UDFAs' total money guaranteed

[AdamJT13]

Yesterday, I posted a list of the signing bonuses that we handed out to our first 21 UDFAs. Later, a report came out that Ron Leary was guaranteed an additional $205,000. I was able to confirm that and found four more UDFAs to whom we gave partial salary guarantees. I'm pretty certain that guaranteeing part of a UDFA's salary is something new, as a way around the new limit on how much in signing bonuses a team can give UDFAs.

This new list gives a more accurate picture of how the team views these players and answers questions about why some UDFAs did not receive a signing bonus --

G Ron Leary  		 $214,000 ($9,000 SB, $205,000 of salary guaranteed)
WR Tim Benford  	 $20,000 ($0 SB, $20,000 of salary guaranteed)
WR Saalim Hakim		 $17,500 ($10,000 SB, $7,500 of salary guaranteed)
LS Charley Hughlett  	 $10,000 ($0 SB, $10,000 of salary guaranteed)
T Levy Adcock  		 $9,000
LB Aston Whiteside  	 $5,000 ($2,000 SB, $3,000 of salary guaranteed)
G Harland Gunn  	 $5,000
T Jeff Adams  		 $4,000
TE George Bryan  	 $4,000
T Taylor Dever  	 $4,000
LB Adrian Hamilton  	 $4,000
T Tyrone Novikoff  	 $4,000
RB Darrell Scott  	 $4,000
TE Andrew Szczerba  	 $4,000
S Eddie Whitley  	 $4,000
CB Isaac Madison  	 $2,000
WR Cole Beasley  	 $1,500
RB Lance Dunbar  	 $1,500
WR Donavon Kemp  	 $1,500
CB Lionel Smith  	 $1,500
CB Troy Woolfolk  	 $1,500

[WoodysGirl]

So the guys who didn't receive so much as a ham sandwich as a signing bonus, got guaranteed money should they make the team.

Nice workaround by the team. I wonder if other teams used that same method.

[AdamJT13]

Originally Posted by WoodysGirl

So the guys who didn't receive so much as a ham sandwich as a signing bonus, got guaranteed money should they make the team.

They get the guaranteed part of their salary even if they get cut. They just don't get it right now.

[WoodysGirl]

Originally Posted by AdamJT13

They get the guaranteed part of their salary even if they get cut. They just don't get it right now.

Oh wow.. I see some team complaining and that loophole being closed at some point.

[rkstevens]

Originally Posted by WoodysGirl

Oh wow.. I see some team complaining and that loophole being closed at some point.

I'm sure John Mara is on the phone at this very moment with Roger Goodell discussing how the Cowboys should be punished for violating a rule that doesn't exist. The Redskins will also be punished for having ugly uniforms.

[rkell87]

so leary pretty much made the team

[AbeBeta]

Originally Posted by rkell87

so leary pretty much made the team

I think the team figured that if he can't make it that it is for health reasons and we'd be on the hook for $$$ anyway as we'd have to IR him

[gimmesix]

Originally Posted by AdamJT13

They get the guaranteed part of their salary even if they get cut. They just don't get it right now.

Hughlett's a bit of a surprise at $10,000 guaranteed considering Dallas has Ladouceur. Either that was the going rate to get an LS into camp or the Cowboys are hoping he might be good enough that they can get younger at the position.

Of course, I'm thinking $5,000 guaranteed wouldn't hold any real significance, so for Dallas that probably holds true for $10,000.

Also, the Benford deal shows Dallas might think more highly of him than it seemed with the $0 bonus.

[sonnyboy]

Originally Posted by WoodysGirl

Oh wow.. I see some team complaining and that loophole being closed at some point.

But we'll still get some sort of punishment for violating the spirit of the RFA bonus limit.

[RW Hitman]

Originally Posted by rkstevens

I'm sure John Mara is on the phone at this very moment with Roger Goodell discussing how the Cowboys should be punished for violating a rule that doesn't exist. The Redskins will also be punished for having ugly uniforms.

man, you beat me to it!!

[Mr_Bill]

Originally Posted by rkell87

so leary pretty much made the team

I don't see it that way.

I believe the rookie salary minimum for 2012 is $390,000, with everyone else making considerably more. So, I don't believe that incurring $214,000 in dead money for this season would prevent the Cowboy from cutting him, if he is not any good.

This is obviously not something you want to do a lot of, or the team will wind up with salary-cap problems. But, I am glad the Cowboys have figured out a way to circumvent that ridiculously low UDFA cap and spend some more of Jerry Jones' money in an instance where they think a player has a good chance to really help the team.

[RastaRocket]

It's probably the reason Leary came here.

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by gimmesix

Hughlett's a bit of a surprise at $10,000 guaranteed considering Dallas has Ladouceur. Either that was the going rate to get an LS into camp or the Cowboys are hoping he might be good enough that they can get younger at the position.

Of course, I'm thinking $5,000 guaranteed wouldn't hold any real significance, so for Dallas that probably holds true for $10,000.

Also, the Benford deal shows Dallas might think more highly of him than it seemed with the $0 bonus.

LS is one of the most under rated positions and we have one of the very best in the NFL. More likely a camp body with some hope then any expectation

[Fredd]

I was hoping for Tim Benford late in the draft so to see him getting a little love by the Cowboys is a good thing...he was offensive POTY in his conference last season...

[rickster14]

I'm sure the team can handle the $250K cap hit if Mara and crew start complaining AGAIN.