Cost to keep or cut Doug Free - Dallas Cowboys Forum

xwalker · 11-27-2012

It appears that they may have intended to just sign him to a 2-year contract for 8.5 mil per year while pushing about half of the salary cap charge to 2013 and 2014.

Free’s contract had a 10.3 mil signing bonus that would be prorated over 4 years. It had a 4.8 mil “restructure” bonus in 2012 that would be prorated over 3 years. His 2011 (0.7 mil) and 2012 (1.2 mil) salary were guaranteed.

If Free is cut after 2012, then you could consider his contract as:
2 years at 8.5 mil per year (17 mil total contract value)

The Salary Cap charges for each year would be:

If cut after 2012:
2011 - 3.275 mil
2012 - 5.375 mil
2013 - 4.175 mil
2014 - 4.175 mil

If kept for all 4 seasons:
2011 - 3.275 mil
2012 - 5.375 mil
2013 – 11.175 mil
2014 – 12.175 mil

Dallas4ever · 11-27-2012

The way that he's played this year I believe the team must/will cut their losses with him. I just don't see it being too difficult to replace his performance. He's getting manhandled on a regular basis. Many of us thought his signing was a good move at the time.

Bowdown27 · 11-27-2012

andddddd he's gone. No way he is in a cowboys uniform next year. Should have let him go to the bucs when they were trying to sign him.

hra8700 · 11-27-2012

If I'm not mistaken his 2013 base salary is 7 million and his 2014 is 8 million so it would be 7.5 million per year.

Doug Free signed a 4 year 32 million dollar contract at the age of 27. The first two years were guaranteed at 17 million, the next two years are unguaranteed at 15 million (this remains the case even after restructure, it just distributes where the cap hit goes).

This contract was DEFINITELY NOT designed to cut him after two years. It is a very normal looking contract, with slightly less in the final two years than the first two years. Most NFL contracts do not have guarantees past the first two years. He was a young lineman, we made a contract to keep him during all four of his peak years.

A contract designed to cut someone would look like this: 4 years, 32 million, 12 million guaranteed. 10 million dollar signing bonus. Base salaries: 2011: 1 million 2012: 1 million 2013: 10 million 204: 10 million

Having said that, he is a bust, and we should cut him after two years.

supercowboy8 · 11-27-2012

If free is released, then is will be a 8.35 million cap hit next here or you can make him a june 1st cut and spread that 8.35 over two years.

I say cut him after June 1st. The cap hit is over 11 million if we keep him.

Were you getting 17.5 million, you only get hit with the remaining signing bonus left
We already paid the 2011 and 2012

SDCowboy85 · 11-27-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dallas4ever

The way that he's played this year I believe the team must/will cut their losses with him. I just don't see it being too difficult to replace his performance. He's getting manhandled on a regular basis. Many of us thought his signing was a good move at the time.

Jerry seems to think the line is amazing. Don't count on serious changes.

SDCowboy85 · 11-27-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by supercowboy8

If free is released, then is will be a 8.35 million cap hit next here or you can make him a june 1st cut and spread that 8.35 over two years.

I say cut him after June 1st. The cap hit is over 11 million if we keep him.

Were you getting 17.5 million, you only get hit with the remaining signing bonus left

So if Free and Miles are cut, it will save almost $9m on the cap next season? Going to be an interesting off season.

burmafrd · 11-27-2012

He is NOT worth over $11 million as he has played this season. So to keep him for 2013 the staff would have to think he can get a LOT better then he has shown this year

Dallas4ever · 11-27-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by hra8700

If I'm not mistaken his 2013 base salary is 7 million and his 2014 is 8 million so it would be 7.5 million per year.

Doug Free signed a 4 year 32 million dollar contract at the age of 27. The first two years were guaranteed at 17 million, the next two years are unguaranteed at 15 million (this remains the case even after restructure, it just distributes where the cap hit goes).

This contract was DEFINITELY NOT designed to cut him after two years. It is a very normal looking contract, with slightly less in the final two years than the first two years. Most NFL contracts do not have guarantees past the first two years. He was a young lineman, we made a contract to keep him during all four of his peak years.

A contract designed to cut someone would look like this: 4 years, 32 million, 12 million guaranteed. 10 million dollar signing bonus. Base salaries: 2011: 1 million 2012: 1 million 2013: 10 million 204: 10 million

[View Full Quote]

No argument there. Jerry believed Free was the first piece to stabilizing the Oline. No way he was thinking of having to replace him after two years. I'm willing to bet that he has "buyers remorse" now.

**jobberone** · 11-27-2012

I don't know what they are going to do. Cutting him is risky as I don't know if we have an adequate replacement. And I hate to go into another year by adding questions. However, I don't know they can pay him that much money. This is what happens when you don't draft well.

Dallas4ever · 11-27-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDCowboy85

Jerry seems to think the line is amazing. Don't count on serious changes.

I'm not. I'll enter next year the same as this one if they don't. Hopeful, but not hardly surprised by poor results. You don't need Sherlock Holmes to figure out this crime. The suspect is still holding the weapon.

burmafrd · 11-27-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by jobberone

I don't know what they are going to do. Cutting him is risky as I don't know if we have an adequate replacement. And I hate to go into another year by adding questions. However, I don't know they can pay him that much money. This is what happens when you don't draft well.

Free was the ONLY starter that we developed on the O line from a pick that was not at least from the second round since the 1990's.
And now he has fallen off the cliff.

That is epic fail

Dallas4ever · 11-27-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by jobberone

I don't know what they are going to do. Cutting him is risky as I don't know if we have an adequate replacement. And I hate to go into another year by adding questions. However, I don't know they can pay him that much money. This is what happens when you don't draft well.

This is the main issue. The team clearly will not be in a position to pay him that salary.

fivetwos · 11-27-2012

Free isn't getting cut. Callahan is going to tell Jerry he can fix him.

As much as I can't stand Jerry and his act, I'm quite sure he didn't find Livings and Bernadeau on tape all on his own and determine that those two would be the saviors of the o-line.

He had help there. I doubt Callahan is going to throw his arms up and proclaim he can't work with Free.

Jerry will believe he can fix him because that what he wants to believe.

They aren't taking the cap hit on Free, he'll be here.

SDCowboy85 · 11-27-2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by fivetwos

Free isn't getting cut. Callahan is going to tell Jerry he can fix him.

As much as I can't stand Jerry and his act, I'm quite sure he didn't find Livings and Bernadeau on tape all on his own and determine that those two would be the saviors of the o-line.

He had help there. I doubt Callahan is going to throw his arms up and proclaim he can't work with Free.

Jerry will believe he can fix him because that what he wants to believe.

They aren't taking the cap hit on Free, he'll be here.

After the way this oline has performed this season, Callahan can hit the road with him.