2008 Cap Pages are now up

[Miguel]

I see. Do you know roughly what percentage of these first round deals is made up of escalators and future bonuses (ie what percentage of these deals could be walked away from if the player doesn't come close to his potential and is more or less a bust)?

No, I do not. But I have learned not to pay attention to the total numbers but to look at what is reasonable to achieve. Peterson would have to run for over 2,000 yards and score 20 TDs each and every season to come close to the total in that link.

 

[Ring 6]

Miguel,
Can you explain the Eckel situation?
I was under the impression that the phony bonus of about 5mill he got this year would be additional cap room next year, but the way the page looks, it appears to be a 5mill HIT to the 2008 cap?

 

[Miguel]

Miguel,
Can you explain the Eckel situation?
I was under the impression that the phony bonus of about 5mill he got this year would be additional cap room next year, but the way the page looks, it appears to be a 5mill HIT to the 2008 cap?

Did you read the capfootnotes page??

 

[BradyManny]

Did you read the capfootnotes page??

Am I understanding the situation correctly if I'm assuming Eckel's cap hit will be offset by some of the escalators you refer to on your page? In our minds, as we ballpark the Pats cap situation, that isn't exactly 5 mill that we can credit ourselves or see the Pats getting to use, correct?

In your opinion, how would you describe the shape the Pats are in cap-wise for this season? To me, while the cap space looks light now, cutting Stallworth, Washington, and maybe Colvin (to restructure) would put us in decent shape.

 

[Miguel]

Am I understanding the situation correctly if I'm assuming Eckel's cap hit will be offset by some of the escalators you refer to on your page?

Because Reiss's recent cap report shows that Patriots have $107,769,000 committed to the cap, I now believe that Eckel's deal was either redone or revalued - eliminating the $5,602,500 LTBE incentive from his 2008 cap number.

 

[Miguel]

In our minds, as we ballpark the Pats cap situation, that isn't exactly 5 mill that we can credit ourselves or see the Pats getting to use, correct?

I have been saying that for awhile.

See http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=73991&highlight=LTBE

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=68210&highlight=LTBE

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=73190&highlight=LTBE

 

[Miguel]

In your opinion, how would you describe the shape the Pats are in cap-wise for this season? To me, while the cap space looks light now, cutting Stallworth, Washington, and maybe Colvin (to restructure) would put us in decent shape.

IMO, the Patriots can create enough cap space to remain a leading SB contender. That is all I expect and ask for. Cap space does not win football games. Talent and players do.

I

 

[BradyManny]

IMO, the Patriots can create enough cap space to remain a leading SB contender. That is all I expect and ask for. Cap space does not win football games. Talent and players do.

Good point, thanks for your responses.

 

[bolts_fan]

In case you guys are interested in the cap space of other teams... check this out:

http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/numbers.asp

Projected 2008 NFL Salary Cap Space for Each Team

Rank Team $ Under the Cap
1 San Diego Chargers $43.03 M
There are currently 44 players under contract.
2 Tennessee Titans $40.85 M
There are currently 39 players under contract.
3 Miami Dolphins $35.56 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
4 Jacksonville Jaguars $32.69 M
There are currently 43 players under contract.
5 Buffalo Bills $32.05 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
6 New Orleans Saints $31.69 M
There are currently 39 players under contract.
7 Cincinnati Bengals $31.45 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
8 San Francisco 49ers $30.91 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
9 Cleveland Browns $30.31 M
There are currently 42 players under contract.
10 Arizona Cardinals $30.27 M
There are currently 34 players under contract.
11 NY Jets $27.72 M
There are currently 45 players under contract.
12 Oakland Raiders $25.98 M
There are currently 40 players under contract.
13 Tampa Bay Buccaneers $25.9 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
14 NY Giants $24.47 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
15 Detroit Lions $23.5 M
There are currently 42 players under contract.
16 Houston Texans $22.91 M
There are currently 43 players under contract.
17 Dallas Cowboys $20.61 M
There are currently 40 players under contract.
18 Kansas City Chiefs $20.27 M
There are currently 44 players under contract.
19 Chicago Bears $19.8 M
There are currently 52 players under contract.
20 Pittsburgh Steelers $18.61 M
There are currently 43 players under contract.
21 Green Bay Packers $18.37 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
22 Philadelphia Eagles $17.17 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
23 Denver Broncos $16.77 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
24 Minnesota Vikings $14.88 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
25 New England Patriots $10.93 M
There are currently 41 players under contract.
26 St. Louis Rams $9.61 M
There are currently 45 players under contract.
27 Seattle Seahawks $9.55 M
There are currently 44 players under contract.
28 Indianapolis Colts $8.49 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
29 Carolina Panthers $6.05 M
There are currently 35 players under contract.
30 Atlanta Falcons $5.79 M
There are currently 52 players under contract.
31 Baltimore Ravens $5 M
There are currently 42 players under contract.
32 Washington Redskins $-20.72 M
There are currently 45 players under contract.

 

[cupofjoe1962]

The askthecommish numbers are from 12/27/07.

I have recently read that the Colts are over the cap !

 

[Ring 6]

Miguel,
Regarding Stallworth (this time I did read the footnotes ) it appears that the signing bonus numbers and cap cost if cut assume the option is picked up. Is that correct?
What would the 2008 cap hit be if the Patriots decline the option and cut him before the roster bonus comes due?

 

[Miguel]

Miguel,
Regarding Stallworth (this time I did read the footnotes ) it appears that the signing bonus numbers and cap cost if cut assume the option is picked up. Is that correct?

Yes.

What would the 2008 cap hit be if the Patriots decline the option and cut him before the roster bonus comes due?

There would be a dead money hit of 833,334 if the Pats decline the option.

I believe a credit of $1,000,000 for the 2007 proration of the 2008 option bonus will be included in the adjusted cap calculation.

 

[skinnydog]

As I understand it, the Pats have several ways to significantly reduce their cap cost/increase their room under the cap and likely will do so in the next month or so.
Some ways would be:
1. Decline to pay the upcoming bonus to Dante Stallworth.
2. Same for Kelly Washington.
3. Rework the Colvin contract
4. Rework Brady's contract

Am I correct on these? What are some of the other obvious ways save on cap space.

 

[Miguel]

As I understand it, the Pats have several ways to significantly reduce their cap cost/increase their room under the cap and likely will do so in the next month or so.
Some ways would be:
1. Decline to pay the upcoming bonus to Dante Stallworth.
2. Same for Kelly Washington.
3. Rework the Colvin contract
4. Rework Brady's contract

Am I correct on these?

Yes

What are some of the other obvious ways save on cap space.

There are 4 ways to save space.
Release a player.
Have a player agree to a pay cut.
Convert part of the player's salary into a signing bonus
Extend a player.

Beside the 4 options that you have already mentioned, there are no other obvious easy ways for the Pats to create cap space.

 

[BradyManny]

There are 4 ways to save space.
Release a player.
Have a player agree to a pay cut.
Convert part of the player's salary into a signing bonus
Extend a player.

Beside the 4 options that you have already mentioned, there are no other obvious easy ways for the Pats to create cap space.

I see the Pats needing to clear about 8-10 mill in space to be effective this offseason. I'm putting Moss as top priority and I'd almost consider it a blank check and just hope he is wililng to take .75 cents to the dollar on himself.

I think cutting Stallworth and extending Colvin and or Brady would do a lot to help reach that amount. I don't really see any other people liable to get cut, maybe Washington. There's a few players we could extend & convert some salary into signing bonus, Neal and Green come to mind when looking at your list of players' contracts.

 

[BradyManny]

K Wash's option is not being picked up, FYI. Per Reiss. They are going to try and re-work a deal.

 

[BradyManny]

So we're probably somewhere in the range of 4-6 million in cap space right now?

If we intend to sign Law and any other vets, we might want to clear some space.

 

[PatsFan37]

Thinking ahead, 2009 free agency won't have any big losses or re-signings. Gaffney (he wanted a longer contract, but I'm guessing they want to see how CJ works out). Sanders. Wright. Harrison (who may retire). Evans. Cassel. Pierre Woods.

None of the young superstars will be up for renewal, though I'm guessing they'll pay good money for Sanders and decent money for Wright and maybe extend Harrison if he wants to play another year.

The elephants in the room (speaking strictly metaphorically) remain Wilfork and Brady.

 

[ayjackson]

From the cap pages on March 5....

According to my figures the Patriots' 2008 cap figure is $107,125,906 with 53 signed or tendered players. The 2008 salary cap is $116,769,000. The Patriots' 2008 adjusted cap is $119,325,078. So I have the Pats under their adjusted cap by about $8.8 million.

Where does the $8.8m figure come from? From my untrained eye, the Pats look to be about $12.2m under their adjusted cap.

 

[eom]

w/o checking the page, just making a wild guess, in another thread there was mention that those figures didn't count a few recent signing, like gaff, webster, etc.
maybe that's the difference?