If you wanna know how the Skins do it...

[Kittymama]

This is an interesting post from PFT. They've got some of the recent signings & how the salaries actually break down. I've pulled out the ones of interest. Bottom line--low pay for the first 3 years, then you know they're gonna get cut. It would be interesting to see Adam's take on salary cap hits, tho, for the bonuses.

Commanders WR Antwaan Randle El will earn base salaries of $585,000 in 2006, $595,000 in 2007, $820,000 in 2008, $4 million in 2009, $4.25 million in 2010,$4.5 million in 2011, and $5 million in 2012 (looks like a three-year deal to us).

Commanders S Adam Archuleta gets base salaries of $585,000 in 2006, $595,000 in 2007, $1 million in 2008, $4 million in 2009, $5 million in 2010,$6 million in 2011, and $5 million in 2012 (looks like another three-year deal to us).

Browns C LeCharles Bentley will receive base salaries of $650,000 in 2006, $1.4 million in 2007, $2.4 million in 2008, $3.4 million in 2009, $5.9 million in 2010, and $5.9 million in 2011.

Eagles DE Darren Howard gets $1 million in base salary in 2006, $2 million in 2007, $2.5 million in 2008, $2 million in 2009, $3.5 million in 2010, and $4 million in 2011.

Falcons DE John Abraham receives a $2 million base salary in 2006, $2 million in 2007, $6 million in 2008, $5 million in 2009, $6.5 million in 2010, and $8 million in 2011.


They also have this info. on Glenn's new contract:

The Dallas Cowboys have signed receiver Terry Glenn to a five-year, $20 million deal, replacing the final year of his old contract, under which he was scheduled to make $2 million.

Per NFLPA records, Glenn will earn base salaries of $2 million in 2006, $820,000 in 2007, $1.74 million in 2008, $2 million in 2009, and $4.95 million in 2010.

That leaves $8.49 million in bonus money, some of which undoubtedly was paid upon signing and/or as a 2006 roster bonus. Based on the salaries, it looks to us like a three-year deal.

 

[parchy]

I'm still trying to figure out why players would want to sign with the Commanders when they know they won't see nearly the same amount of money they would in other places. It's so obvious what they're doing that you'd think NFL agents would be looking out for that kind of thing.

 

[lkelly]

I'm still trying to figure out why players would want to sign with the Commanders when they know they won't see nearly the same amount of money they would in other places. It's so obvious what they're doing that you'd think NFL agents would be looking out for that kind of thing.

It's pretty simple, really. Collect a big bonus up front in exchange for 2-3 years worth of time on the field. Plan on getting cut and collect that one last bonus check from another team after those 2-3 years.

Most NFL deals aren't that different. The Eagles didn't sign Owens long term when they "traded for him" a few years ago. It was a deal designed to be revisited this offseason all along.

 

[jcblanco22]

I'm still trying to figure out why players would want to sign with the Commanders when they know they won't see nearly the same amount of money they would in other places. It's so obvious what they're doing that you'd think NFL agents would be looking out for that kind of thing.

I may be totally betraying my relatively flimsy knowledge on this topic, but let me take a stab at it. Could it be that they also know that there are overwhelmingly good chances that roster bonuses throughout the contract will be converted to immediate cash when they need to restructure contracts every offseason?

I don't know if that makes any sense, but perhaps this is part of the reason.

 

[SkinsandTerps]

It's pretty simple, really. Collect a big bonus up front in exchange for 2-3 years worth of time on the field. Plan on getting cut and collect that one last bonus check from another team after those 2-3 years.

Most NFL deals aren't that different. The Eagles didn't sign Owens long term when they "traded for him" a few years ago. It was a deal designed to be revisited this offseason all along.

And TOs new contract is setup basically as 3 one year deals.

 

[lkelly]

And TOs new contract is setup basically as 3 one year deals.

Correct. What that has to do with the discussion of Randle-El's contract, I have no idea.

 

[SkinsFan26]

It's pretty simple, really. Collect a big bonus up front in exchange for 2-3 years worth of time on the field. Plan on getting cut and collect that one last bonus check from another team after those 2-3 years.

Most NFL deals aren't that different. The Eagles didn't sign Owens long term when they "traded for him" a few years ago. It was a deal designed to be revisited this offseason all along.

Sounds pretty smart to me!

 

[lkelly]

Sounds pretty smart to me!

I don't recall ever questioning the intelligence of it.

If anyone is going to call into doubt the wisdom behind some of these contracts, it is the choice of the player and the continual dealing of draft picks.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I'm still trying to figure out why players would want to sign with the Commanders when they know they won't see nearly the same amount of money they would in other places. It's so obvious what they're doing that you'd think NFL agents would be looking out for that kind of thing.

Agents are only looking out for themselves. The reported dollar value of their client's contract is often more important than the "real" value of the contract.

Think of it as their way of adverstising.

 

[CowboysFaninHouston]

I'm still trying to figure out why players would want to sign with the Commanders when they know they won't see nearly the same amount of money they would in other places. It's so obvious what they're doing that you'd think NFL agents would be looking out for that kind of thing.

its the upfront cash and seemingly three year deal that allows them to test FA again.

 

[jterrell]

The issue for the Skins is giving everyone and their momma double digit signing bonuses then cutting them halfway through their contract or being forced to restructure every off-season continuing to put off payment.

Its kinda like having 10 credit cards and when they come due just opening 2 more to meet minimum payments on the other 10. Eventually you'll have to pay off the actual debt but you can float a long time.

Getting Arrington to give back 4.5 million was the only way they had an off-season this year. How they did that with a player who already filed suit for getting less than he felt he was promised is beyond me, well not really, but proving it would be.

Randel El signed a 7 year 31 mil deal with 11 and change mil up front. That makes it a REAL value of 3 years 14 or so mil which is a reasonable deal. BUT the Skins structured it so that the hit right now is miniscule and will be HUGE when he gets traded, released or retires. If they cut him in 3 years because they can't pay a 3rd WR 4 mil base they will eat 8 million in cap hits which can at most be spread over 2 years. 8 million in cap hits for a 2nd WR???? WOW!!! Thats simply never come close to happening. OR if they restructure it to give him 3 mil of that 4 mil in a signing bonus then he will count 8 mil if released the next year. Essentailly the Skins are guaranteed under any circumstance to eat a huge cap hit when Randel El leaves.

That also goes for Lloyd, Archuleta, Portis, Brunell, Randy Thomas, Carlos Rogers, Shawn Springs and most of the rest of their starting lineup.

 

[zrinkill]

We already know how they do it ......

P.T.

 

[Longboysfan]

But each year the Skins keep restructuring to get by.
That is the key for them.
And the agents fall into this game also.
Getting more player $$$ into their pocket for setting up the restructured contract.

We did the same thing at the beginning of the Salary CAP era with the triplets.
It cost us later in the game.
But with the new CBA in place - and the owners knowing what the CAP may be for a few years - they can escalate some contracts.
So the Skins got a year off in 2006.
But next year if the CAP goes up a bit gives them room to breathe.
So if they have to get rid of a big $ contract then it is not a huge problem to eat some of the bonus dollars.

 

[CoCo]

I've heard lots of comments about the Commanders impending cap doom. I've also read many complaints that they are somehow cheating the cap.

Truth is that cap strategy is a multi-year plan that few of us have the information nor understanding to see just how much trouble or not the team might be in.

We take a simple premise that says the cap caught up with Dallas & SF back in the day and the Skins actions look very similar, therefore...

Unless you have all the numbers, and projected numbers, it remains speculation at some level.

When, and if, the cap causes real pain for the Skins it'll be because the annual cap growth proved insufficient to absorb escalating salaries. But none of us can sit here and definitively say that day is coming or is X years away. It just "feels" that way. That is hardly solid ground.

I'm not suggesting they'll have no problems, or for X years etc. I'm just saying we don't have enough concrete info to really make those predictions.

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

Cap Hell? What is this cap hell you speak of?​

 

[superpunk]

Looks like Danny/Napoleon has a serious belly button lint problem.

get that checked out, fella.

 

[zrinkill]

Danny reminds me of that kid of the Christmas Story ........ I guess a Superbowl is is Red Rider BB Gun ......

Wonder if it will shot his eye out?

 

[Gent]

I've always thought of the Commanders as being in Cap Purgatory. It's not as bad as Cap Hell, but they are stuck there until they pay their dues.

-Gent

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I've heard lots of comments about the Commanders impending cap doom. I've also read many complaints that they are somehow cheating the cap.

Truth is

the truth is the cap keeps getting larger and larger every year, and outside of the high-priced contracts on the team, they don't have much in the way of contracts, so they continually release cheaper players to get money under the cap

cap getting larger, plus releasing depth equals the Commander's strategy

 

[Billy Bullocks]

Isn't there some 30% rule, so that you cant increase a players salary by more than 30% each year. the jump from 1mil to 4mil seems alot more than that.