouncer]

Do you think Andrews will have better offers somewhere else ?

Miami and Detroit are surefire all over any Patriots FA, you can bet everything on it and they are willing to overpay for Pats guys...

only question is whether Andrews is (only) about the money and if BB is willing to overpay, 2nd one is a clear NO (even with more Cap he won't overpay for anyone)

 

[luuked]

Has Andrews opted out yet? My point is that I expected him (wanted him) to do so. COVID and its treatments can cause blood clots.

He said clearly and unambiguously that he will play this year.

 

[luuked]

Miami and Detroit are surefire all over any Patriots FA, you can bet everything on it and they are willing to overpay for Pats guys...

only question is whether Andrews is (only) about the money and if BB is willing to overpay, 2nd one is a clear NO (even with more Cap he won't overpay for anyone)

The thing is that Andrews is not a particularly great center. He is solid and mentally tough but I doubt people will pay him big money in FA. Maybe Flores et al will value his leadership, and indeed they did crazily overpay Dola a couple years back.

 

[rochrist]

Players who opt out will be away from football for a full year and that has to have an impact physically and mentally for 2021.
I completely support their right to opt out this year for any reason. But if I am a GM, it taints how I look at them for next year after a year away from football. Also perhaps a question about how motivated and "hungry" they are for football at this point in their careers. I would not resign Hightower, Chung or Cannon next year. Time to move on and bring in younger hungrier players.

They're already signed for next year. You have to cut them, which comes with it's own set of cap implications.

 

[rochrist]

I am still confused, and dense.

1) What compensation (not borrowing) does Chung get in 2020? What is the 2020 cap hit.

2a) If Chung plays in 2021, what is compensation in 2021? How much, if any, did he lose by staying home. What is the 2021 cap hit if he plays in 2021?

2b) If Chung is cut or traded, what is the compensation, if any, to Chung? What is the cap hit?

He gets either 150,000 or 350,000 this year depending on whether or not he's considered 'high risk'. His contract tolls and he plays (or gets cut) next year at the cost he would have been at this year.

 

[luuked]

I am still confused, and dense.
1) What compensation (not borrowing) does Chung get in 2020? What is the 2020 cap hit.

Assuming that he is not high-risk he is getting 150k as a salary advance that will be subtracted from his 2021 cash. So in essence he is getting nothing that will remain on the cap.

2a) If Chung plays in 2021, what is compensation in 2021? How much, if any, did he lose by staying home. What is the 2021 cap hit if he plays in 2021?

He will be getting what he was supposed to get this year -- in his first year of the new deal -- with a cap hit of 5m and about 8m in dead money.

2b) If Chung is cut or traded, what is the compensation, if any, to Chung? What is the cap hit?

You can forget about a straight cut or trade that would result in 3m and 2m dead money, respectively. If you designate him a post June cut you'd save about 650k next year and a post June trade 1.75m next year with a total between 6.8m and 7.9m of dead money spread over 2020 and 2021.

See for yourself: Patrick Chung

 

[mgteich]

Assuming that he is not high-risk he is getting 150k as a salary advance that will be subtracted from his 2021 cash. So in essence he is getting nothing that will remain on the cap.



He will be getting what he was supposed to get this year -- in his first year of the new deal -- with a cap hit of 5m and about 8m in dead money.



You can forget about a straight cut or trade that would result in 3m and 2m dead money, respectively. If you designate him a post June cut you'd save about 650k next year and a post June trade 1.75m next year with a total between 6.8m and 7.9m of dead money spread over 2020 and 2021.

See for yourself: Patrick Chung

Presuming that there is a season, why wouldn't the team sign a player for one year to replace any who are aren't playing. Even if this cost us all the 2020 savings, we would then be on a par with the rest of the league.

Or am I still missing something?

 

[Jimke]

With millions of cap space, the Patriots are still trash picking.

 

[luuked]

Presuming that there is a season, why wouldn't the team sign a player for one year to replace any who are aren't playing. Even if this cost us all the 2020 savings, we would then be on a par with the rest of the league.

Or am I still missing something?

Because there are no real 2020 savings. That money has just been pushed into 2021. What you would be doing is decreasing your 2021 budget for one year deals in a season of complete uncertainty.

I think that is also the reason why a lot of bigger name players are still unsigned. Nobody will pay them market price on a long term deal because there is no guarantee that the situation will be under control even beyond this season. Similarly, with the uncertainty being extremely big about 2020 no one is willing to give out 1 year deals with meaningful guarantees.

If you find players that are willing to go the Cam Newton route and play for vet minimum on a one year deal then just go ahead an fill the roster up. Otherwise investing substantial money into short deals is extremely risky.

I am still not sure how any of this has to do with Chung playing his final game as a Patriot.

 

[rochrist]

Presuming that there is a season, why wouldn't the team sign a player for one year to replace any who are aren't playing. Even if this cost us all the 2020 savings, we would then be on a par with the rest of the league.

Or am I still missing something?

No, you could do that. I expect that the sort of player that would agree to that kind of deal would be pretty close to a JAG, but they have their uses. I just think it's really really important to not allow a penny to get onto next years cap. With it coming down the way it's going to, the Pats will be one of the few teams in a position to make substantive moves, and I expect a lot of pretty good players are going to wind up cut in the cap crunch.

 

[TheRainMaker]

Chung's days could be over in NE. He was already in decline and taking a year off makes it worse. Dugger and Phillips should be getting a ton of playing time and one them have the chance to kick Chung to the curb.

HT could be in danger too taking a year off and in his 30's. They just drafted two guys (Uche and Jennings) who could emerge (or not) as they will get a ton of playing time. Jennings is my edge guy to keep an eye on who could come out of nowhere and surprise. His burst off of the LOS is nasty.

Cannon is gone.

Vitale has a chance to return as Johnson is terrible. He whiffed a lot of blocks and looked allergic to defenders.

Andrews should take the year off at the very least because of the virus and I'm quite shocked he's still here. However, he's already taken a year off and taking an additional year off could really throw him out of football shape.

 

[ralmat55]

With millions of cap space, the Patriots are still trash picking.

It’s August 7th. The only thing left to pick is trash including Clowney. None of the players on the market move the needle.

You would have to think that coming into 2020 an unspoken goal of the Patriots was to get younger. The pandemic gives them an opportunity to expedite the process.

What many fail to acknowledge is the Patriots are very likely to lose $300 million in stadium revenue this year of which they might be able to recoup $80 million in reduced player payouts over the next 4 years. But, the rest is coming out of the Kraft’s pockets. I’m sure they won’t need gofundme.com to make ends meet, but paying out $20 million for Clowney, Snacks Harrison and Delanie Walker to perhaps win another game or two in this crap shoot of a season might not be worth it to them.

Use 2020 to sort out the post-Brady QB situation, establish the young receivers and tight ends, and find a good young player or three on defense. Who knows the best football coach ever and his staff just might make a winner out of them.

 

[Ross12]

It’s just my opinion, but I think Andrews is a lock to stick around for a few years. I think he wants to stay and BB wants to keep him. He’ll be paid a modest amount, will be offered a bit more by some other team (who knows how COVID will depress the free agent market the next couple years though), but will prefer to stay for a little less. Being a UDFA I think he’s loyal, and after his health scare he will want to stay rooted. Could be totally wrong, that’s just what makes sense to me. That’s not to say Bill won’t try to upgrade him, and he can be upgraded as he’s not incredible but he’s solid.