Cap Magic - Still $4M Available + Wilfork

[mgteich]

1) We have about $4M available.

2) We are not paying Wilfork his $8M, so at least $4M (probably more) will be freed up.

3) Vet JAGs cost about a net $100K against the cap, younger JAG's a but more. We'll like bring in several for say $1M.

4) We could use restructures/extensions to meet needs to start the season. Mankins, McCourty, Gostkowski and Connolly would total about $6M, approximately the amount needed.

CONCLUSION
A) We could sign use the current $4M to bring back Blount and sign an OL, some JAGs and we'd be ready for the draft.

B) The additional money is in Wilfork's contract. Decisions need to be made, although this is not 100% essential. To be clear, I do not think that we should wait on Wilfork; I think that we should honor his request and release him NOW. After all, we don't want him to get injured on our dime. Also, if someone signs him, that will be another DT that would be available to us (the one they didn't sign).

 

[VJCPatriot]

We need that 4m to sign our rookies and as 'emergency funds'. So I don't expect us to sign anyone big until the Wilfork situation is sorted out. He needs to maybe swallow some pride and restructure, but if he doesn't he probably gets his expressed wish and gets cut.

Either way we'll have money after that's taken care of. And don't forget June 1st cuts. We inevitably pick up a couple of veteran cuts that might contribute to the overall puzzle then. I think we landed Woodhead that way, and what a nice contributor he was! ;-)

 

[varjao]

The way I see it, cuting Wilfork and extending Gostspace and Dmac are the basic moves to be made.

Then we can exploit another moves. People suggest Mankins restructuring, I only see that happening if brings advantage for him, I don't see him taking a pay cut and don't think he should.

 

[Stylez]

Mankins shouldn't be included here. Agree varjao

 

[Brady6]

The way I see it, cuting Wilfork and extending Gostspace and Dmac are the basic moves to be made.



Then we can exploit another moves. People suggest Mankins restructuring, I only see that happening if brings advantage for him, I don't see him taking a pay cut and don't think he should.

I agree I would not touch Mankins contract. If they extended Connolly by one season they could convert $2M of his $3M base to a signing bonus.

I would include Adrian Wilson as a potential cut.

 

[oldrover]

When do they have to be at or under the cap? First week of the season?

 

[mayoclinic]

I agree I would not touch Mankins contract. If they extended Connolly by one season they could convert $2M of his $3M base to a signing bonus.

I would include Adrian Wilson as a potential cut.

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.

 

[Brady6]

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.

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.

 

[Gronkandez]

I agree I would not touch Mankins contract. If they extended Connolly by one season they could convert $2M of his $3M base to a signing bonus.

I would include Adrian Wilson as a potential cut.

bordering on a likely cut.

I personally would like to "load up" for the one year they have Revis. They could extend DMC and Gostowski, cut Vince or substantially reduce his hit, then backload some contracts. Not huge contracts but maybe a good Center, a couple interior DL etc.

I know Kraft doesn't like to "go for it" but the cap is projected to go up in future years, they most likely only have Revis for one year and a good Brady for 2-3 more years. ( I personally think he will start to break down in a couple of years. That is just my opinion. He has played through broken ribs, fingers and shoulder issues but I don't bank on him being able to do that as he gets older.)

 

[Gronkandez]

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.

different positions though.

 

[Jimke]

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.

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

 

[Patsrock]

If Wilson gets cut I don't think it will be till 53 man roster cut down. Only gain 747K right now

 

[hwc]

When do they have to be at or under the cap? First week of the season?

The new league year has started. Every team has to be under the salary cap every day from now until the end of the season.

Right now, only the top 51 contracts count against the cap. That will increase to 53 contracts on the 53 man roster plus practice squad plus PUP and IR contracts at the end of training camp when final cut downs are made.

In reality, you need to be several million under the cap at that point to give yourself some wiggle room to sign JAGs off the street to replace injured players during the season.

 

[mayoclinic]

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

Cutting Connolly is an option, and saves $2.5M cap space. The problem is, cutting him right now just leaves a bigger hole on the interior offensive line. If the Pats think that moving Connolly to center is part of the solution, then extending him for a year makes sense. At any rate, I wouldn't expect anything to happen with Connolly's situation until after the draft, unless they need the additional cap space to sign another offensive lineman.

 

[Tunescribe]

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

 

[PP2]

The new league year has started. Every team has to be under the salary cap every day from now until the end of the season.

That was under the old CBA.

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

 

[oldrover]

The new league year has started. Every team has to be under the salary cap every day from now until the end of the season.

Right now, only the top 51 contracts count against the cap. That will increase to 53 contracts on the 53 man roster plus practice squad plus PUP and IR contracts at the end of training camp when final cut downs are made.

In reality, you need to be several million under the cap at that point to give yourself some wiggle room to sign JAGs off the street to replace injured players during the season.

Thanks. Has that changed since 2003? I was thinking about Lawyer Milloy... thought the Pats had to cut him to get under the cap. But that means they'd have been over the cap leading up to that point.

 

[ATippett56]

$4 million available - potential roster additions

LeGarrette Blount
Will Svitek

The Denver Broncos can keep Marquice Cole.

 

[Ring 6]

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 don't think that is correct, otherwise no one would make cuts. We could go 10 mill over the cap and then fix it at cut down. I don't think thats right.

 

[Ring 6]

$4 million available - potential roster additions

LeGarrette Blount
Will Svitek

The Denver Broncos can keep Marquice Cole.

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