Breer: How the Eagles have circumvented the salary cap the last couple of years

[CowboyFrog]

I feel that a big part of the problem is that Jerry Jones considers ‘rebuilding’ to be a dirty word.

He’d rather stay ‘close to the rim’ every year rather than pushing all his chips in to capitalize on a window of opportunity and risk that rebuilding.

this is 100% true...one is on a time schedule for his job the other is looking at ticket sales.

 

[Chasing6]

Can any board cap expert make sense of this ...........man, if this is true, Howie is 4-5 steps ahead of the Jerry.

https://www.si.com/nfl/nfl/nfl-mailbag-rams-nfc-west-favorite

From Birds By A Billion (@SeeUSoonBoyy): Is the league talking about changing the salary cap rules because the Eagles have broken the system? They have been successfully pushing payments into void years. The Eagles are paying Jason [Kelce] $14 million in 2025 and he retired before last season. Make it make sense.


From Steelers Depot (@Steelersdepot): Recently, Roger Goodell talked about the need to look into the integrity of the salary cap, which is probably related to cash spending, void years and rolling option bonuses. Off the cuff, what, in your opinion, would be a good solution to restore that integrity?

Steelers and Birds, I do think some of this relates to cash spending.

So, for those who don’t know, the Eagles have effectively, legally circumvented the salary cap over the past couple of years by pushing cap charges way off into the future. That, to be clear, doesn’t eliminate those charges. It just leaves them to be accounted for some other day. And it’s through no nefarious method. You or I could scribble out a similar strategy on a page of notebook paper. It is simply buying something now that you’re paying for in cash that will be accounted for on the salary cap later.

There is not interest charge in the NFL for paying it in future years.

Money today is more valuable than the following year - simple understanding of inflation.

I am pretty sure, almost everyone understands those basic concepts.

 

[thunderpimp91]

I feel that a big part of the problem is that Jerry Jones considers ‘rebuilding’ to be a dirty word.

He’d rather stay ‘close to the rim’ every year rather than pushing all his chips in to capitalize on a window of opportunity and risk that rebuilding.

I would tend to agree, but its also why fan frustration was so high last season. double digit wins with an early playoff exit year after year just becomes defeating and boring. They've made some steps in the right direction this offseason, but I also think the pressure is going to be on Jerry/Stephen if we are in the hunt mid season and in obvious need of a player or two to put us over the top. They need to be ready to spend if thats the case. If not it just makes trading for a guy like Pickens a total waste of resources other than making a few extra bucks.

 

[CowboyFrog]

There is not interest charge in the NFL for paying it in future years.

Money today is more valuable than the following year - simple understanding of inflation.

I am pretty sure, almost everyone understands those basic concepts.

true, then you get into what inflation actual is to the NFL..things get dicey there because they basically set the price and the cap. TV networks probably do try and negotiate but lets be real are they gonna say no?

 

[gtb1943]

circumventing hints of illegalities and there is nothing illegal about what the Birds are doing
they are thinking creatively and outside the box

and also doing it with a highly competent front office which leaves us out

 

[CowboyFrog]

circumventing hints of illegalities and there is nothing illegal about what the Birds are doing
they are thinking creatively and outside the box

and also doing it with a highly competent front office which leaves us out

Well.. i mean but..if you look at it this way...Yeah i got nothing to fight that last part.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

circumventing hints of illegalities and there is nothing illegal about what the Birds are doing
they are thinking creatively and outside the box

and also doing it with a highly competent front office which leaves us out

It’s equivalent to what we did in the 90s……Cowboys could afford to spend more than everyone. Laurie can afford to spend more than everyone. The smaller market teams will suffer more than likely….

 

[75boyz]

I would tend to agree, but its also why fan frustration was so high last season. double digit wins with an early playoff exit year after year just becomes defeating and boring. They've made some steps in the right direction this offseason, but I also think the pressure is going to be on Jerry/Stephen if we are in the hunt mid season and in obvious need of a player or two to put us over the top. They need to be ready to spend if thats the case. If not it just makes trading for a guy like Pickens a total waste of resources other than making a few extra bucks.

Yep,
Fivetwos has commented quite accurately on this often in past posts.
They need to execute a fully cohesive plan to actually go for it when the timing is right and not just stick to an annual "well at least they acquired this guy so they did something to stay relevant crap."

Their plan has been no plan.
At least not to win it all.

 

[Blitzen]

I'll concede they are a better front office than Dallas, but you're giving them credit for doing things that most teams, including the Cowboys, do.

They didn't want to pay Hargrave because he was 30. Not because he was "okay or good". Darius Slay respectively has been *** for 3 or so years now....

It's no different than Dallas letting guys like Tyron go, or Chauncey Gholston, or Jourdan Lewis, etc.

Yes, they got rid of Wentz, but got rid of Wentz after giving him a big deal, and once Hurts showed he can be the guy. Plus, Wentz killed the locker room or tried to.

Jalen Carter is on his way to being one of the best players in the league if he keeps this trajectory. He'd never give him up.


None of these moves work, though, without the trenches play. And one thing they have managed to do is find offensive line talent from the 1st to 7th round. That goes a long way.

And even when it comes to Hurts, you keep regulating him to his "legs". I saw that team carve us up last year with Tanner McKee and Kenny Pickett. Hurts is more than his legs. Anthony Richardson is not. Still gotta have the arm talent. Hurts does have that.

I’m glad that you concede that the Eagles manage their team better-is anyone arguing otherwise?

I mean currently that Hurts’ best weapon is his legs-not his arm (and opposing defenses must account for it or suffer the consequences-it cost KC dearly in the SB). It will take massive improvements for me to change my mind on that. He does seem to have a good feel for when to tuck and run for necessary yardage and when to buy time to throw.

Fletcher Cox was kept on into his 30’s. They make exceptions for the best players-but mostly they weigh how important the player is to winning a championship for the length of the contract offered. That’s the premise-not how likely can this player help the team stay competitive with the bulk of teams in the league (then pay a premium for that goal). And like many other posters point out, their franchise is not scared to death of a complete 1-4 year rebuild.

Zero players are untouchable to Howie. Some are just higher valued commodities-which is the way a true GM must function if they don’t own the team. Hurts never proved he was the guy before Wentz left-they just knew Wentz was not the guy. Again, they were okay with a rebuild if need be.

 

[Proof]

I dont know if its being ahead of the Jones clan, as much as it is simply having an owner willing to spend massive amounts of cash to pull this off. Every team knows the tricks to kick cap down the road, but you typically have to pay significant signing bonuses on the front end. The Eagles outspend the Cowboys by about $50M last season, despite the massive cash bonuses the Cowboys paid in extending Lamb and Dak last year.

Now this hasnt always been the case, the Cowboys have had years where they've exceeded Phillys spending, however Philly seems to understand spending more during your windows to win and spending less during your rebuilding phases. The Cowboys like the hang around the rim philosophy that keeps them interesting but rarely true contenders for a super bowl.

This along with all of the draft capital from the Wentz trade (and subsequent trades stemming from) allowed them a ton of flexibility in moving on from high priced players in exchange for rookie contract contributors. i mean for like 3 straight years they had 2 1st rd picks, and then 3 2nds etc.

 

[Chasing6]

circumventing hints of illegalities and there is nothing illegal about what the Birds are doing
they are thinking creatively and outside the box

and also doing it with a highly competent front office which leaves us out

They have a GM that understands the cap.

They are also not afraid of discussing a new contract a year before we even start. If the talks are unrealistic or more than whst they are willing to pay they are not afraid of trading players to save money and replenish their draft picks, while we let people walk and hope for a comp pick the follow year.

 

[TNCowboy]

The Bills have the least amount of cap space available in the league.

Different discussion.

The Bills have like $95M in voided cap space out to 2032. The Eagles have 4 or 5 times that.

 

[TwistedL0g1k]

This along with all of the draft capital from the Wentz trade (and subsequent trades stemming from) allowed them a ton of flexibility in moving on from high priced players in exchange for rookie contract contributors. i mean for like 3 straight years they had 2 1st rd picks, and then 3 2nds etc.

Very good point! This has really made the difference for them.

Too bad Jerry doesn't think like that. There was a time when Dak would have actually fetched a decent haul of picks. Jerry doesn't trade players, he marries them.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

I’m glad that you concede that the Eagles manage their team better-is anyone arguing otherwise?

I mean currently that Hurts’ best weapon is his legs-not his arm (and opposing defenses must account for it or suffer the consequences-it cost KC dearly in the SB). It will take massive improvements for me to change my mind on that. He does seem to have a good feel for when to tuck and run for necessary yardage and when to buy time to throw.

Fletcher Cox was kept on into his 30’s. They make exceptions for the best players-but mostly they weigh how important the player is to winning a championship for the length of the contract offered. That’s the premise-not how likely can this player help the team stay competitive with the bulk of teams in the league (then pay a premium for that goal). And like many other posters point out, their franchise is not scared to death of a complete 1-4 year rebuild.

Zero players are untouchable to Howie. Some are just higher valued commodities-which is the way a true GM must function if they don’t own the team. Hurts never proved he was the guy before Wentz left-they just knew Wentz was not the guy. Again, they were okay with a rebuild if need be.

They spent a 2nd round pick on Hurts....it wasn't to be Taysom Hill or a backup. You don't spend a 2nd round on a QB. Wentzwas cooked he wasn't very good.

The Eagles have kept Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Slay.....I think Bradberry may even still be on the roster. Eagles deserve praise and credit but you guys are giving them credit for "getting rid of guys" when that's not any different then what the Cowboys though. Cowboys do that. What they don't do or have is build within the trenches. Not effectively anyway.

 

[Chasing6]

They spent a 2nd round pick on Hurts....it wasn't to be Taysom Hill or a backup. You don't spend a 2nd round on a QB. Wentzwas cooked he wasn't very good.

The Eagles have kept Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Slay.....I think Bradberry may even still be on the roster. Eagles deserve praise and credit but you guys are giving them credit for "getting rid of guys" when that's not any different then what the Cowboys though. Cowboys do that. What they don't do or have is build within the trenches. Not effectively anyway.

They also traded Wentz for a 3rd in 2021 and for a 1st in 2022.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

They also traded Wentz for a 3rd in 2021 and for a 1st in 2022.

They did. I'll give them their due on Wentz. He was trash, and they traded him, I think, for a conditional 2nd rounder that turned into a 1st. Which was pure stupidity because the Colts could've easily stopped them from getting it, but for whatever reason, after he showed how bad he was, they just kept playing him, which turned into Jalen Carter. Genius move. Pains me to say it, but it was.

 

[DanTanna]

What I like about the Eagles is that they cut their Carson Wentz. We signed our Carson Wentz to the largest contract in NFL history.

 

[KingCorcoran]

I wish Jerry would realize that the Cowboys will be popular no matter what so why not focus on winning SBs.

That’s a lot of work.

 

[Chasing6]

They did. I'll give them their due on Wentz. He was trash, and they traded him, I think, for a conditional 2nd rounder that turned into a 1st. Which was pure stupidity because the Colts could've easily stopped them from getting it, but for whatever reason, after he showed how bad he was, they just kept playing him, which turned into Jalen Carter. Genius move. Pains me to say it, but it was.

It's pure genius by a GM that values today's picks vs future comp picks.

I strongly believe Comp Picks were created for competitive balance reasons, for teams with very poor GM's.

 

[conner01]

I doubt this is surprising news to anyone. We have all seen the Eagles sign players right and left every year and wonder how they can fit them all in their salary cap.

Will the league do something about it? Since it's not the Cowboys, I doubt it. Watch for other teams to start adopting this philosophy until they do.

My bet is all this is several feet above the Cowboys (Stephen) heads and they don't understand how this works.

We do the same thing. Voidable years at the end of a contract. It’s the only way you can maintain growing salaries that are out pacing the growing revenue. They do it a little different by throwing out cash and Jerry only does that with a few guys