Jump to content

Bills gain 8 mill in cap space with new opt out signing bonus agreement


Recommended Posts

3 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Doesn’t this just make the cap issues next year for teams with opt-outs that much more difficult? ...or am I interpreting this wrong?

 

That is my thinking too. If I am the Bills I want to eat what I can this year, rather than next year when I might be at a $175m cap number (ie. a $25m reduction). I get the base salary moving, but bonuses that are prorated and the money has already been paid.... I want to count them this year!

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 minutes ago, SCBills said:

Doesn’t this just make the cap issues next year for teams with opt-outs that much more difficult? ...or am I interpreting this wrong?

 

16 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

That is my thinking too. If I am the Bills I want to eat what I can this year, rather than next year when I might be at a $175m cap number (ie. a $25m reduction). I get the base salary moving, but bonuses that are prorated and the money has already been paid.... I want to count them this year!

It is done to allow teams to backfill those positions if need be. you’re probably looking at 1 year deals in that case.

 

I’m not sure that this is an option. Those numbers come back onto your books the following year? Do we basically get Star’s cap space this year that we can roll to next year? Basically he will cost 1/2 if we roll it all forward? If so I like that strategy.

15 minutes ago, BigdaddyinOrlando said:

Might be best to save and carry over next with the cap likely much lower.

Edited by Kirby Jackson
  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

24 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

That is my thinking too. If I am the Bills I want to eat what I can this year, rather than next year when I might be at a $175m cap number (ie. a $25m reduction). I get the base salary moving, but bonuses that are prorated and the money has already been paid.... I want to count them this year!

Can you still roll it over?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

29 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

That is my thinking too. If I am the Bills I want to eat what I can this year, rather than next year when I might be at a $175m cap number (ie. a $25m reduction). I get the base salary moving, but bonuses that are prorated and the money has already been paid.... I want to count them this year!


Not sure it matters much if many teams will use it as roll-over - May give some teams a bit more flexibility to sign guys this year if there are a lot of opt outs or injuries/COVID cases and you need to rebuild part of a roster.

 

The pro-rated money to me makes sense to roll-over to balance out the contract and provides some protection to vet players.  For example if a guy (maybe Mosley from the Jets) had a large prorated portion that you covered this year with him opted out - and then next year he is really only do a large salary - cutting him is easier.  
 

Now the team essentially pushes everything one year down the road - so it becomes more difficult to cut him.  From the team’s perspective- yeah I rather get everything covered when I have the money, but with roll-over it has little impact on a well managed team.  It could really bite a team that wants to go for it this year - with the drop next year, but I think most teams aren’t sure what the year will hold anyway.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, YoloinOhio said:

 

Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part but I think that the Pats will have a hard time recruiting moving forward. Brady and Gronk kind of set the tone that “it’s not fun.” Collins and Van Noy left as well. The opt outs this year furthered that message. People went because they had a chance to win a title every year. I think that shine has worn off some too.
 

Obviously, if they pay guys they will come. All that I’m saying is that the days of the Pats getting guys for $.10 on the dollar are over. They are in great cap shape but they aren’t the Mecca of destinations anymore.

  • Like (+1) 7
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Quote

Now the team essentially pushes everything one year down the road - so it becomes more difficult to cut him. 

 

This is true, but it still helps us on next year's cap.

 

Let's say a player makes $8M this year and $10M next year.  By opting out, we don't have to pay the $8M this year and, if we don't spend it, we roll it over to next year. Next year we pay him the $8M and we use the cap roll over to fund it.  It effectively gives us $10M more in cap space next year (if we don't spend as much to replace the player this year.

 

The key to all this is the cap space rollover.  In the above example, instead of using $18M in cap space over two years on that player, for 2020-21, we only spend $8M of our cap space.

 

Of course, that maybe causes a problem in 2022 as the potential problem gets pushed down the road a year.  With the danger of a lower cap next year, I'm okay with that.

 

 

Quote

All that I’m saying is that the days of the Pats getting guys for $.10 on the dollar are over. 

 

I agree with Kirby wholeheartedly on this.  They will still get people, just like anyone, but they are less likely to get the bargains.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

43 minutes ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part but I think that the Pats will have a hard time recruiting moving forward. Brady and Gronk kind of set the tone that “it’s not fun.” Collins and Van Noy left as well. The opt outs this year furthered that message. People went because they had a chance to win a title every year. I think that shine has worn off some too.
 

Obviously, if they pay guys they will come. All that I’m saying is that the days of the Pats getting guys for $.10 on the dollar are over. They are in great cap shape but they aren’t the Mecca of destinations anymore.

100%. Brady held that locker room together. He was the voice that went around spreading the ‘you know what is fun? Winning championships.’  Spending a ton of money doesn’t translate to wins. Picking players and finding the right character and attitude guys does. Belichick isn’t really a great drafter and his locker room can’t withstand the Michael Bennett’s. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Rochesterfan said:


Not sure it matters much if many teams will use it as roll-over - May give some teams a bit more flexibility to sign guys this year if there are a lot of opt outs or injuries/COVID cases and you need to rebuild part of a roster.

 

The pro-rated money to me makes sense to roll-over to balance out the contract and provides some protection to vet players.  For example if a guy (maybe Mosley from the Jets) had a large prorated portion that you covered this year with him opted out - and then next year he is really only do a large salary - cutting him is easier.  
 

Now the team essentially pushes everything one year down the road - so it becomes more difficult to cut him.  From the team’s perspective- yeah I rather get everything covered when I have the money, but with roll-over it has little impact on a well managed team.  It could really bite a team that wants to go for it this year - with the drop next year, but I think most teams aren’t sure what the year will hold anyway.

 

Yes. I want cutting Star to be easier. 

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, atlbillsfan1975 said:

100%. Brady held that locker room together. He was the voice that went around spreading the ‘you know what is fun? Winning championships.’  Spending a ton of money doesn’t translate to wins. Picking players and finding the right character and attitude guys does. Belichick isn’t really a great drafter and his locker room can’t withstand the Michael Bennett’s. 

 

He has not been a great drafter throughout but he has had periods of great drafting. 2009 to 2016 they drafted as well as any team in the league. They didn't always hit their first round pick but when you are always drafting 28-32 that is harder. In that period they drafted:

 

Patrick Chung, Sebastien Vollmer, Julian Edelman, Devin McCourty, Aaron Hernandez, Rob Gronkowski, Shane Vereen, Nate Solder, Marcus Cannon, Dont'a Hightower, Chandler Jones, Logan Ryan, Jamie Collins, James White, Malcolm Brown, Shaq Mason, Tre Flowers, Joe Thuney, Elandon Roberts, Ted Karras

 

All of whom were part of Superbowl winning teams in the second Patriot dynasty except, obviously, Hernandez. Multiple pro bowlers and all pros there too and in addition they also drafted Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett in that period both of whom have proven to be starting level NFL quarterbacks. And that is without Malcolm Butler and David Andrews who were undrafted free agents Bill targeted and turned into stars. 

 

Their last few drafts have not been so good and their drafts in the mid 00s were poor too but in that 7 year period from 2009 they had remarkable success. That is how they managed to win another 3 Superbowls.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part but I think that the Pats will have a hard time recruiting moving forward. Brady and Gronk kind of set the tone that “it’s not fun.” Collins and Van Noy left as well. The opt outs this year furthered that message. People went because they had a chance to win a title every year. I think that shine has worn off some too.
 

Obviously, if they pay guys they will come. All that I’m saying is that the days of the Pats getting guys for $.10 on the dollar are over. They are in great cap shape but they aren’t the Mecca of destinations anymore.

 

For sure. People went there on cheaper deals because you were all but guaranteed a run to the AFCCG at the worst. I think they will get less of that in the future. They need to start drafting well again. Because when the Patriots have won Superbowls it has generally been supported by good drafting. When they drafted poorly in the mid 00s it resulted in 3 years of no playoffs / early exits (I know one of those years was without Brady). Yes the Patriots have played free agency and the trade game well.... but their best periods have been supported by stacking good drafts.

  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, Kirby Jackson said:

Maybe it’s wishful thinking on my part but I think that the Pats will have a hard time recruiting moving forward. Brady and Gronk kind of set the tone that “it’s not fun.” Collins and Van Noy left as well. The opt outs this year furthered that message. People went because they had a chance to win a title every year. I think that shine has worn off some too.
 

Obviously, if they pay guys they will come. All that I’m saying is that the days of the Pats getting guys for $.10 on the dollar are over. They are in great cap shape but they aren’t the Mecca of destinations anymore.

Maybe not as much without Brady & Co, but they are just one season removed from another championship. I fully expect Belichick to put a competent team on the field. He was a very good coach before anyone ever heard of Tom Brady, and I'm betting he's eager to remind people of that. Like you said though, they aren't getting those insane discounts anymore.

Edited by BullBuchanan
  • Like (+1) 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

×
×
  • Create New...