Star Lotulelei takes a pay cut

[Mountain Man]

55 minutes ago, CaptnCoke11 said:

Doesn’t look like a pay cut looks like they moved money around 

Its a pay cut. 

15 minutes ago, Max Fischer said:

 

It's not a pay cut. Star not only gets paid, he gets paid more guaranteed money right now. Restructuring only provides the Bills salary cap flexibility in the short term. This also means Star is not going anywhere and will likely be on the team through 2021. 

 

 

Its a pay cut, a hefty one. 

 

He's traded pay for guarentees

[ILBillsfan]

Nice work Mr Beane...guy is A++++..

[Max Fischer]

9 minutes ago, Mountain Man said:

Its a pay cut. 

Its a pay cut, a hefty one. 

 

He's traded pay for guarentees

 

Until we see what exactly Star gets to deposit into his bank account there is no reason to believe any player would agree to a pay cut. As far as I can tell, the numbers thrown around are only discussing how the restructuring effects the Bills salary cap, which is different than what each player actually takes home each year.  

Edited February 11, 2020 by Max Fischer

[BADOLBILZ]

4 minutes ago, Max Fischer said:

 

It's not a pay cut. Star not only gets paid, he gets paid more guaranteed money right now. Restructuring only provides the Bills salary cap flexibility in the short term. This also means Star is not going anywhere and will likely be on the team through 2021. 

 

 

 

 

Yes on the first part.......this basically protects him from getting gaffed on cut down day.

 

That's what happened to LeSean McCoy........and he ended up taking a $2M pay cut signing with KC.

 

The possibility that Harrison Phillips comes back strong and another 4th-6th round DT1T comes in and out-hustles Star and makes the Bills feel comfortable cutting him was every bit as good as the chances McCoy would be cut.

 

I suspect a steadily declining, aging and recently mediocre run stuffer like Lotulelei would be looking at between a vet minimum and $2M contract on the open market at the end of August...........and that someone would have to be really short bodies.    He might even have to wait until week 2 to sign when his contract would basically be week to week(in which case I suspect he'd have retired I don't think he wants it that bad based on his lack of effort).

 

As for him being with the team in 2021...........I doubt it.........I won't be surprised if he's an healthy scratch by the end of the 2020 season.    2021 was always when he was going to be easier to cut.

[Max Fischer]

15 minutes ago, GG said:

It is most certainly a pay cut for this year and next

  He was not going to be cut this year, so his salary would have been guaranteed anyway.  

 

Have you seen any numbers that explains how much money Star will put in his bank account this year and next? I've only seen salary cap numbers, which are different. 

 

[BADOLBILZ]

12 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

Star preferred a lower base over the next 2-3 years and staying with Bills instead of a higher base this year and likely getting cut and changing teams next year. 

 

 

Star + next 3 years + with Bills = nofa king chance

 

This was all about getting the one last season guaranteed.

[BuffaloRebound]

Hopefully this doesn’t cause him to start a fight with a funeral director and throw weights at people at his local gym.  

Edited February 11, 2020 by BuffaloRebound

[MAJBobby]

6 minutes ago, Max Fischer said:

 

Until we see what exactly Star gets to deposit into his bank account there is no reason to believe any player would agree to a pay cut. As far as I can tell, the numbers thrown around are only discussing how the restructuring effects the Bills salary cap, which is different than what each player actually takes home each year.  

Originally set to make $6.25 million in non-guaranteed base salary in 2020, his salarydrops by $1.75 million to a guaranteed $4.5 million.

 

6.25 to 4.5 is a paycut in any world 

[Rc2catch]

13 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

 

The first big UFA signing for McD.  In his world, run stuffing DTs at that kind of money are required.  But trust the process, right?

 

It should make everyone question how forward thinking the HC is when he's investing 25M guaranteed under the original contract terms to a DT that had regressed each season since his rookie year.  The snap count has fallen to 46-47% from his last 2 Carolina years of 66% and 59%. 

 

Not many modern NFL teams invest so much into the DT position like Buffalo has the past 3 off-seasons. 

 

 

Not many modern NFL teams value the locker room culture as Mcdermott does either though. It’s only my opinion but Star was brought here for more than just on field production. He’s extremely durable, and he has to have value off the field as well. That’s the only reason they would of invested so much to make sure he came to buffalo. Like this front office or not, they are not dumb.. 

Star has value, just because fans don’t like him or expect more does not lessen what he may or may not bring to this team. 

[MAJBobby]

On 2/11/2020 at 3:59 PM, Max Fischer said:

 

Have you seen any numbers that explains how much money Star will put in his bank account this year and next? I've only seen salary cap numbers, which are different. 

 

Originally set to make $6.25 million in non-guaranteed base salary in 2020, his salarydrops by $1.75 million to a guaranteed $4.5 million.  
 

Those are cash numbers 

 

 

Originally set to make $6.25 million in non-guaranteed base salary in 2020, his salary drops by $1.75 million to a guaranteed $4.5 million. He will also collect his $500,000 roster bonus due next month, $250,000 in a workout bonus, and up to $500,000 in per-game-active bonuses at $31,250 per game. If he plays in all 16 games, he will make $5.75 million in 2020. Lotulelei’s cap hit drops from $10.1 million to $8.35 million in 2020.

 

There is also a salary reduction in 2021 and 2022, according to Marcel Louis-Jacques. Instead of $6.5 million in 2021, his new salary will be slightly lower at $6.15 million but $2.5 million of it is now guaranteed for injury only. In 2022, he goes from $6.5 million to $4.6 million. All of his 2021 and 2022 roster, workout, and per-game bonuses stay in place.

 

 

[GG]

6 minutes ago, Max Fischer said:

 

Have you seen any numbers that explains how much money Star will put in his bank account this year and next? I've only seen salary cap numbers, which are different. 

 

You mean other than the dozen or so posts in this thread showing his 2020 salary dropping by $1.75 million?

[K-9]

 

36 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

I understand the idea that this may signal a commitment to Jordan Phillips, but I won’t be surprised if they take a run at Vernon Butler instead. 

Edited February 11, 2020 by K-9

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

4 minutes ago, Rc2catch said:

Not many modern NFL teams value the locker room culture as Mcdermott does either though. It’s only my opinion but Star was brought here for more than just on field production. He’s extremely durable, and he has to have value off the field as well. That’s the only reason they would of invested so much to make sure he came to buffalo. Like this front office or not, they are not dumb.. 

Star has value, just because fans don’t like him or expect more does not lessen what he may or may not bring to this team. 

 

...certainly agree......probably dead wrong, but I think this is an instance where the "Carolina Connection" paid off with restructure/hometown discount..........

[BADOLBILZ]

Just now, BuffaloRebound said:

Hopefully this doesn’t cause him to start a fight with a funeral director and throw weights at people at his local gym.  

 

 

Richie lost his mind in part due to the fact that lesser guards were signing big contracts after he had just taken an incredibly ill-advised pay cut.

 

There won't be any DT of lesser quality than Star getting paid close to what he still is.

[MAJBobby]

6 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

Richie lost his mind in part due to the fact that lesser guards were signing big contracts after he had just taken an incredibly ill-advised pay cut.

 

There won't be any DT of lesser quality than Star getting paid close to what he still is.

 

correct because Star IS the lesser quality DT that was way overpaid. Now just a little overpaid 

[BADOLBILZ]

8 minutes ago, Rc2catch said:

Not many modern NFL teams value the locker room culture as Mcdermott does either though. It’s only my opinion but Star was brought here for more than just on field production. He’s extremely durable, and he has to have value off the field as well. That’s the only reason they would of invested so much to make sure he came to buffalo. Like this front office or not, they are not dumb.. 

Star has value, just because fans don’t like him or expect more does not lessen what he may or may not bring to this team. 

 

 

Just because fans don't like him or expect more it doesn't lessen what he may not bring to the team?     

 

That entire post is like the end speech in Animal House.?

 

 

[Royale with Cheese]

29 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

 

The first big UFA signing for McD.  In his world, run stuffing DTs at that kind of money are required.  But trust the process, right?

 

It should make everyone question how forward thinking the HC is when he's investing 25M guaranteed under the original contract terms to a DT that had regressed each season since his rookie year.  The snap count has fallen to 46-47% from his last 2 Carolina years of 66% and 59%. 

 

Not many modern NFL teams invest so much into the DT position like Buffalo has the past 3 off-seasons. 

 

 

Yeah our defense in which gave up and average of 16 points per game killed us.  2nd in the league is just unacceptable.
 

You obviously don’t believe you build a team in the trenches because you’re bitching about us investing in it.

 

Grow up.  

[HOUSE]

Poor guy, probably end up on the street with no food

[NewEra]

Is it terrible to have him in the DL room for 6 mill a year over the next 3 years?  As a locker room rotational DT I think he might be worth that.  He suits up every game almost every year.  That has value in itself.  We could be doing much worse with a backup DT

[Max Fischer]

15 minutes ago, GG said:

You mean other than the dozen or so posts in this thread showing his 2020 salary dropping by $1.75 million?

 

Because repeating the same source on this site is an indication of accuracy?  There have been plenty of "restructurings" that have not been what was initially reported.  I hope it means an actual "pay cut" but that is pretty rare. 

 

[Over 29 years of fanhood]

1 hour ago, BUFFALOBART said:

He agreed to have slot installed in his uniform, that will accommodate a subway token...

Did he change positions as parts of the deal? 

[Ridgewaycynic2013]

2 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

Poor guy, probably end up on the street with no food

Rooming with Rob Ryan, is he?  ?

[MAJBobby]

6 minutes ago, Max Fischer said:

 

Because repeating the same source on this site is an indication of accuracy?  There have been plenty of "restructurings" that have not been what was initially reported.  I hope it means an actual "pay cut" but that is pretty rare. 

 

really? Pay cuts happen All the time in the NFL. So you want to tell me InCognito wasn’t a pay cut?  Do you a “source” that says the one that actually put numbers to it say something different?

 

it is very simple. He gave up Pay for guarantees. The reality is his old contract would have been guaranteed when games start. But maybe he didn’t think he would make it that far so traded off Salaries for guaranteed money in 2020. Ensuring he is on the Roster in 2020

Edited February 11, 2020 by MAJBobby

[OldTimeAFLGuy]

6 minutes ago, HOUSE said:

Poor guy, probably end up on the street with no food

 

 

 

...what about your spare bedroom?...........

[GG]

13 minutes ago, Max Fischer said:

 

Because repeating the same source on this site is an indication of accuracy?  There have been plenty of "restructurings" that have not been what was initially reported.  I hope it means an actual "pay cut" but that is pretty rare. 

 

Two sources.  But who's counting.  

[Magox]

50 minutes ago, BillsVet said:

 

The first big UFA signing for McD.  In his world, run stuffing DTs at that kind of money are required.  But trust the process, right?

 

It should make everyone question how forward thinking the HC is when he's investing 25M guaranteed under the original contract terms to a DT that had regressed each season since his rookie year.  The snap count has fallen to 46-47% from his last 2 Carolina years of 66% and 59%. 

 

Not many modern NFL teams invest so much into the DT position like Buffalo has the past 3 off-seasons. 

 

 

 

Yet the defense is one of the best in the NFL with 2 playoff appearances in the past 3 years  and a 2nd year franchise QB who had 9 new starters on the offensive side of the football, with $90M cap space to spare to get more talent.

 

Aside from that, you have a very valid point.

[Max Fischer]

4 minutes ago, MAJBobby said:

really? Pay cuts happen All the time in the NFL. So you want to tell me InCognito wasn’t a pay cut?  Do you a “source” that says the one that actually put numbers to it say something different?

 

it is very simple. He gave up Pay for guarantees. The reality is his old contract would have been guaranteed when games start. But maybe he didn’t think he would make it that far so traded off Salaries for guaranteed money in 2020. Ensuring he is on the Roster in 2020

 

I don't understand what you're trying to say about sources.  I'd disagree that actual pay cuts "happen all the time." They happen, but very infrequently. Nearly every instance is the player makes more up front and simply provides salary cap reporting flexibility.  

 

We can agree on one thing: Star is not making $1.75M less. At worst, if he's active every game (which is very likely) he'll make $500K less in 2020, which probably a fair trade off for being cut proof.   

 

 

[GunnerBill]

1 hour ago, BigBuff423 said:

This will make a number of people happy, but honestly I don't think Star underperformed the way some on this board believe. IMHO, he did his job the way he was asked to do it and in the manner the Defense was designed for him to play in it....but, good for the team.

 

Nah. He was overpaid. Not sure it is a big enough cut to justify it with his play. But every little helps. 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, BillsMafi$ said:

https://www.espn.com/espn/now?nowId=21-41091356-4
 

this explains more of the details 

 

Seems to be a pay cut, but yeah, it's a reasonable trade off for both sides - giving him a lower but fully guaranteed salary this year and some guaranteed money next.

 

It's interesting to me that renegotiating was apparently a priority - are they planning to spend up close to the cap?

 

 

 

[BADOLBILZ]

4 minutes ago, Magox said:

 

Yet the defense is one of the best in the NFL with 2 playoff appearances in the past 3 years  and a 2nd year franchise QB who had 9 new starters on the offensive side of the football, with $90M cap space to spare to get more talent.

 

Aside from that, you have a very valid point.

 

 

On the flip side they are 25-25 with a staggering -120+ point differential in those 3 years.

 

Mainly because their offense has been ghastly..........just ***** awful.......which is what @BillsVetis getting at with his investment take.

 

They've been a lot luckier than good.......but as you mentioned they have a lot of assets to make a jump to the point where they stop getting slapped around when they start playing good teams(lost 4 of last 5 to finish season as the schedule finally toughened). 

[3rdand12]

1 hour ago, JoeF said:

 

@FieldYates

 

The Bills and starting DT Star Lotulelei have agreed to a restructured contract for the final three years of his deal. For 2020, Lotulelei’s base salary drops by $1.75M, but becomes fully guaranteed, with $2.5M in injury guarantees for 2021 added. Some benefit for both sides.

 

The guy takes a lot of grief -- but I think he does his job pretty well.  His contract is likely an overpay but this corrects it a bit.  Maybe room to sign Jordan Phillips.

Was hoping to see something done from both sides. and both have done the right thing for me. at peace with this. Hoping we get good reps from Harry this year and and find a player who can replace Star's on tech and two down need in that rotation.

 Jordan,  Ed ard  Harry are more penetrating DT.Need another Redwood tree stump for that run game we get beat at.
Glad to have Star another year. at less money. and i do not mind if Bills find his long term replacement this year in the draft 

1 hour ago, machine gun kelly said:

Sounds like a fair deal for both sides, and I’m not saying he’s Aaron Donald, but he plays a role in this defense.  Him clogging up middle is his job.  That is why I never understood the vitriol by a minority of posters.  Not calling anyone out, to me his role is also meant to Oliver, maybe J Phillips if we can figure out something to penetrate.

can you reword this a bit for me ?

[BADOLBILZ]

7 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Nah. He was overpaid. Not sure it is a big enough cut to justify it with his play. But every little helps. 

 

 

It's only a good deal if they were dead-set-determined to keep him no matter the circumstances.

 

Falling Star Lotulelei going into this season with no financial motivation whatsoever sounds like a bad idea to me.

 

 

[YoloinOhio]

3 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Seems to be a pay cut, but yeah, it's a reasonable trade off for both sides - giving him a lower but fully guaranteed salary this year and some guaranteed money next.

 

It's interesting to me that renegotiating was apparently a priority - are they planning to spend up close to the cap?

 

 

 

Probably more of a right-sizing of the $ or % of cap  allocated to that position group, esp if they plan to sign another DT

[White Linen]

2 hours ago, JoeF said:

 

@FieldYates

 

The Bills and starting DT Star Lotulelei have agreed to a restructured contract for the final three years of his deal. For 2020, Lotulelei’s base salary drops by $1.75M, but becomes fully guaranteed, with $2.5M in injury guarantees for 2021 added. Some benefit for both sides.

 

The guy takes a lot of grief -- but I think he does his job pretty well.  His contract is likely an overpay but this corrects it a bit.  Maybe room to sign Jordan Phillips.

 

He takes a lot of grief because he's actually not what most posters here say he is.  He does not take on double teams and he's suspect against the run.  Those are the two things people keep trying to say he does well and he doesn't.  He's a rotational guy that is decent.  

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 minute ago, YoloinOhio said:

Probably more of a right-sizing of the $ or % of cap  allocated to that position group, esp if they plan to sign another DT

 

Could it be possibly aimed towards right-sizing with regard to an offer to Jordan Phillips?  Or a DE?

[BringBackOrton]

2 hours ago, BigBuff423 said:

This will make a number of people happy, but honestly I don't think Star underperformed the way some on this board believe. IMHO, he did his job the way he was asked to do it and in the manner the Defense was designed for him to play in it....but, good for the team.

Players who are living up to their contracts usually don’t take pay cuts.

[BobbyC81]

2 hours ago, SoCal Deek said:

Who?

Who’s on first.

[3rdand12]

39 minutes ago, Royale with Cheese said:

Yeah our defense in which gave up and average of 16 points per game killed us.  2nd in the league is just unacceptable.
 

You obviously don’t believe you build a team in the trenches because you’re bitching about us investing in it.

 

Grow up.  

ouch.

even i felt that. lol

Team Game. complimentary football.
Trust the process

is quite similar to 

" Do your job "

it has a faith based tone eh ?

 

Star did some good work. and he had some bad days and plays.

Stats like yours reflect the Team effort and execution. and thats good stuff ty

 

[MAJBobby]

22 minutes ago, Max Fischer said:

 

I don't understand what you're trying to say about sources.  I'd disagree that actual pay cuts "happen all the time." They happen, but very infrequently. Nearly every instance is the player makes more up front and simply provides salary cap reporting flexibility.  

 

We can agree on one thing: Star is not making $1.75M less. At worst, if he's active every game (which is very likely) he'll make $500K less in 2020, which probably a fair trade off for being cut proof.   

 

 

Ifs are just that Ifs. And even If he does earn everything he can will he make less money?  Answer is Yes. So that would mean he took a pay cut. 

[GunnerBill]

7 minutes ago, BADOLBILZ said:

 

 

It's only a good deal if they were dead-set-determined to keep him no matter the circumstances.

 

Falling Star Lotulelei going into this season with no financial motivation whatsoever sounds like a bad idea to me.

 

 

 

I never said it was a good deal.