150M already committed to 2015 cap

[dffl11]

Look at that cap room in 2020. You can see Jerry's master plan coming into focus.

hahaha- hilarious

 

[starfrombirth]

He counts, but only counts less than if he were on the roster.

http://i5.***BLOCKED***/albums/y188/thehoofbite/ScreenShot2014-02-07at80959AM.jpg

This is from Spotrac. The dead money column is how much would be applied to the cap if the player were not on the roster for that season.

His cap hit is scheduled to be $16M but if he were cut all the money from the bolded value in the "MISC." column accelerates so if he's cut the team has a cap charge of $8.5M

They can split it to some degree by designating him a June 1st cut.

All that money in the "MISC." column has been given to Ware so it has to count against the cap no matter what. Dallas will have cap charges for Ware in 2014 no matter what.

This is excellent!.... Thanks for the clarification.

 

[theSHOW]

Highest in the league by about 20m (130M, NOLA). Resigning both Dez and Tyron doesn't seem easy without a Ware retirement.

The goal is to be last in the draft. Definitely not the highest salary. Cutting Ware lowers 2014 but it hugely lowers the cap hit in 2015. I would want to sign Smith longterm and see if we can get something for Bryant in the form of picks. The time is right to get in line with the competitive teams on this cap situation.

the year is 2014 sir, not 2015.

wrong. the year is 2015. Think of it like the automobile business. Moves made now effect the next 5 years.

 

[theSHOW]

I know Ware costs way too much, but given that DL is a major weakness, can we really afford to lose him?

yes. Sign 2 mid caliber D linemen for half of what we lose out on Ware. This isn't 1993 anymore. Can't keep players because of past performance and what they mean to the franchise. Even the players understand this. Here is to hoping Jerry catches wind that the cap is everything. Yes you still need good coaching. Yes you need a great environment. But having the best players for your monopoly money is the new 1st step. Twenty seasons ago it didn't even amount to 1% of the equation. And the concern for Ware 's body breaking down again is sadly huge.

 

[Hoofbite]

What I've learned about the cap over the past several years is we are always ove. Fans always freak about it. We always get under . We can always sign fas. It will catch up to us. It never does. And wait til adam post about it.

You can always get under, as Alexander has said. For me, it's not necessarily the status of the cap in terms of being over or under that is concerning, it's the fruits of the labor in "getting under" simply out of necessity simply because the team is always over.

There were some good DL on the free agent market last year, and rather than having to restructure to simply be compliant it would have been nice to restructure to add some actual talent to that group. That group had none beyond the 4 ideal-world starters, 2 of whom were clearly going to miss the start of camp way back in the spring. Look at the guys behind them. Cohen, Bass, Hayden, Selvie, Lissemore. Three guys who were basically street free agents, a 4th round pick, and a guy they traded.

There were safeties as well. World beaters? No, but better than Heath and Wilcox and not expensive. You can give me just about any safety with NFL experience over the combination of two guys from small schools who are known for likely every but producing NFL players.

Just a year earlier the team went bargain hunting at the OL.

What's in store for this year? Probably not a lot.

They signed just about anyone with a pulse for DL in 2013 (2 guys who had been passed around and cut multiple times over and Hayden who hadn't played in well over a year because he didn't get a call) when better players were available, they opted for 2 cast aways on the OL in a year when better players were available (thankfully Mack has played better), and they had to rely on a mid round pick from Georgia Southern and an undrafted guy from Saginaw State when experienced NFL players were available. Of the other 8 players who have been taken from Georgia Southern, none has been taken higher than the 5th round. They have more players taken in rounds 9-12 than they do in rounds 1-8 and the draft hasn't even had more than 7 rounds in how many years?

The most ridiculous part is that they've been over the cap every year even though they've stocked their roster with all these cheap players.

If that isn't at least starting to "catch up" then what is? Getting under at the expense of anything that resembles depth isn't something to be proud of.


If we need to talk in more simpler terms, here's some low-hanging fruit.

1. Why isn't every other team in the same cap position as Dallas year-in and year-out?

2. Why in hell isn't it working? Why hasn't all this advantage in borrowing actually panned out into something better than a team struggling to stay average?

 

[LatinMind]

I like that site.

Here's something I think will be very interesting. I posted a thread about it a while back and haven't seen any discussion on it so I don't know if I have a complete understanding of it but here goes.

See the number down at the bottom that says "Prorated Bonus", totaling of $38,026,316?

From 2013 through 2016 (and 2017 through 2020) teams have to spend 89% of the total combined cap in cash. They can be over or under in any given year so long as they are cap compliant but any difference must be made up in the other three years.

Pretending the cap would be $130M in 2015, 89% in cash spending would equal about $116M. Because "Prorated Bonus" money has already been paid it doesn't even count towards the year in which it is slated, only for the year in which it was paid.

To be cap compliant with $38M in "Prorated Bonus", it would seem Dallas would only have $92M in cash available to spend in order to remain under the salary cap itself. Restructuring doesn't help this because that is just base salary money that would have been paid throughout the course of the season anyway. The only real way that I could see to reach that cash floor would be to make up the difference in signing bonus money given to free agents that you could then spread over the next few years.

Slowing down a bit for 2014, Dallas has $43M in "Prorated Bonus" which would be 34% of the total cap number. They did hit over 95% in 2013 largely because of $25M given to Romo as a bonus but that only bought them about $8.3M in excess.

If you take the $126M cap number, 89% is just about $112M which means to hit 89% for this single year teams could only have $14M in cap dollars that aren't cash payments. With the $8.3M overage in 2013 Dallas effectively has $23M in money that they could fall short of the floor.

The problem is, that leaves $20M in money that must be made up between the years of 2015 and 2016.

Overthecap has Dallas at $38M for 2015 (18% over the cash floor for a projected $130M cap), and Dallas has $23M (6% over the cash floor on a cap of $135M). Where exactly do they make it up? Signing Dez helps as single year but increases "Prorated Bonus" money in the following years. Signing Tyron also helps in a single year but does the same for the following years.

Using $130M and $135M for 2015 and 2016 (which I think is an optimistic number), teams will have had to spend $457M in cash payouts. If their numbers are correct that leaves only $56.5M of the combined cap for those years that can actually be "Prorated Bonus".

Dallas was slotted for $124 in cash spending in 2013, leaving $390M which much be spent for 2014, 2015, and 2016.

With $43M in 2014, $38M in 2015, and $23M in 2016 for a grand total of $104M, Dallas is effectively at $96M after deducting the wiggle room that they bought in 2013.

That's $40M over what a team could have accumulated as non-cash cap dollars over the 4 year span. "Prorated Bonus" money does not come off the books. It will be charged.

If the team restructures Romo in 2014, they'll do so in 2015. Cash spent in 2014 doesn't go up because he would have earned that money after 16 games anyway. Cap figures for 2015 and 2016 go up as a result of non-cash cap charges that increase 2015 and 2016 "Prorated Bonus" dollars. If they go down to $1.5M base for 2014 it will add $2.4M to the "Prorated Bonus" for 2015 and 2016. If they go down to $2M base in 2015 it will add another $3M to 2016. Grand total of almost $11M so now we're at $51M under the 89% cash floor.

Both Dez and Tyron get new contracts soon. For simplicity sake, they both receive $10M as a signing bonus prior to 2015. That adds $4M to 2015 and $4M to 2016 in "Prorated Bonus", but also reduces the overall sum of cash spending by the combined $20M. That still puts Dallas at $39M under the 89% cash floor for the 4 year span.

So I guess the question is, how can they meet the cash floor? You'd seem to have to give out bonus money to do so. Reducing Ware's base salary actually HURTS in this regard because he's slotted to count for $12.5M of the cash spending and even at a reduced salary his overall cap number is still very high and the team doesn't get a lot of relief and will still have to restructure.

I dunno. Like I said, cap discussion always hinges on the salary cap ceiling but the new CBA threw in the cash floor and nobody has mentioned that yet so I'm not sure if I grasp the situation entirely. If I do, I fear that Dallas will be forced to replace mid-tier players with young vet minimum players just so they can free up enough cash to make big free agent signings. That seems like one of the only ways out. You have to reduce your current cap dollars without having the offsetting increase in future cap dollars AND pay out more money just to make up for the amount that you shorted in the previous years.

Just a thought.

I'm not sure what the penalty would be for failing to be cap compliant in this manner but I do know that whatever amount a team falls short must be paid regardless. If you come up $50M short in cash spending you have to cut a check for $50M to the NFLPA, I believe.

There was a article about this in this forum awhile back, dont know exactly what time frame but i read it here. But in that article it was saying that every team is going to be going thru this at some point. And some changes will have to be made to correct this flaw in the CBA

 

[Little Jr]

You can always get under, as Alexander has said. For me, it's not necessarily the status of the cap in terms of being over or under that is concerning, it's the fruits of the labor in "getting under" simply out of necessity simply because the team is always over.

There were some good DL on the free agent market last year, and rather than having to restructure to simply be compliant it would have been nice to restructure to add some actual talent to that group. That group had none beyond the 4 ideal-world starters, 2 of whom were clearly going to miss the start of camp way back in the spring. Look at the guys behind them. Cohen, Bass, Hayden, Selvie, Lissemore. Three guys who were basically street free agents, a 4th round pick, and a guy they traded.

There were safeties as well. World beaters? No, but better than Heath and Wilcox and not expensive. You can give me just about any safety with NFL experience over the combination of two guys from small schools who are known for likely every but producing NFL players.

Just a year earlier the team went bargain hunting at the OL.

What's in store for this year? Probably not a lot.

They signed just about anyone with a pulse for DL in 2013 (2 guys who had been passed around and cut multiple times over and Hayden who hadn't played in well over a year because he didn't get a call) when better players were available, they opted for 2 cast aways on the OL in a year when better players were available (thankfully Mack has played better), and they had to rely on a mid round pick from Georgia Southern and an undrafted guy from Saginaw State when experienced NFL players were available. Of the other 8 players who have been taken from Georgia Southern, none has been taken higher than the 5th round. They have more players taken in rounds 9-12 than they do in rounds 1-8 and the draft hasn't even had more than 7 rounds in how many years?

The most ridiculous part is that they've been over the cap every year even though they've stocked their roster with all these cheap players.

If that isn't at least starting to "catch up" then what is? Getting under at the expense of anything that resembles depth isn't something to be proud of.


If we need to talk in more simpler terms, here's some low-hanging fruit.

1. Why isn't every other team in the same cap position as Dallas year-in and year-out?

2. Why in hell isn't it working? Why hasn't all this advantage in borrowing actually panned out into something better than a team struggling to stay average?

I guess the 2 you are talking about knowing they was gonna miss the start of tc is spencer and rat? That's not true. Rat hurt himself or so he say the 1st day of training camp in the conditioning test. I don't know how far other teams are over or under so I can't speak to that. As far as why it isn't working? I feel like our cap issue wasn't the reason for our lack of success. Bad coaching, poor drafts and injuries have more to do with it than our cap. We didn't do much last year but the year before signned car, mack and livings. We will see how this year will work out.

 

[BoysFan4ever]

They will sign him to some stupid contract just like they always do with those type players. He'll have that surgery right before camp like someone else posted & probably have the same type of season he just had.

I like the guy but cut the cord already.

 

[LatinMind]

ESPN Football Today podcast with the guest from "overthecap.com"


And why is that? This is pretty darn big news worthy of discussion...

Think they meant 150 for this yr, not 2015.But its lower than 150, because they still have Cameron Lawrence, Gregg Olson on the team and theyve been cut.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Highest in the league by about 20m (130M, NOLA). Resigning both Dez and Tyron doesn't seem easy without a Ware retirement.

Don't worry about it, the NFL cap is really a joke when you consider all the ways you can manipulate it...........that is why Steven Jones laughs when people ask him about being over the cap.

 

[Hoofbite]

There was a article about this in this forum awhile back, dont know exactly what time frame but i read it here. But in that article it was saying that every team is going to be going thru this at some point. And some changes will have to be made to correct this flaw in the CBA

Changes? They'd have to go back to the bargaining table for that.

I'm not the players would go for that. It's not really a "flaw", it just means that SBs will need to be lower and base salaries have to go up, or roster/workout bonuses need to be more common. You write in a roster or workout bonus and if the player is there to receive it, that amount counts to the cash total 1:1.

I'm not sure you could sell the players on making less annual money simply because teams aren't able to keep their books in check.

I don't foresee a change.

 

[LatinMind]

Changes? They'd have to go back to the bargaining table for that.

I'm not the players would go for that. It's not really a "flaw", it just means that SBs will need to be lower and base salaries have to go up, or roster/workout bonuses need to be more common. You write in a roster or workout bonus and if the player is there to receive it, that amount counts to the cash total 1:1.

I'm not sure you could sell the players on making less annual money simply because teams aren't able to keep their books in check.

I don't foresee a change.

They dont make less thats the thing. When they restructure that SB money into future yrs they get it in a check on the spot. Its only prorated for cap purposes. So they're getting their money.

 

[Hoofbite]

They dont make less thats the thing. When they restructure that SB money into future yrs they get it in a check on the spot. Its only prorated for cap purposes. So they're getting their money.

Not sure what you're trying to explain.

If you're limited to 11% in prorations you won't be giving out large signing bonuses up front as often because any money that is prorated to future years in the form of non-cash cap dollars and occupies some of the 11%

There is no flaw. Teams will have to entice players with base salary, or other forms of bonuses that would count as cash payments for the particular year.

 

[Blackspider214]

smh.

I know Austin's contract goes ballistic for 2015 which will be obviously not a concern. I know Ware's amount goes to $18m. Romo and Lee have built in restructures. Its already been established that we won't be able to build the team in FA but we will be able to sign or own guys.

OH NOES!!!! PANIC!!! FACTS AND FIGURES ARE MEANINGLESS!!!!

Signing our own guys is the issue. Not many are going to help us get past 8-8 mediocrity.

And to whomever said cutting Ware would cause a hole can not be more wrong. Did you see him play? We have a hole on defense just him being out there. He has one agenda and that's rush the QB as fast as he can. Yet teams just run and throw screens right in the area he was supposed to be. And QBs just easily step up in the pocket because he runs directly by them every time.

 

[Ice Cream is Tasty]

overthecap has both Doug Free and Kyle Orton listed on the calculator for 2015. my understanding is that those contracts are written to be voided after 2014, so that is about 15.5 million that will be freed up after next season.

 

[LatinMind]

Not sure what you're trying to explain.

If you're limited to 11% in prorations you won't be giving out large signing bonuses up front as often because any money that is prorated to future years in the form of non-cash cap dollars and occupies some of the 11%

There is no flaw. Teams will have to entice players with base salary, or other forms of bonuses that would count as cash payments for the particular year.

So in your theory its not a bad deal because teams have to keep above the floor. So you say keep base salries higher, and lower the SB. Players will like this? This only makes it easier for teams to release players. How will players like this? Players want stability. These higher SB give them that. No just money wise but knowing teams arent going to release them because of the hit to the cap. And big signing bonuses are going to be made, and that basically takes almost every team below that floor because of normal yearly signings. with todays contracts that floor is not realistic. Im looking for that article that talks about this but i cant find it. It explains it in depth.

 

[LatinMind]

overthecap has both Doug Free and Kyle Orton listed on the calculator for 2015. my understanding is that those contracts are written to be voided after 2014, so that is about 15.5 million that will be freed up after next season.

Forgot about that. so Dallas is about 11mil in caproom for 2015, thanks

 

[Common Sense]

Don't worry about it, the NFL cap is really a joke when you consider all the ways you can manipulate it...........that is why Steven Jones laughs when people ask him about being over the cap.

Heh. It's also why he doesn't laugh when people ask him about his team's record, even though it's also a joke.

 

[Bluefin]

overthecap has both Doug Free and Kyle Orton listed on the calculator for 2015. my understanding is that those contracts are written to be voided after 2014, so that is about 15.5 million that will be freed up after next season.

You're looking at their 2015 cap numbers, not the projected savings.

Doug Free's contract voiding will lower his cap hit by $7.04M and Kyle Orton's contract voiding will lower his cap hit by $2.3725M.

That's $9.4125M before accounting for the two players who take their roster spots. Two 2015 first year minimum ($0.510K) contracts come to $1.02M for a net savings of $8.3925M.

When considering 2015, we know Tony Romo's contract will be restructured again, which will create up to $12.824M.

Demarcus Ware ($17.503M) will not count as currently shown.

If he's still on the roster next year, it will be at a reduced base salary (save maybe $6M). If Ware gets released this year, which I don't see happening, his entire 2015 cap number will be off the books.

Worst case scenario, if Dallas opts to restructure Ware this year (new bonus can be over 4 yrs or 5 yrs) and then releases him in '15, the team would still save $5.9785M (4yrs) or $4.839M (5yrs) after accounting for a first year salary replacing him on the roster.

Miles Austin is likely going to be a June release in the near future, though he may have a chance to reduce his base salary and remain through 2014.

If Austin gets the June release, it will lower his '15 cap number by $4.5312M with a net savings of $4.0212M after adding a first year minimum salary to take his spot.

Using the lowest possible 2015 savings for Ware ($4.839M), the five moves above would trim $30.0767M off the the Cowboys' 2015 cap commitment and see them at $100.512823M for 39 players.

The 2014 rookie class will likely include at least 10 players, their 2015 cap hit should be just under $7.5M based on Dallas' draft position.

That brings us to an estimated 49 players under contract for $108.012823M.

I think the team will have enough room for Dez Bryant and Tyron Smith.

 

[burmafrd]

Heh. It's also why he doesn't laugh when people ask him about his team's record, even though it's also a joke.

we cannot afford any pricy FA's because if we could Jerruh would have signed some. THAT is the real evidence we are cap strapped.