Dugger not running with the starters

[RobertWeathers]

IMO it's unlikely a team's going to take Dugger coming off a down season, his cap hit, and a major ankle surgery.. at age 29.. feeling like it may come down to the team and he doing a injury settlement?

That seems to be the consensus. If there is another team that thinks he could be of value, they'll ask the NEP to eat some of his cash and add picks.

 

[Real fan 02]

That seems to be the consensus. If there is another team that thinks he could be of value, they'll ask the NEP to eat some of his cash and add picks.

Agreed. A 6th and a 7th sounds like a reasonable offer.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

IMO it's unlikely a team's going to take Dugger coming off a down season, his cap hit, and a major ankle surgery.. at age 29.. feeling like it may come down to the team and he doing a injury settlement?

What do you mean by doing an injury settlement? You mean releasing him? Why would Dugger do an injury settlement when his entire 2025 salary is guaranteed?

The Patriots converting that salary to signing bonus to trade him to another team (so Pats take most of the 2025 cap hit)? That I could see and makes sense. But I don’t see why Dugger would settle for anything less than his guaranteed salary if he were cut.

 

[Real fan 02]

What do you mean by doing an injury settlement? You mean releasing him? Why would Dugger do an injury settlement when his entire 2025 salary is guaranteed?

The Patriots converting that salary to signing bonus to trade him to another team (so Pats take most of the 2025 cap hit)? That I could see and makes sense. But I don’t see why Dugger would settle for anything less than his guaranteed salary if he were cut.

What do mean why Dugger would settle? He got 18 million guaranteed of a 55 million extension. According to Curran there are clauses that the team can use to settle with an injured player or a player that's not fully recovered from injury as Dugger seems to be. Dugger admitted himself he injured was misdiagnosed thus he had to have surgery wich wasn't ideal for him. Go look it up not my opinion. If the team cannot trade Dugger and they don't keep him then they cut him and take the cap hit or either offer him a settlement he doesn't have to accept it but he can't control his roster status the team does.

 

[Real fan 02]

That seems to be the consensus. If there is another team that thinks he could be of value, they'll ask the NEP to eat some of his cash and add picks.

As we know players cannot control thier roster status the team does. If the team cannot find a partner as we've seen plenty here in NE.. injury settlement, or some other type of agreed upon release can happen. Contract restructuring... ??

 

[RobertWeathers]

As we know players cannot control thier roster status the team does. If the team cannot find a partner as we've seen plenty here in NE.. injury settlement, or some other type of agreed upon release can happen. Contract restructuring... ??

Injury settlement is unlikely as he isn't injured. A contract restructure is unlikely as it'll just kick the cap can down the road. With their abundance of 2025 cap space better off pulling in the cap charge in future years to this year.

 

[Hammer of Thor]

What do mean why Dugger would settle? He got 18 million guaranteed of a 55 million extension. According to Curran there are clauses that the team can use to settle with an injured player or a player that's not fully recovered from injury as Dugger seems to be. Dugger admitted himself he injured was misdiagnosed thus he had to have surgery wich wasn't ideal for him. Go look it up not my opinion. If the team cannot trade Dugger and they don't keep him then they cut him and take the cap hit or either offer him a settlement he doesn't have to accept it but he can't control his roster status the team does.

Dugger is not guaranteed future salary beyond 2025. Patriots can cut him now without an injury designation because he’s considered healthy enough to play. Again, what would he be settling for since his 2025 salary is already guaranteed? His 2026 salary, which isn’t guaranteed? The only way he, or any other player, could potentially claim to access the 2026 non-guaranteed salary is by filing a grievence.

 

[Real fan 02]

Dugger is not guaranteed future salary beyond 2025. Patriots can cut him now without an injury designation because he’s considered healthy enough to play. Again, what would he be settling for since his 2025 salary is already guaranteed? His 2026 salary, which isn’t guaranteed? The only way he, or any other player, could potentially claim to access the 2026 non-guaranteed salary is by filing a grievence.

Your correct, I was just summizing the option a team could choose to use. As we know NFL contracts are never in 100% favor of the player always a escape route for a team.

 

[mgteich]

IMO it's unlikely a team's going to take Dugger coming off a down season, his cap hit, and a major ankle surgery.. at age 29.. feeling like it may come down to the team and he doing a injury settlement?

It is traditional to be injured before being put in IR and then negotiating an injury settlement when the plyer is healthy.

 

[mgteich]

Your correct, I was just summizing the option a team could choose to use. As we know NFL contracts are never in 100% favor of the player always a escape route for a team.

I disagree.

A guaranteed contract is a guaranteed contract. Dugger will get $9.75M for his 2025 services (could be no services) plus game bonuses. Nothing is promised for 2026 and 2027. Those numbers are his contract of the team chooses to keep him.
========================
The team could make a deal before the cut or after. In any case, Dugger is get $9.75M. As several have pointed out,

THE MOST LIKELY DEAL
1) the patriots turn Dugger's salary into a bonus (or perhaps all but the vet minimum).
2) then trade Dugger, his vet minimum contract and per game bonuses to someone for whatever they can get.

I would think that there are teams willing to give a 6th for Dugger at this amount, perhaps as a one-year backup on their team.

AS AN ASIDE
I think that it's worth having him on the 53 for a couple of days to allow teams to assess their options from among the scrubs that are cut.

 

[Real fan 02]

I disagree.

A guaranteed contract is a guaranteed contract. Dugger will get $9.75M for his 2025 services (could be no services) plus game bonuses. Nothing is promised for 2026 and 2027. Those numbers are his contract of the team chooses to keep him.
========================
The team could make a deal before the cut or after. In any case, Dugger is get $9.75M. As several have pointed out,

THE MOST LIKELY DEAL
1) the patriots turn Dugger's salary into a bonus (or perhaps all but the vet minimum).
2) then trade Dugger, his vet minimum contract and per game bonuses to someone for whatever they can get.

I would think that there are teams willing to give a 6th for Dugger at this amount, perhaps as a one-year backup on their team.

AS AN ASIDE
I think that it's worth having him on the 53 for a couple of days to allow teams to assess their options from among the scrubs that are cut.

His contract isn't guaranteed though.. I get the jist of what your saying as I don't disagree but the NFL doesn't offer guaranteed contracts only the NBA and MLB do. Dugger got 18 million in guaranteed money from the deal.. he gets cut the team eats 14 million likely.. look Dugger is still a good player but he's completely comprised by that ankle injury was worse than he initially knew.

 

[rkarp1]

will Dugger heal and regain his prior speed and strength?
why not IR him, and let him rehab with out taking a roster spot

regarding a trade, would he pass another teams physical?

I disagree.

A guaranteed contract is a guaranteed contract. Dugger will get $9.75M for his 2025 services (could be no services) plus game bonuses. Nothing is promised for 2026 and 2027. Those numbers are his contract of the team chooses to keep him.
========================
The team could make a deal before the cut or after. In any case, Dugger is get $9.75M. As several have pointed out,

THE MOST LIKELY DEAL
1) the patriots turn Dugger's salary into a bonus (or perhaps all but the vet minimum).
2) then trade Dugger, his vet minimum contract and per game bonuses to someone for whatever they can get.

I would think that there are teams willing to give a 6th for Dugger at this amount, perhaps as a one-year backup on their team.

AS AN ASIDE
I think that it's worth having him on the 53 for a couple of days to allow teams to assess their options from among the scrubs that are cut.

?

 

[mgteich]

His contract isn't guaranteed though.. I get the jist of what your saying as I don't disagree but the NFL doesn't offer guaranteed contracts only the NBA and MLB do. Dugger got 18 million in guaranteed money from the deal.. he gets cut the team eats 14 million likely.. look Dugger is still a good player but he's completely comprised by that ankle injury was worse than he initially knew.

Understand what you wish.

Dugger's 2025 salary of $9.75 is fully guaranteed.

The $18M you mention is his signing bonus. His $2M 2024 salary and his $9.75 2025 salary were fully guaranteed at signing.

 

[mgteich]

will Dugger heal and regain his prior speed and strength?
why not IR him, and let him rehab with out taking a roster spot

regarding a trade, would he pass another teams physical?

Dugger is deemed physically able to play by our doctors. I suppose some other doctors would agree; some might not.

I do NOT expect Dugger to regain his previous strength. However, that doesn't mean that he will not be strong enough to be a valuable contributor.

 

[Real fan 02]

Understand what you wish.

Dugger's 2025 salary of $9.75 is fully guaranteed.

The $18M you mention is his signing bonus. His $2M 2024 salary and his $9.75 2025 salary were fully guaranteed at signing.

Dead cap hit is 15M.. anyway. Dugger is still useful on this team. Vrabel spoke highly of him yesterday. Could all be for not at this point.