Stop Worrying about the Salary Cap

[Galian Beast]

There is so much talk about how we're doomed in regards to the salary cap. It just isn't true, and I'll break the whole thing down here. Let me first start by saying restructuring is just accounting work, and you shouldn't get worked up about it. If the contracts were simply back loaded from the get go you would never even talk about it. It's a great tool for spreading out a contract while you rebuild your team through the draft.

#1 Tony Romo's base salary next year is 13.5 million. His cap hit is 21.773 million. Restructuring Romo's salary takes it down to 955k dollars. This is done by subtracting 955k dollars from 13.5 million and spreading it over the course of six years. That is 12.545 divided by 6. That gives you a restructured bonus of 2.09 (rounded) million per year. Add 2.09 million to 955k and you get 3.045 million for the year. That means you save 10 million dollars by restructuring Romo in 2014.

Total Savings: 10 million dollars

#2 Demarcus Ware. I think Ware is gone next year unless somehow he agrees to take a massive pay cut. Assuming he is cut, the dead money for cutting him is 8.57 million against his salary cap hit of 16 million. I would designate him a June 1st cut, which reduces the 2014 salary cap it to 3.75 million. You've now saved 12.25 million by releasing Ware in 2014. Worried about the dead money for 2015? We still save 12 million in 2015 by releasing him and spreading the cap hit towards another year. I think potentially we could have Ware take a pay cut and Resign Spencer for pennies on the dollar, but I'd rather just move forward really.

Total Savings: 22 million dollars

#3 Restructuring Brandon Carr to 855k dollars. His base salary is 7.5 million dollars in 2014. 7.5 million - 855k is 6.645 million spread over 4 years. which is 1.66 million. 1.66 million + 855k is 2.51 million dollars. You 5 million dollars here.

Total Savings: 27 million dollars

#4 Jason Witten. Jason Witten's contract is actually very comfortably restructured given that he doesn't have regular signing bonus for very long. His base salary is 5 million, which go down to 955k. So 5 million minus 955k is 4.45 million spread over 4 years. 1.11 million. His salary for the year becomes 2 million saving you 3 million.

Total Savings: 30 million dollars.

#5 Miles Austin. I believe Miles Austin will be released unless he somehow makes a comeback this year, and probably a pay cut next year. Could also be traded, but for this scenario we will focus on a june 1st release. His cap hit is 8.2 million. It will cost 2.7 million to cut him in 2014 and another 5.1 million comes off the following year. This saves 5.5 million in 2014, and another 4.5 million in 2015.

Total Savings: 35.5 million dollars.

#6 Restructuring Sean Lee. If we feel that we must restructure him, you take his base pay to 730k from 5.5 million. 5.5 million - 730k = 4.77 over six years = .795 million. Which makes his 2014 salary 1.525 million. Saves you 4 million dollars.

Total Savings: 39.5 million dollars.

Honorable mentions
Cutting Orlando Scandrick saves 3.5 million in 2014, and another 3.5 in 2015.

Cutting Kyle Orton saves 3.25 million

So ultimately you could very well get up to 46.25 million Which doesn't even include how much we could save with resigning Dez or Tyron.

And honestly this gets much easier in 2015 and 2016, even though now you have to pay Dez and Smith. Their biggest pay days will be years from 2014. Which again gives you the room to draft well and build through the draft.

Miles Austin has already been replaced. We can call up Alex Tanney from the PS next year, though I'm sure he will get some camp competition as well. Look for BW Webb to replace Scandrick, though I'm sure we will draft another cornerback. Also look for them to keep developing Pellerin.

The biggest issues for us in 2014 will be

1. Replacing DeMarcus Ware
2. Resigning or replacing Waters
3. Resigning or replacing Hatcher
4. Continuing to rebuild this defensive line on somewhat of a budget

Picks 1-3 need to be DL, DL, G in no specific order. We should have money to get a veteran linemen, whether or not that is Hatcher is left to be seen. We should have 15+ million dollars to work with. Fixing this defensive line might be an ongoing project. And a lot obviously depends on how players develop now. We still have some potential developers already, which would really help mitigate the cost going forward. Ben Bass, Crawford, Brian Price? Marvin Austin? Selvie, Wilber, Hayden, Rayford e.t.c. So this could be a lot less dire next year than we think. A combination of draft picks in addition to players we have now, should be at least good enough to improve this team. Which is all we're asking for right now. Pretty sure the rest of the defense will simply be better.

Oh, I forgot about Bernadeau. Cutting him saves us 1 million next year, and 3 million in 2015. That takes us to nearly 50 million on 31 million.

 

[burmafrd]

even funnier than the salary cap moaners are the salary cap pollyanna's.

 

[Galian Beast]

even funnier than the salary cap moaners are the salary cap pollyanna's.

Thanks for reading the OP and replying to a specific point of contention.

Also I'd like us to bring in Colt McCoy next year, seeing as he is a free agent. Let him compete with Tanney for the backup spot. If he wins, we cut McCoy, if McCoy wins, Tanney can stay on the PS.

 

[big dog cowboy]

 

[xwalker]

There is so much talk about how we're doomed in regards to the salary cap. It just isn't true, and I'll break the whole thing down here. Let me first start by saying restructuring is just accounting work, and you shouldn't get worked up about it. If the contracts were simply back loaded from the get go you would never even talk about it. It's a great tool for spreading out a contract while you rebuild your team through the draft.

#1 Tony Romo's base salary next year is 13.5 million. His cap hit is 21.773 million. Restructuring Romo's salary takes it down to 955k dollars. This is done by subtracting 955k dollars from 13.5 million and spreading it over the course of six years. That is 12.545 divided by 6. That gives you a restructured bonus of 2.09 (rounded) million per year. Add 2.09 million to 955k and you get 3.045 million for the year. That means you save 10 million dollars by restructuring Romo in 2014.

Total Savings: 10 million dollars

#2 Demarcus Ware. I think Ware is gone next year unless somehow he agrees to take a massive pay cut. Assuming he is cut, the dead money for cutting him is 8.57 million against his salary cap hit of 16 million. I would designate him a June 1st cut, which reduces the 2014 salary cap it to 3.75 million. You've now saved 12.25 million by releasing Ware in 2014. Worried about the dead money for 2015? We still save 12 million in 2015 by releasing him and spreading the cap hit towards another year. I think potentially we could have Ware take a pay cut and Resign Spencer for pennies on the dollar, but I'd rather just move forward really.

Total Savings: 22 million dollars

#3 Restructuring Brandon Carr to 855k dollars. His base salary is 7.5 million dollars in 2014. 7.5 million - 855k is 6.645 million spread over 4 years. which is 1.66 million. 1.66 million + 855k is 2.51 million dollars. You 5 million dollars here.

Total Savings: 27 million dollars

#4 Jason Witten. Jason Witten's contract is actually very comfortably restructured given that he doesn't have regular signing bonus for very long. His base salary is 5 million, which go down to 955k. So 5 million minus 955k is 4.45 million spread over 4 years. 1.11 million. His salary for the year becomes 2 million saving you 3 million.

Total Savings: 30 million dollars.

#5 Miles Austin. I believe Miles Austin will be released unless he somehow makes a comeback this year, and probably a pay cut next year. Could also be traded, but for this scenario we will focus on a june 1st release. His cap hit is 8.2 million. It will cost 2.7 million to cut him in 2014 and another 5.1 million comes off the following year. This saves 5.5 million in 2014, and another 4.5 million in 2015.

Total Savings: 35.5 million dollars.

#6 Restructuring Sean Lee. If we feel that we must restructure him, you take his base pay to 730k from 5.5 million. 5.5 million - 730k = 4.77 over six years = .795 million. Which makes his 2014 salary 1.525 million. Saves you 4 million dollars.

Total Savings: 39.5 million dollars.

Honorable mentions
Cutting Orlando Scandrick saves 3.5 million in 2014, and another 3.5 in 2015.

Cutting Kyle Orton saves 3.25 million

So ultimately you could very well get up to 46.25 million Which doesn't even include how much we could save with resigning Dez or Tyron.

And honestly this gets much easier in 2015 and 2016, even though now you have to pay Dez and Smith. Their biggest pay days will be years from 2014. Which again gives you the room to draft well and build through the draft.

Miles Austin has already been replaced. We can call up Alex Tanney from the PS next year, though I'm sure he will get some camp competition as well. Look for BW Webb to replace Scandrick, though I'm sure we will draft another cornerback. Also look for them to keep developing Pellerin.

The biggest issues for us in 2014 will be

1. Replacing DeMarcus Ware
2. Resigning or replacing Waters
3. Resigning or replacing Hatcher
4. Continuing to rebuild this defensive line on somewhat of a budget

Picks 1-3 need to be DL, DL, G in no specific order. We should have money to get a veteran linemen, whether or not that is Hatcher is left to be seen. We should have 15+ million dollars to work with. Fixing this defensive line might be an ongoing project. And a lot obviously depends on how players develop now. We still have some potential developers already, which would really help mitigate the cost going forward. Ben Bass, Crawford, Brian Price? Marvin Austin? Selvie, Wilber, Hayden, Rayford e.t.c. So this could be a lot less dire next year than we think. A combination of draft picks in addition to players we have now, should be at least good enough to improve this team. Which is all we're asking for right now. Pretty sure the rest of the defense will simply be better.

Oh, I forgot about Bernadeau. Cutting him saves us 1 million next year, and 3 million in 2015. That takes us to nearly 50 million on 31 million.

Good post!

 

[Future]

Good OP...you left out Costa, Durant, and Parnell, who can all be cut as well to save a couple million without hardly any penalty.

 

[Galian Beast]

Good OP...you left out Costa, Durant, and Parnell, who can all be cut as well to save a couple million without hardly any penalty.

Cutting Costa saves 1.5 million, but I'm not sure who the backup center would be. I suppose you could draft someone late, but you're still paying them at least 420k which reduces your savings to just a million (best case scenario). I don't think they will cut him.

Cutting Durant saves 1.25 million. I think you already have some options there. Especially if you want Holloman to start. I definitely don't see him and Sims here next year if either of them. It's a potential cut, I'm just not sure you want to start Holloman, and then you still need another backup.

Cutting Parnell saves 1.5 million, but then I don't know who the swing tackle is.

There is little penalty for cutting these players, but it might not be worth it given their low costs anyways.

 

[Future]

Cutting Costa saves 1.5 million, but I'm not sure who the backup center would be. I suppose you could draft someone late, but you're still paying them at least 420k which reduces your savings to just a million (best case scenario). I don't think they will cut him.

Cutting Durant saves 1.25 million. I think you already have some options there. Especially if you want Holloman to start. I definitely don't see him and Sims here next year if either of them. It's a potential cut, I'm just not sure you want to start Holloman, and then you still need another backup.

Cutting Parnell saves 1.5 million, but then I don't know who the swing tackle is.

There is little penalty for cutting these players, but it might not be worth it given their low costs anyways.

Good point, you would have to replace them. I dont necessarily think cutting all those guys is the right option, but when it comes to getting under the cap, there are a ton of options.

 

[Temo]

I don't see how Ware could possibly be cut following the season.

 

[Galian Beast]

I don't see how Ware could possibly be cut following the season.

It's painfully obvious that he can't stay healthy, he will be a year older next year, he has been less and less effective the older/more injury prone he gets, he can't stay on the field, and comes off during important 3rd down situations and in the 4th qtr, his cap hit for next year is 16 million dollars.

 

[AshyLarry06]

No way D-Ware gets cut especially considering how devoted Jerry has been to guys like Ratliff and Spencer who even in their down years were given every chance in the world to regain their "top" form. Unless Jerry simply changes the way in which he cuts his stars, i see D-Ware on this team for at least 1-3 more seasons and still believe he is one of the best pass rushers in football. That being said, wouldn't surprise me to see him restructure his contract and/or potentially take a pay cut for the betterment of the team a La Brady a few years back so it will be interesting...

 

[Questfor6]

No way I would even consider cutting Scandrick after the way he's played this year. He's been one of if not the best corner we've had this year.

 

[NickZepp]

I don't think we'll see Ware get cut Other than that I agree with the OP.

 

[Section446]

I don't see how Ware could possibly be cut following the season.

It's painfully obvious that he can't stay healthy, he will be a year older next year, he has been less and less effective the older/more injury prone he gets, he can't stay on the field, and comes off during important 3rd down situations and in the 4th qtr, his cap hit for next year is 16 million dollars.

Long story short, he just isn't worth the money he's being paid any more. It's a young man's league, and he's on the wrong side of 30, often-injured, and isn't as productive as he once was. We will never progress as a team if we can't learn to let go of older, more expensive players.

 

[65fastback2plus2]

you forgot our rollover money from this year too

 

[jnday]

Somewhere down the line, these players will get paid. I prefer the pay as I go way myself. No cap room limited free agent signings this last offseason and today it was reported that Jerry said there was no cap room for a trade to get any help. The cap has and will continue to be a problem if the team doesn't change the way it deals with the cap. I don't see where the approach that Dallas takes has given them any big advantage.

 

[Smith22]

you forgot our rollover money from this year too

I doubt we have much left. I think we had around $2 million before the most recent signing.

 

[03EBZ06]

I don't mind seeing some restructuring to keep it under the cap but when I see so many restructures (8+) to get under the cap and to get few free agents, I don't like it.

 

[rynochop]

I have noticed the 'We'll be in salary cap hell next year' posts a little early this year. I think its been like that every year since the cap was implemented.lol

Is there a good, young player we really wanted to retain but weren't, due to salary cap restraints in the last 10 years? Serious question, I cant think of any.

 

[Galian Beast]

you forgot our rollover money from this year too

I assumed that was figured into the 31 million figure.