Salary cap adjustments

[jterrell]

I'm not forgetting it all. They have to restructure Witten, Carr, Romo, Lee and Scandrick to do anything this offseason. I'm not as down on Carr and Witten as others and I think Lee, Scandrick and Romo are must keep guys.

I'm not in a hurry to cut Ware, but it is one of the best ways to make the team better now and in the future. I would rather trade him because I think he still has value left. It's just a cost vs production thing. They can almost replace him for a third of the salary cap hit and get another top player to boot. If you think he would take a major pay cut, then that is a better plan. I just don't think he would take a big enough cut to make a difference.

As I described above he doesn't need to take a major pay cut or even a pay cut at all to save us maximum dollars.

The only reason to cut Ware this year is for FUTURE cap. Cheaper to keep her... so to speak.
And I am trying to describe why the FUTURE cap is really just as bad using other methods to free up space.

I'd prefer to extend Ware 1 year and have him agree to a minimal pay cut with additional guaranteed money to make it feasible.
Lock Ware in at a princely sum with 3rd down pass rush duties at a minimum for 2 seasons.

I'd still draft a DE if I could because seldom do guys walk in as studs day 1.
Options:

Restructure Ware as is and save 8.5M. --but have same predicament next year.
Cut now save 7.5M --but have only Selvie as returning DE.
Extend Ware now and save ~10M. --and you could lock in lower rate for 1015 as well a la Doug Free.
Cut him June 2nd and save 13.3M with large dead money in 2015. --but have no room from him til June 2nd and have an open DE spot.

IF Dallas has max cap dollars right now cutting Ware now makes most sense.

BUT sense you are extending Carr, Lee, Witten and others who are questionable going forward it is far more challenging.

 

[Nightman]

As I described above he doesn't need to take a major pay cut or even a pay cut at all to save us maximum dollars.

The only reason to cut Ware this year is for FUTURE cap. Cheaper to keep her... so to speak.
And I am trying to describe why the FUTURE cap is really just as bad using other methods to free up space.

I'd prefer to extend Ware 1 year and have him agree to a minimal pay cut with additional guaranteed money to make it feasible.
Lock Ware in at a princely sum with 3rd down pass rush duties at a minimum for 2 seasons.

I'd still draft a DE if I could because seldom do guys walk in as studs day 1.
Options:

Restructure Ware as is and save 8.5M. --but have same predicament next year.
Cut now save 7.5M --but have only Selvie as returning DE.
Extend Ware now and save ~10M. --and you could lock in lower rate for 1015 as well a la Doug Free.
Cut him June 2nd and save 13.3M with large dead money in 2015. --but have no room from him til June 2nd and have an open DE spot.

IF Dallas has max cap dollars right now cutting Ware now makes most sense.

BUT sense you are extending Carr, Lee, Witten and others who are questionable going forward it is far more challenging.

Like I said, if you can get Ware to agree to the pay cut, that is the best plan. What you describe is going from 12.25m and a 500k workout bonus in 2014 and 13.75m and a 500k workout bonus in 2015 to 9m in 2014 and 5m in 2015. I would call that significant and so would his agent.

 

[AbeBeta]

The only June 1st cut to make is Miles Austin. His cap hit is so large that cutting him prior to June eats up space rather than frees it.

Not really - the difference between keeping him and cutting him is about 400k in cap space if he's a regular cut. We may bite the bullet on that one if it gets him off the books for 2015.

 

[Galian Beast]

Not really - the difference between keeping him and cutting him is about 400k in cap space if he's a regular cut. We may bite the bullet on that one if it gets him off the books for 2015.

2015 isn't nearly as cap restrained as 2014. Cutting him in 2014 as a regular cut does nothing to help us in 2014.

 

[AbeBeta]

2015 isn't nearly as cap restrained as 2014. Cutting him in 2014 as a regular cut does nothing to help us in 2014.

It is a wash -- same as keeping him basically.

The argument that 2015 isn't as constrained is meaningless. Of course it isn't - we haven't pushed money from 2014 contracts forward yet nor have we cut guys who are going to add dead $ to 2015 yet. We certainly have what appears right now to be more space as there are several expiring contracts Dez, Costa, Free, Orton, Parnell, and Tyron Smith are all guys who make over 1 mill a year who have expired contracts after 2014. I see at least two players there who are likely heading into 2015 with big big deals in their pockets. No matter how cap friendly, you can be sure their cap expense is increasing substantially.

So really, any claims about 2015 or even thinking of 2015 as a meaningful comparison point right now is silly.

 

[Little Jr]

Where adam?

 

[Galian Beast]

It is a wash -- same as keeping him basically.

The argument that 2015 isn't as constrained is meaningless. Of course it isn't - we haven't pushed money from 2014 contracts forward yet nor have we cut guys who are going to add dead $ to 2015 yet. We certainly have what appears right now to be more space as there are several expiring contracts Dez, Costa, Free, Orton, Parnell, and Tyron Smith are all guys who make over 1 mill a year who have expired contracts after 2014. I see at least two players there who are likely heading into 2015 with big big deals in their pockets. No matter how cap friendly, you can be sure their cap expense is increasing substantially.

So really, any claims about 2015 or even thinking of 2015 as a meaningful comparison point right now is silly.

Even new contracts in 2015 will be generally backloaded. When you're looking to create space, you're not looking for a wash, you're looking for savings.

Orton won't be here after his contract expires btw.

 

[jterrell]

Like I said, if you can get Ware to agree to the pay cut, that is the best plan. What you describe is going from 12.25m and a 500k workout bonus in 2014 and 13.75m and a 500k workout bonus in 2015 to 9m in 2014 and 5m in 2015. I would call that significant and so would his agent.

He went from 0 guaranteed money to 14 Million.
And guaranteed money is king.
It will not work if he feels he can get more guaranteed money elsewhere but I take Ware's first comments to represent his desire to be here and help with the cap.
He isn't gonna do that for pennies but no one is starving off 14m guaranteed.

 

[AbeBeta]

Even new contracts in 2015 will be generally backloaded. When you're looking to create space, you're not looking for a wash, you're looking for savings.

Orton won't be here after his contract expires btw.

They will be backloaded. But, for example, look at Dez. He's going to have a deal that nets about 15mill a year. With a likely 40-50 mill guarantee. He's going to count 8-10 mill against the cap even at the front of the deal. Tyron likely is in the same boat but more at the 5-7 mill against the cap in 2015 range. Back loaded or not, you are ignoring one simple fact - that ain't chump change.

Sure, Orton won't be here but we have to replace him. So unless there is a QB we have faith in, we are going to need to go the veteran backup route again - good backups who can win you a game or two don't come particularly cheap.

 

[Bluefin]

Exactly. If they keep Ware this year, they have to restructure his contract. That means he will be even harder to cut next year. That means his cap commitment for the next 2 years will be over 33m. So he not only needs to be good next year, but in 2015 and 2016 as well. That is too big a gamble for the money. If they cut him now, they clean up this years' cap and have no more cap charges in the future. They can sign 2 good players with money they save on Ware.

The only reason I've suggested Dallas can do a full restructure on Demarcus Ware's 2014 base salary is because it won't effect the team's ability to cut the defensive end in 2015, if necessary.

Right now, if Ware is released, it would create $6.93725M in cap room after adding a new first year player ($0.495K) to the top 51.

If Ware is restructured over the remaining four years of his deal, it will create $8.54625M in cap room.

Ware's 2015 cap number would rise to $20.3525M with $13.864M in potential dead money.

If released in 2015, it would create $5.9785M in cap room after adding a new first year player (0.510K) to the top 51.

I don't know how Dallas will tackle Ware's cap number this year, they may want him to take a pay cut, we'll see how it all plays out in the near future.

All I do know is Ware can be full restructured again without jeopardizing future caps in any way.

 

[Nightman]

The only reason I've suggested Dallas can do a full restructure on Demarcus Ware's 2014 base salary is because it won't effect the team's ability to cut the defensive end in 2015, if necessary.

Right now, if Ware is released, it would create $6.93725M in cap room after adding a new first year player ($0.495K) to the top 51.

If Ware is restructured over the remaining four years of his deal, it will create $8.54625M in cap room.

Ware's 2015 cap number would rise to $20.3525M with $13.864M in potential dead money.

If released in 2015, it would create $5.9785M in cap room after adding a new first year player (0.510K) to the top 51.

I don't know how Dallas will tackle Ware's cap number this year, they may want him to take a pay cut, we'll see how it all plays out in the near future.

All I do know is Ware can be full restructured again without jeopardizing future caps in any way.

He went from 0 guaranteed money to 14 Million.
And guaranteed money is king.
It will not work if he feels he can get more guaranteed money elsewhere but I take Ware's first comments to represent his desire to be here and help with the cap.
He isn't gonna do that for pennies but no one is starving off 14m guaranteed.

The best time to part ways with Ware is right now. He is owed no guaranteed money and his dead money is small, relative to his cap hit. He play has declined and he is getting surgery again this offseason.

If they can get him to take a major cut, then yes, that is probably better than a straight release, but that is unlikely. If he doesn't think Jones will cut him, he is owed 12.75m for this year. He get's all of that even with a restructure. I don't think his play will warrant that type of compensation. The days of over-paying for past performance need to end. He is one of the rare players that was paid very well and earned almost every dollar, but that probably won't be true in the future.

 

[Bluefin]

They will be backloaded. But, for example, look at Dez. He's going to have a deal that nets about 15mill a year. With a likely 40-50 mill guarantee. He's going to count 8-10 mill against the cap even at the front of the deal.

Calvin Johnson ($48.75M) is the only wide receiver in the NFL who got that kind of guaranteed money.

The next highest was $27M guaranteed, which both Larry Fitzgerald and Mike Wallace got in their deals.

The top five WR contracts average $29.85M guaranteed, so $30M guaranteed is a good ballpark figure to look at for Dez Bryant.

It can certainly be more, but the team always structures its big contracts for minimal cap impacts in years 1-2.

Bryant also has a $1.75M base salary in 2014. That can be lowered to the 4th year minimum, $0.73K, with the remaining $1.05M being included as part of the wideout's new signing bonus in the extension.

Mickey Spagnola relayed last Thursday on Talkin' Cowboys that Stephen Jones expects the salary cap to remain flat in 2014 and 2015 before finally getting a real bump in 2016.

Dallas will structure Bryant's contract for minimal hits in '14 and '15.

Tyron likely is in the same boat but more at the 5-7 mill against the cap in 2015 range. Back loaded or not, you are ignoring one simple fact - that ain't chump change.

The team will likely activate the 5th year option on Tyron Smith's contract in the coming months, the option will pay the LT whatever the 2014 Transition tag turns out to be for the position (it was $8.709M last yr).

Dallas will likely use the option for the sole purpose of having Smith under contract in 2015 so they can wait another year before entering talks for a long term extension.

Sure, Orton won't be here but we have to replace him. So unless there is a QB we have faith in, we are going to need to go the veteran backup route again - good backups who can win you a game or two don't come particularly cheap.

Kyle Orton's future may be linked to Jason Garrett's status.

Or Jerry Jones might go ahead and restructure Orton's deal again (adding 2-3 yrs) for salary cap room and cancel the option that voids the contract at the end of next season.

 

[Bluefin]

The best time to part ways with Ware is right now. He is owed no guaranteed money and his dead money is small, relative to his cap hit. He play has declined and he is getting surgery again this offseason.

It's definitely an option.

I don't like cutting players unless I know who the replacement is, meaning he's already on the roster, and he's better than whoever's getting tossed.

I know who's taking Miles Austin's starting job, even though I'd like to keep Smiles as depth if he'll accept a big pay cut rather than release him.

If the option is releasing Ware or doing another full restructure, I'll do the latter to avoid having another hole to fill.

If they can get him to take a major cut, then yes, that is probably better than a straight release, but that is unlikely. If he doesn't think Jones will cut him, he is owed 12.75m for this year. He get's all of that even with a restructure.

If the team goes after Ware for a pay cut, he had better believe they're willing to cut him.

I don't think it will be put on the table unless being released is pointed at as the alternative.

But I agree it seems unlikely, the team can restructure Ware without future salary cap consequences.

And if Ware is restructured, struggles with health and/or poor play again in 2014, he'll have no option but to take a pay cut in 2015 if he wants to remain with the team (provided they even make the offer).

I don't think his play will warrant that type of compensation. The days of over-paying for past performance need to end. He is one of the rare players that was paid very well and earned almost every dollar, but that probably won't be true in the future.

Ware's time with the team is coming to an end.

Maybe it's done already, maybe he gets one more season, or at the most, two.

 

[Galian Beast]

They will be backloaded. But, for example, look at Dez. He's going to have a deal that nets about 15mill a year. With a likely 40-50 mill guarantee. He's going to count 8-10 mill against the cap even at the front of the deal. Tyron likely is in the same boat but more at the 5-7 mill against the cap in 2015 range. Back loaded or not, you are ignoring one simple fact - that ain't chump change.

Sure, Orton won't be here but we have to replace him. So unless there is a QB we have faith in, we are going to need to go the veteran backup route again - good backups who can win you a game or two don't come particularly cheap.

That really isn't the case, please look at Sean Lee's contract extension from last year.

 

[AbeBeta]

That really isn't the case, please look at Sean Lee's contract extension from last year.

Lee is an lb. Lee's deal has escalators based on staying healthy. OT and WR deals are much bigger money

 

[AbeBeta]

Calvin Johnson ($48.75M) is the only wide receiver in the NFL who got that kind of guaranteed money.

The next highest was $27M guaranteed, which both Larry Fitzgerald and Mike Wallace got in their deals.

The top five WR contracts average $29.85M guaranteed, so $30M guaranteed is a good ballpark figure to look at for Dez Bryant.

It can certainly be more, but the team always structures its big contracts for minimal cap impacts in years 1-2.

Bryant also has a $1.75M base salary in 2014. That can be lowered to the 4th year minimum, $0.73K, with the remaining $1.05M being included as part of the wideout's new signing bonus in the extension.

Mickey Spagnola relayed last Thursday on Talkin' Cowboys that Stephen Jones expects the salary cap to remain flat in 2014 and 2015 before finally getting a real bump in 2016.

Dallas will structure Bryant's contract for minimal hits in '14 and '15.

Again - even "minimal" cap hits on a 7 year 110 milll-ish deal are going to have substantial cap hits (I'm using Fitzgerald as a comparison) - 8-10 mill would be a minimal cap hit on deal early - or at least the only structure that an agent would approve - yes there is always some back loading, but to have a cap hit that is particularly low, that back loading would have to be extreme to the point of just representing fake years at the end of a deal. That's just simple math - a contract with a 16 mill a year average is going to see some real money toward the cap.

The team will likely activate the 5th year option on Tyron Smith's contract in the coming months, the option will pay the LT whatever the 2014 Transition tag turns out to be for the position (it was $8.709M last yr).

Dallas will likely use the option for the sole purpose of having Smith under contract in 2015 so they can wait another year before entering talks for a long term extension.

Again -- a substantial increase to our 2015 cap commitment.

Kyle Orton's future may be linked to Jason Garrett's status.

Or Jerry Jones might go ahead and restructure Orton's deal again (adding 2-3 yrs) for salary cap room and cancel the option that voids the contract at the end of next season.

Again -- if we extend Orton, what does that mean... more cap commitment.

My argument was that it was stupid to say that we have fewer commitments in 2015 when Dez and Tyron alone are going to end up being 16-20 mill in commitment.

 

[Galian Beast]

Lee is an lb. Lee's deal has escalators based on staying healthy. OT and WR deals are much bigger money

More money, that isn't to say that the first years are going to be huge cap hits... which is my point... Even if you look at Romo's extension his first year wasn't a huge hit against the cap.

 

[Gadfly22]

On the salary cap collusion issue, this is the question that I want Jerry to answer: why didn't you fight the cap penalty? If 2010 was an uncapped year in truth, how -- by any stretch of the imagination -- can a team be penalized for abusing the cap UNLESS there was collusion among the owners to have an unofficial cap that would hurt the players?

The only possible explanation I've heard is that Jerry wanted to play nice with the league in hopes of getting another Super Bowl at JerryWorld. But that means that Jerry was willing to sacrifice the good of the team for the hope of some future payoff that would NOT help the team. In short, if that possible explanation is true, Jerry put business interests ahead of football interests.

Now Snyder did the same with much less of a chance of getting a Super Bowl in his stadium (unless the Meadowland Super Bowl works out well in a couple weeks), so maybe that possible explanation is no explanation at all. But I still want to know why Jerry didn't fight a completely (in my opinion) unfair and unwarranted penalty.

 

[jterrell]

The best time to part ways with Ware is right now. He is owed no guaranteed money and his dead money is small, relative to his cap hit. He play has declined and he is getting surgery again this offseason.

If they can get him to take a major cut, then yes, that is probably better than a straight release, but that is unlikely. If he doesn't think Jones will cut him, he is owed 12.75m for this year. He get's all of that even with a restructure. I don't think his play will warrant that type of compensation. The days of over-paying for past performance need to end. He is one of the rare players that was paid very well and earned almost every dollar, but that probably won't be true in the future.

You are entitled to your opinion of course but we share facts and facts are it is CHEAPER to keep Ware than to cut him.

The thought we will cut him and replace him with a better, younger player for his salary presumes we were gonna pay him 12m this year and we aren't.
His real cap value this year with his scheduled restructure is 1M less than it costs to cut him outright.

So WE MAKE 1 MILLION dollars by keeping Ware.

 

[Gadfly22]

On the salary cap collusion issue, this is the question that I want Jerry to answer: why didn't you fight the cap penalty? If 2010 was an uncapped year in truth, how -- by any stretch of the imagination -- can a team be penalized for abusing the cap UNLESS there was collusion among the owners to have an unofficial cap that would hurt the players?

The only possible explanation I've heard is that Jerry wanted to play nice with the league in hopes of getting another Super Bowl at JerryWorld. But that means that Jerry was willing to sacrifice the good of the team for the hope of some future payoff that would NOT help the team. In short, if that possible explanation is true, Jerry put business interests ahead of football interests.

Now Snyder did the same with much less of a chance of getting a Super Bowl in his stadium (unless the Meadowland Super Bowl works out well in a couple weeks), so maybe that possible explanation is no explanation at all. But I still want to know why Jerry didn't fight a completely (in my opinion) unfair and unwarranted penalty.

I posted this in the wrong thread. So never mind.