My only initial beef with these contracts........ - Dallas Cowboys Forum

noletime1995 · 03-02-2005

I'm happy Dallas is being aggressive. But these contracts are VERY front loaded. $18 MIl for the 1st 3 years for Henry? That just can't be right can it? I mean, that only leaves $7 Mil over the last 2 yrs of the contract. Typically, these players get big bonuses up front and then backload the contract. The agent did a good job of getting Henry lots of Jack in the 1st 3 yrs. He'd better be good, because it would be a killer to cut him early in the contract with the SB acceleration and its barely worth our while in the final 2 years to let him go.

The30YardSlant · 03-02-2005

Oh boy....

Next?

boysfanindc · 03-02-2005

You are missing the point, it is the back loaded contracts that get you in trouble. Paying as you go means you are managing your cap from year to year with no big cap jail later.

**big dog cowboy** · 03-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by noletime1995

He'd better be good, because it would be a killer to cut him early in the contract with the SB acceleration and its barely worth our while in the final 2 years to let him go.

I wouldn't worry about that. These guys are the opposite of the old and slow guys we brought in last year.

Avery · 03-02-2005

It's smart fiscal responsibility. Pay more when you have more, less when you have less. They are basically squeezing everything they can out of the cap.

Nors · 03-02-2005

The SB gets amortized over life of contract. These are all cap friendly deals.

boysfanindc · 03-02-2005

Not when Ferguson gets 11.5M in the first 2 years. His is a front loaded contract.

Little Jr · 03-02-2005

I like the fact they are front loaded. I don't see BP staying pass 2 years maybe 3. So when he is gone we are cap strapped and paying for HIS players.

Wolverine · 03-02-2005

Did we improve our team or not. Yeah if these contracts are true they pay some good $$$$ right away but if we didnt do somethin like this we would be sittin around watchin everyone eat the pie while all we would get would be the crumbs.

To bad it cost this much but it aint bad and we improved the team. I was p*ssed last year cuz we didnt do much. Im just glad we aint foolin aroun this year and gettin GOOD PLAYERS here again.

Tobal · 03-02-2005

This is what the Eagles have been doing, it's a good choice.

noletime1995 · 03-02-2005

Please don't read my comments as sour grapes. I'm happy Dallas is getting things done. I'm also aware of how the cap works and curious to see all the contract details. My comment simply suggests I'm suprised we'll see pretty substantial salaries for Henry in the 1st three years after geting $10 Mil up front. Not to mention 2 $1 Mil Roster bonuses. Motivation concerns me here. I'm just used to seeing contracts when the last year is backloaded, like a $5 Mil salary. Don't think that will be the case with Henry.

That said, if that's what it took to get it done, then so be it.

boysfanindc · 03-02-2005

We won't know for sure until we see the details released, 11.5M in the first 2 years could mean the 9M SB plus 1.25M a year for 2 years

dmq · 03-02-2005

No need to speculate. Only until you see the player play will you know if you got a bargain or overpaid. B Berry looked like big money last year until you saw his big year. We all know how we overpaid for Wiley, but many thought he had the big upside when we signed him.

jterrell · 03-02-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by boysfanindc

Not when Ferguson gets 11.5M in the first 2 years. His is a front loaded contract.

9 million of that is spread out over 5 years so he is gonna cost about 2.75, 3.25 mil per season for the next 2 years.

Thats what you want to do is make these guys priced where you can keep them when they become depth players.

In 4 years when this guy is down to 15-20 quality snaps per game we wont be forced to cut him over cap number. I like that.

It also makes sense to use all of this cap space we have right now. When we do start winning and all these high first round picks near/hit free agency it is going to cost a ton to keep them.

Fla Cowpoke · 03-02-2005

The 18 million for Henry over three years and the 11.5 over two years includes the complete signing bonus, any roster bonus, and salary. But the cap hit is not counted that way.

In Henry's case, while he actually will get 18 million in cash over the three years, the salary cap hit will be $2 million signing bonus, 1 million roster bonus, plus salary in 2005 and 2006, $2 million bonus and salary in 2007. The salary for those three years is $6 million total, so assume his salaries are $1m, $2m and $3m. The cap hit would then be 4 million next year, 5 million in 06, and 5 million in 07. But the cap number actually is about $300,000 less due to the rule of 51. That sound better? Base salary for years 4 and 5 will total $7 million, if split evenly we are talking about 5.5 million the last two years against the cap. This is a contract that he likely to finish, unless he really sucks or really is great, then he could be extended.

Ferguson's numbers work out to be less.