Star L. possible cut?

[Hapless Bills Fan]

1 hour ago, yall said:

Good friend of mine with pretty accurate sources tells me he has reason to believe Star Lotulelei is gonna get cut. Based on what he shared with me, seems very possible.

 

From a cap perspective, does it make sense? I didn't get the feeling he was a likely candidate for release.

 

No, it's not a good move from a cap perspective.  It's a bad move.  It costs cap.  You can look up Star's actual cap numbers and see for yourself:

https://overthecap.com/player/star-lotulelei/2282/

He has a $7.6M cap hit this season due to a $4.5M fully guaranteed salary and $7.8M amortized signing bonuses. 

If he is cut, the amortized signing bonuses for 2022 and 2023 accelerate into this year.  His cap hit goes UP by $4.7M to $12.3M

 

If Star were to retire, it could be a good move if he forfeits his guaranteed salary of $4.5M and repays that portion of his signing bonuses.

Very few players do something like this.  Even Eric Wood, a definite Team guy as an active player, are all "hell no I'm keeping mine".

 

Now, if there are caveats in Star's contract that he has to show up at a certain weight and meet certain fitness benchmarks and he can't/doesn't want to ----then the Bills might get some relief but it would probably go to arbitration and get messy.

 

[Metal Man]

1 hour ago, yall said:

Good friend of mine with pretty accurate sources tells me he has reason to believe Star Lotulelei is gonna get cut. Based on what he shared with me, seems very possible.

 

From a cap perspective, does it make sense? I didn't get the feeling he was a likely candidate for release.

 

Tell that greasy friend of yours that I said he is full of 🟤🟤🟤, (as usual).

 

   

[Malazan]

2 hours ago, yall said:

Good friend of mine with pretty accurate sources tells me he has reason to believe Star Lotulelei is gonna get cut. Based on what he shared with me, seems very possible.

 

From a cap perspective, does it make sense? I didn't get the feeling he was a likely candidate for release.

 

I'd get new friends.

[machine gun kelly]

2 hours ago, yall said:

Good friend of mine with pretty accurate sources tells me he has reason to believe Star Lotulelei is gonna get cut. Based on what he shared with me, seems very possible.

 

From a cap perspective, does it make sense? I didn't get the feeling he was a likely candidate for release.

You have absolutely no idea like me and everyone on this board has no inside sources.  Star is key to this defense and smells like inspiring fear.  Done with is silly thread.

[FireChans]

Star was going to be jettisoned this year for sure but him opting out kinda screwed us.

[machine gun kelly]

1 hour ago, The Jerk said:

 

Yea, mayne, I talked to Terry as well. It's on like Donkey Kong, ya dig?

But did ya talk to Kim?  Ya Diggs.

[NewEra]

Paying MORE money to cut a player rarely seems like a good idea

[yall]

1 hour ago, 1ManRaid said:

Ah, the classic "I know a guy, don't ask about it" anonymous source.

 

Well my uncle who works at Nintendo says your friend is full of crap.

Well feel free to question, but I'm confident in what he's telling me. I'd share but the specifics would pretty clearly identify my source.

 

Could be he's not being cut (which is why I asked if it was a possibility, not making a definitive claim) and we're misinterpreting something. I figure in a while I'll be able to share the details.

 

For those of you who responded to the actual question as to whether or not it made sense in terms of the cap, thanks for you responses.

5 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

You have absolutely no idea like me and everyone on this board has no inside sources.  Star is key to this defense and smells like inspiring fear.  Done with is silly thread.

Believe what you want.

 

Buffalo is a pretty small town and lots of folks have access to info that can indicate what the franchise is doing before it's public.

[machine gun kelly]

Well my cousins hairdressers sisters mothers boyfriends other girlfriend said no way.  It was completely reliable so must be the truth right.

 

this is a ding ***** trying to stir up trouble.  I won’t be mean mods but please delete this thing when you have time.  It’s just instead of fake news a fake fan.  

[TheyCallMeAndy]

2 minutes ago, yall said:

Well feel free to question, but I'm confident in what he's telling me. I'd share but the specifics would pretty clearly identify my source.

 

Could be he's not being cut (which is why I asked if it was a possibility, not making a definitive claim) and we're misinterpreting something. I figure in a while I'll be able to share the details.

 

For those of you who responded to the actual question as to whether or not it made sense in terms of the cap, thanks for you responses.

Right, like say he’s assuming cut based off being told his future isn’t certain when he really meant retirement. 
 

Like always, take things with a grain of salt but this stuff is always fun to dive into.

[Reed83HOF]

1 hour ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

Smith hasn't retired yet. He may. They say he's leaning that way. But until he does, of course they won't take that into account. It's still on the cap.

 

As I said, with Butler's reduction, we don't know how much it is, so yes. (EDIT: Ah, I see I hadn't completed the post when you posted, my bad.

 

Ah, but I see you're right on Mitch Morse. Thanks for correcting me there.

 

However, having said, that, if you're counting future stuff like Lee Smith, we'll have to sign our draft class, Corey Bojorquez or a replacement, Matt Barkley or a replacement, Andre Roberts or a replacement, TJ Yeldon or a replacement, Levi Wallace And E.J. Gaines or  replacement CBs, Dean Marlowe or a replacement, Feliciano or a replacement, Boettger or a replacement, McKenzie or a replacement, Taiwan Jones or a replacement and Isaiah McKenzie or a replacement.

 

None of these guys count now against the cap, and a bunch of them will be on the team.

 

Not to mention Matt Milano or a replacement and Daryl Williams or a replacement.

 

Lots of dominoes still to fall. It'll be interesting.

 

 

 

57 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

Yup.  After the rookies, I expect them to have $16M in cap space, barring a reduction in Addison's salary, or an outright release and any existing restructures (Tre, Dion, etc.).  They'll need about $6M to tag Wallace and Boettger (not sure what they'll do with Bojo because tagging him costs them $2.133M at least).  I don't see them replacing Barkley or Roberts and instead rolling with Fromm and an existing player for returns.  The rest can be league min re-signs outside of Milano (who likely walks) and Williams (no idea what happens there).

Careful with the draft class this year, only the top 51 count towards the cap, where we are drafting the first round price isn't terribly steep and not many of the class will be counted as part of the Top 51...

[yall]

1 minute ago, machine gun kelly said:

Well my cousins hairdressers sisters mothers boyfriends other girlfriend said no way.  It was completely reliable so must be the truth right.

 

this is a ding ***** trying to stir up trouble.  I won’t be mean mods but please delete this thing when you have time.  It’s just instead of fake news a fake fan.  

Weren't you done with this thread?

 

It's not fake news, just asking if it was possible. 

 

Why you so mad bro?

[TheyCallMeAndy]

1 minute ago, machine gun kelly said:

Well my cousins hairdressers sisters mothers boyfriends other girlfriend said no way.  It was completely reliable so must be the truth right.

 

this is a ding ***** trying to stir up trouble.  I won’t be mean mods but please delete this thing when you have time.  It’s just instead of fake news a fake fan.  

“I won’t be mean”

*proceeds to be mean*

[Mr. WEO]

They are stuck with Star...

[yall]

3 minutes ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Right, like say he’s assuming cut based off being told his future isn’t certain when he really meant retirement. 
 

Like always, take things with a grain of salt but this stuff is always fun to dive into.

Interesting because I hadn't considered retirement for him. Maybe that's what it could be...

[Doc]

2 minutes ago, Reed83HOF said:

Careful with the draft class this year, only the top 51 count towards the cap, where we are drafting the first round price isn't terribly steep and not many of the class will be counted as part of the Top 51...

 

I figured $5.5M for the draft class.  That could be high.

[BuffaloMatt]

Fake news

[machine gun kelly]

3 minutes ago, yall said:

Well feel free to question, but I'm confident in what he's telling me. I'd share but the specifics would pretty clearly identify my source.

 

Could be he's not being cut (which is why I asked if it was a possibility, not making a definitive claim) and we're misinterpreting something. I figure in a while I'll be able to share the details.

 

For those of you who responded to the actual question as to whether or not it made sense in terms of the cap, thanks for you responses.

Believe what you want.

 

Buffalo is a pretty small town and lots of folks have access to info that can indicate what the franchise is doing before it's public.

Really?  I grew up there on South Park Ave. about 7 houses from 179. My father worked for the buff news for 44 years.  I went to st Francis, a couple of years ahead of polian, Daboll, Telesco, and Caldwell.  My cousin sat in front of Chris in home room for four years, as homeroom is done alphabetically.

 

My dad worked with Vic, Felser, and knew for 40 years Van Miller.  I also worked there for my college job delivering their inter office mail.  I think I know Buffalo.

 

You don’t know anything and just trying to stir up trouble.

 Why the heck would they cut a player that costs them more to release than to keep?  Beane would never

ever Do it.

 

 

[RichRiderBills]

Heres how I see it; 

 

Cutting Star screws us.

 

If Star retires he screws us.

 

Star could out out again, which postpones screwing us, but postponing this year could be a good thing. 

 

Then there is the only wildcard option, that requires Star to play ball; show up to camp, get injured and put on IR, and reach injury settlement. I dont know all the details of that scenario, but i heard it was the cleanest route.

 

Then there is the notion Star shows up in great shape, fired up,  and ready to play. Doubt it, but given the above, maybe the most desirable.

[yall]

5 minutes ago, machine gun kelly said:

Really?  I grew up there on South Park Ave. about 7 houses from 179. My father worked for the buff news for 44 years.  I went to st Francis, a couple of years ahead of polian, Daboll, Telesco, and Caldwell.  My cousin sat in front of Chris in home room for four years, as homeroom is done alphabetically.

 

My dad worked with Vic, Felser, and knew for 40 years Van Miller.  I also worked there for my college job delivering their inter office mail.  I think I know Buffalo.

 

You don’t know anything and just trying to stir up trouble.

 Why the heck would they cut a player that costs them more to release than to keep?  Beane would never

ever Do it.

 

 

Oh, I see. You've got a reading comprehension problem. That explains it.

 

Go back and read, and see if you can figure out where you got it wrong. I expect more from a Franny grad. 

 

[Nuncha]

Star not going anywhere unless he retires.

[machine gun kelly]

2 minutes ago, RichRiderBills said:

Heres how I see it; 

 

Cutting Star screws us.

 

If Star retires he screws us.

 

Star could out out again, which postpones screwing us, but postponing this year could be a good thing. 

 

Then there is the only wildcard option, that requires Star to play ball; show up to camp, get injured and put on IR, and reach injury settlement. I dont know all the details of that scenario, but i heard it was the cleanest route.

 

Then there is the notion Star shows up in great shape, fired up,  and ready to play. Doubt it, but given the above, maybe the most desirable.

RRB, you might be right.  For me,  star opting out before the players knew how far the league was going to protect them was one of the fairest decisions.  He has a congenital heart condition and was safe.  I don’t blame him at all and no reason to think he was getting out of shape.  I’m not saying you were bud.  Let’s just hope he is in shape, taken care of his condition, and is a great contributor for us this year.  We need him.

[Reed83HOF]

2 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

I figured $5.5M for the draft class.  That could be high.

I think it might be a little bit, his hit was 2.5m last year. Spotrac shows 2 mil for this year 

 

Pats chose uche last year at 60, his hit was 1.2 m.  Spotrac shows 1 mil this year

 

Texans chose Greenard last year at 90 he was 1m. Spotrac is showing 865k, not sure that is a figure that hits the top 51. 

 

I am not sure if the rookie contracts adjusted down a bit due to last season or not. I am thinking around 3.8m to 4.32m for our hit for rooks...

 

[yall]

1 hour ago, SWATeam said:

I'm looking forward to seeing Star this year.  Sometimes a year off can really help- especially for big guys.  Should have fresh legs.  I know Incognito said it really helped him.

For the record I'm hoping he's still here as well.

 

I probably should have said "might not be here" instead of "might get cut" also. Similar outcome but vastly different implications.

[78thealltimegreat]

3 hours ago, yall said:

Good friend of mine with pretty accurate sources tells me he has reason to believe Star Lotulelei is gonna get cut. Based on what he shared with me, seems very possible.

 

From a cap perspective, does it make sense? I didn't get the feeling he was a likely candidate for release.

To much of a cap hit your friend isn’t a capologist 

[Sharky7337]

3 hours ago, yall said:

Good friend of mine with pretty accurate sources tells me he has reason to believe Star Lotulelei is gonna get cut. Based on what he shared with me, seems very possible.

 

From a cap perspective, does it make sense? I didn't get the feeling he was a likely candidate for release.

Does your friend live under a bridge?

[Southtown Tommy]

2 hours ago, Doc said:

 

Sorry yes, he hasn't yet so it wouldn't come off Spotrac.  Just saying that's an additional $2.25M the Bills will get back.

His house in OP is on the market, so it is likely.

[Doc]

8 minutes ago, Southtown Tommy said:

His house in OP is on the market, so it is likely.

 

I believe he actually said he was going to retire.

[Dablitzkrieg]

3 hours ago, yall said:

Good friend of mine with pretty accurate sources tells me he has reason to believe Star Lotulelei is gonna get cut. Based on what he shared with me, seems very possible.

 

From a cap perspective, does it make sense? I didn't get the feeling he was a likely candidate for release.

Your friend is an idiot

[MarkyMannn]

3 hours ago, TheyCallMeAndy said:

Anyone know anything about this rumor that he’s lost a ton of weight?

Or............ did he balloon to 450#.  I'm sure during his time off he must have had to check in with the training staff to see his condition.  Be it in person or remotely

[yall]

21 minutes ago, Doc said:

 

I believe he actually said he was going to retire.

So this is actually what I was referring to. Let's just say my friend is in real estate. 

 

I didn't realize this was public knowledge yet. So he and I were theorizing he knows he's going to be cut, but as I now know cutting had major cap implications, retirement may be more likely.

[ChronicAndKnuckles]

3 hours ago, Ed_Formerly_of_Roch said:

Everything I've read says it would be a negative cap hit.  They'd owe more money than they'd save.

 

Unless Star has a agreed to give a big chunk of the bonus money back, but that very rarely ever happens.  Likely if he tried the union would be all over him for setting a bad president.

Precedent*

[Thurman#1]

2 hours ago, Doc said:

 

Yup.  After the rookies, I expect them to have $16M in cap space, barring a reduction in Addison's salary, or an outright release and any existing restructures (Tre, Dion, etc.).  They'll need about $6M to tag Wallace and Boettger (not sure what they'll do with Bojo because tagging him costs them $2.133M at least).  I don't see them replacing Barkley or Roberts and instead rolling with Fromm and an existing player for returns.  The rest can be league min re-signs outside of Milano (who likely walks) and Williams (no idea what happens there).

 

 

 

Doubt many of the rest can be had for vet min. That would be a significant cut for a bunch of them. And for guys at that kind of level they'd probably want to look around if offered vet min. Yeldon, for ex, is about $1.6 per year, Marlowe $1.5M, McKenzie will be looking for quite a bit more than vet min this year, and will deserve it. When given targets, he produced, he had five TDs, plus a punt RB for a TD. ESPN recently predicted 3 years and $10M, with the Bills. That might be a bit high this year, but if they offer vet min he's probably gone. And if they do let Roberts go, McKenzie becomes even more valuable to the FO.

 

You left out Feliciano, who I think they re-sign for somewhere in the $3 - $4M range. Spotrac and SB Nation both predicted around $7M per year in FA. He wants to give them a deal, but you're likely dreaming if you think he takes a vet min kind of deal.

 

Also doubt they go with Fromm in place of Barkley. Barkley ($2M a year) is a tremendous help to Josh, with a ton of veteran know-how and is also a lot more likely to handle himself better if there's an injury. Josh already knows a ton more than Fromm, who wasn't even in QB meetings last year, couldn't really throw the ball in anger last year as the COVID relief QB. If Barkley goes, they'll bring someone else in to replace him.

 

And yeah, someone like Daryl Williams could easily go but if so, they'll almost surely bring in someone to replace him, and not a vet min guy either.

 

 

1 hour ago, yall said:

Oh, I see. You've got a reading comprehension problem. That explains it.

 

Go back and read, and see if you can figure out where you got it wrong. I expect more from a Franny grad. 

 

 

 

Nonsense. 

 

Refusal to accept completely unsupported on-the-internet sources doesn't mean a reading comp problem. Speaks well to general comprehension of the world, IMO.

 

I understand what you're saying about not wanting to out your source. It's not unreasonable. But that's also what people who have no source say.

Edited March 11, 2021 by Thurman#1

[yall]

19 minutes ago, Thurman#1 said:

 

 

 

Doubt many of the rest can be had for vet min. That would be a significant cut for a bunch of them. And for guys at that kind of level they'd probably want to look around if offered vet min. Yeldon, for ex, is about $1.6 per year, Marlowe $1.5M, McKenzie will be looking for quite a bit more than vet min this year, and will deserve it. When given targets, he produced, he had five TDs, plus a punt RB for a TD. ESPN recently predicted 3 years and $10M, with the Bills. That might be a bit high this year, but if they offer vet min he's probably gone. And if they do let Roberts go, McKenzie becomes even more valuable to the FO.

 

You left out Feliciano, who I think they re-sign for somewhere in the $3 - $4M range. Spotrac and SB Nation both predicted around $7M per year in FA. He wants to give them a deal, but you're likely dreaming if you think he takes a vet min kind of deal.

 

Also doubt they go with Fromm in place of Barkley. Barkley ($2M a year) is a tremendous help to Josh, with a ton of veteran know-how and is also a lot more likely to handle himself better if there's an injury. Josh already knows a ton more than Fromm, who wasn't even in QB meetings last year, couldn't really throw the ball in anger last year as the COVID relief QB. If Barkley goes, they'll bring someone else in to replace him.

 

And yeah, someone like Daryl Williams could easily go but if so, they'll almost surely bring in someone to replace him, and not a vet min guy either.

 

 

 

 

Nonsense. 

 

Refusal to accept completely unsupported on-the-internet sources doesn't mean a reading comp problem. Speaks well to general comprehension of the world, IMO.

 

I understand what you're saying about not wanting to out your source but that's also what people who have no source say.

So again, reading comprehension.

 

It's now been confirmed that his house is on the market. So what my source told me was in fact accurate. I wasn't aware this was public knowledge.

 

We speculated that this meant he knew he was getting cut so I asked this forum if that was likely given the cap hit. In retrospect retirement seems more likely.

 

Bottom line is, I think it's a reasonable indicator that he won't be here. Maybe he's tired of the winters, but I'd bet you a beer at the next TBD tailgate that he's done. 

 

Edit: tht was directed at MGK initially but the point stands.

Edited March 11, 2021 by yall
Clarification

[Boxcar]

2 hours ago, Big Turk said:

 

They really aren't in a mess.  They have lots of other things they can do to easily free up another $20+ million in cap space that doesn't involve cutting anyone via some simple restructures if they feel the need to.  As it is now they have close to $20 million in cap space...hardly a mess.

I meant specifically regarding Star's contract, which is I think indisputably not very good for the Bills.

2 hours ago, machine gun kelly said:

You have absolutely no idea like me and everyone on this board has no inside sources.  Star is key to this defense and smells like inspiring fear.  Done with is silly thread.

Well, I mean, even if you believed he was the worst player in the NFL, cutting him still wouldnt make any sense.

[bigK14094]

a year off football.  we will see if he can still play.  I have my doubts....the owners got hoodwinked on the opt out thing...STAR is nearing over the hill for sure.  And, yes, Bean had  a brain cramp on this contract.  

Edited March 11, 2021 by bigK14094

[NoSaint]

4 hours ago, dje85 said:

We would take a 11.8 million cap hit if we cut him. (Unless, I am misreading spotrac) Doesn't make any sense to me. 

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/star-lotulelei-12294/

Yup

 

The restructuring plus sitting out pretty much locked in this year. 
 

you can sometimes argue it’s fine to eat the dead money to save cash but his salary is fine for a player of his caliber this year.

[The Red King]

There is value in this thread.  It's more then just a baseless rumor.  This thread evolved into an interesting discussion about Star's contract and the impact, positive or negative, on the Bills' cap if he were cut.

 

OP never said it would happen, clearly stated it was a rumor, and then followed up by asking a legitimate question.  I swear, sometimes people get worked up over the smallest things.

[Arkady Renko]

I’m skeptical because it doesn’t make sense to me from a cap or football perspective, but I don’t doubt that some on this board hear rumors with some truth to them.  

[soflabillsfan1]

I think Star retires.  It's doubtful he's in shape anyways.