Erik_H;5080335 said:
I agree that there's no way we should keep Free at his current rate, but it doesn't really wash out the same. I think (and the numbers may be a bit off) that he's currently on the books for 10 mil in signing bonus. That doesn't count any of his salary. I just think we are trying to work out a way to make that signing bonus spread out over 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Then I would say that's a horrible plan. Keeping a guy simply because you wish to spread his cap hit out over an additional year is just foolish.
In terms of it being a wash, maybe I'm just overlooking something.
If you were to get $5M in space this year and you entered the year with $4M in cap space to roll over.
Or
If you were to $3M in cap space this year and you entered the year with $6M in cap space to roll over.
Dallas currently has $4.4M in cap space. Cutting free will drop his cap charge by $7M, giving them $11.4M.
If it was an equal split, Dallas would have $9.4M after freeing up the $5M.
Whatever they enter the season with under the actual split of money is going to be $2M more than what they would have entered the season with if it would have been an equal split. That rollover just adds to the set cap next year.
So they will essentially take that $2M difference and increase Dallas' team cap by $2M, provided that Dallas actually enteres the season with at least $2M in cap space.
If the cap is set at $125M next year.
Scenario 1: $3M/$7M split with Dallas spending $9M in cap space afterward, entering the season with $2M in cap space.
$3/$7M split: $2M to roll over = $127M team cap. Next year Free has dead money of $7M.
Scenario 2: $5M/$5M split with Dallas spending $9M in cap space afterward, entering the season with $2M in cap space.
$5M/$5M split: $0M to roll over = $125M team cap. Next year Free has dead money of $5M.
Like I said, maybe I'm missing something but so long as Dallas has the difference available to roll over it seems like it's just gonna come out the same in the long run.
If we cut him right now, it would be 10M this year. If we cut him right now and designate him a June 1, it's 3 mil this year and 7 mil in 2014.
If we keep him one more year, then cut him as a June 1 cut NEXT year, that 10 mil spreads out over 2013, 2014 and 2015.
I think the Cowboys desire to do this is what is driving this whole thing and Free knowing that is his only leverage. The Cowboy don't want to eat 7 mil all in 2014, but eventually will if Free insists on refusing the pay cut since his current salary outweighs any savings they'd get from spreading out the hit.
Well, you'd have to include a base salary in there so who knows. Current base salary of $7M the only way I'd be willing to keep him on board would be if he would reduce it down to $1M.
If we assume $1M, that makes the number a little closer to $11M in cap charges for Doug Free to be on the roster and get cut next year. $4M would come this year and $3M next year and $4M the following.
The difference really isn't that great. Certainly not worth considering keeping the guy because of it.