PFT: The real DeMarcus Ware numbers

[WoodysGirl]

Posted by Mike Florio on October 29, 2009 8:09 PM ET

We've seen scattered reports with bits and pieces of the contract signed Monday by Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware. Much of what we've seen elsewhere doesn't mesh with the actual numbers.

So here they are.

Per a source with knowledge of the contract, Ware received a signing bonus of $20 million. The balance of his guaranteed money comes from guaranteed base salaries in the first three seasons.

The reality is that, in contracts with non-guaranteed base salaries, the base salaries for the first three years typically are guaranteed as a practical matter. So the "guaranteed" money comes from other devices, with the base salaries counting separately.

In Ware's case, he gets a 2009 base salary of $6.005 million, a 2010 base salary of $7.8 million, and a 2011 base salary of $6.7 million. All guaranteed.

In 2012, Ware gets a $4.5 million base salary with a $500,000 workout bonus. In 2013, the salary moves to $5.5 million, with another $500,000 workout bonus.

The final two seasons potentially are bogus, with base salaries of $12.25 million and $13.75 million.

So the six-year, $78 million contract is in reality a seven-year, $79 million deal with a practical value of five years, $53 million.

Ware will pocket $33.8 million the first two years, and $40.5 million in the first three.

It's hardly chump change, but as usual the deal isn't as good for the player as advertised by those with an incentive to advertise the fact that a blockbuster deal has been negotiated.

 

[Hawksfan81]

I think it would be smart to pay off the bonus next year so that it doesn't count against the cap the following year. I am sure jerry can afford it so why not?

 

[Randy White]

So the six-year, $78 million contract is in reality a seven-year, $79 million deal with a practical value of five years, $53 million..

That's pretty much what I figured after reading the numbers from the DC Blog..


Heck of a deal for the Cowboys, by the way.

 

[Big Dakota]

By summer 2013 when he's going in to the final two years he'll be 31 and it'll be time to rethink the contract and that's if he stays healthy for the next 3 1/2 years. He'll never see the 12 and 13 million salaries in 2014 and 2015.

 

[tecolote]

By summer 2013 when he's going in to the final two years he'll be 31 and it'll be time to rethink the contract and that's if he stays healthy for the next 3 1/2 years. He'll never see the 12 and 13 million salaries in 2014 and 2015.

I don't agree, he should still be at his prime or close to it when he is 31. That's the same age as James Harrison of the Steelers right now.

I think he plays out his contract.

 

[Big Dakota]

I don't agree, he should still be at his prime or close to it when he is 31. That's the same age as James Harrison of the Steelers right now.

I think he plays out his contract.

Yep. that's why contracts are set up that way

 

[Randy White]

I think it would be smart to pay off the bonus next year so that it doesn't count against the cap the following year. I am sure jerry can afford it so why not?

The signing bonus is already paid and the pro-rated figure ( 3.3 mills ) started counting against the cap this year, I think.

Now, if you're suggesting that the Cowboys should have written up the contract in a way where the 20 million dollars would have been paid next year and that way not count against the cap, the answer is: they couldn't do that.

As per the rule, no player may be signed to a contract during the uncapped year ( 2010 ) that exceeds more than 30% of what he made the previous year. That rule ( along with others that prevent teams from going crazy ) was inserted in the current CBA exactly to prevent scenarios like that. That's why the Cowboys also made it a point of increasing his base salary this year to 7 millions, adding 6 mills to the already 1 million he was making. Add the prorated figure of the signing bonus and his cap hit this year is 10 + millions. That figure will be well within the 30% of the salary he's going to be making next year ( 2010 ): 7.8 base salary + 3.3 bonus = 11.1 millions.

Now, there's a loophole to that rule, which is that the team could have wait to pay the player as an incentive bonus ( or something to that effect ) but it was too complicated and not really practical for either the player or the team.

 

[Temo]

I don't agree, he should still be at his prime or close to it when he is 31. That's the same age as James Harrison of the Steelers right now.

I think he plays out his contract.

What he's saying is that those are years when a player redoes his deal for more years.

 

[Randy White]

By summer 2013 when he's going in to the final two years he'll be 31 and it'll be time to rethink the contract and that's if he stays healthy for the next 3 1/2 years. He'll never see the 12 and 13 million salaries in 2014 and 2015.

That will depend on his production, his physical status, what shape the team is in roster wise, and the details of the new CBA, ie: how strict(er) the new cap is going to be.

If everything is equal, ie: he's healthy, he's productive, and the new CBA is not that much stricter than it currently is ( and it's not nearly as strict as it was when it was first implemented ) he might get a 5 year extencion that would erase those two seasons, or the Cowboys might even let him play it out.

Lots of variables to even think about right now.

 

[Big Dakota]

What he's saying is that those are years when a player redoes his deal for more years.

Yep, and if he's healthy and producing he'll get good coin, if he's not he won't. Brooking was 33 when he signed with us and he got 3 years and 6 million. Far cry from 6 years and 78 million with 40 up front.

 

[Big Dakota]

That will depend on his production, his physical status, what shape the team is in roster wise, and the details of the new CBA, ie: how strict(er) the new cap is going to be.

If everything is equal, ie: he's healthy, he's productive, and the new CBA is not that much stricter than it currently is ( and it's not nearly as strict as it was when it was first implemented ) he might get a 5 year extencion that would erase those two seasons, or the Cowboys might even let him play it out.

Lots of variables to even think about right now.

Yep, didn't know that, thanks

 

[tecolote]

Yep. that's why contracts are set up that way

Let me understand, so you don't think Ware will be worth 13 million a year in 4 years?

That is what a premium pass rusher is worth now. For all we know, Ware could be a bargain in 4 years.

Or are you saying he will ask for more money?

 

[tecolote]

What he's saying is that those are years when a player redoes his deal for more years.

Thanks Temo, I just think that 13 million a year for a premium pass rusher could be a bargain in 4 years.

Health permiting of course.

 

[TheSport78]

Posted by Mike Florio on October 29, 2009 8:09 PM ET

We've seen scattered reports with bits and pieces of the contract signed Monday by Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Ware.

Stopped reading here.

 

[UnoDallas]

heres what BTB Raul has

DeMarcus Ware's contract numbers are as follows:
Ware received a $20 million signing bonus and had $5 million of salary added to this year's contract. He also receives $500,000 a year in workout bonuses from 2011 through 2015.

• 2010 - $7.8 million
• 2011 - $6.7 million
• 2012 - $4.5 million
• 2013 - $5.5 million
• 2014 - $12.25 million
• 2015 - $13.75 million

Total Salary: $50.5 million
Signing Bonus: $20 million
Additional 2009 salary: $5 million
Incentives: $2.5 million
Total: $78 million
(Note: autographied $1 bill from Jerry - priceless)
His $20 million signing bonus can only be prorated over 5 years, since 2009 is the Final Capped Year (see Proration above). This means that the prorated portion of the bonus has a yearly impact of $4 million. So this year's cap number for the Cowboys was just increased by $9 million.
Adding the prorated bonus amounts to the salary, the cap hit is:

• 2010 - $11.8 million
• 2011 - $10.7 million
• 2012 - $8.5 million
• 2013 - $9.5 milliom
• 2014 - $16.25 million
• 2015 - $14.75 million

Now add the workout bonuses to 2011 and 2015, plus the additional salary money he got this year:

• 2009 - $5 million
• 2010 - $11.8 million
• 2011 - $11.2 milliom
• 2012 - $9 million
• 2013 - $10 million
• 2014 - $16.75 million
• 2015 - $14.25 million

Grand Total: $78,000,000

it s all greek to me

 

[RealCowboyfan]

I hope he continues to be consistent.