Update: Cowboys extend K Bailey through 2020 ***7-yr 23mil***

[Picksix]

Worst Contract of the Year
In a stunning late upset, it’s thecapped-out Cowboys giving kicker Dan Bailey a seven-year contract!!! OK, maybe this isn’t a real award, but I had to find a space to talk about it. This, even for Jerry Jones, is a stunningly dumb move. The Cowboys just handed Bailey a deal that guarantees him $7.5 million and averages $3.2 million per year. They have absolutely no cap flexibility and need to save every penny they can, which would leave kicker — the most fungible position in football and a place where you can find competent guys as undrafted free agents every single year like, not coincidentally, Dan Bailey — as an obvious place to try to save money.

Like most other contracts, it's really only a 3 year deal, with 4.9 million fully guaranteed. The rest is only guaranteed if he's healthy for 2015 an 2016. It brings the 2014 cap charge down about 400,000 from what it would have been if they'd tendered him. Yeah, they have significant cap issues, and teams do find cheap kickers every year, so if they'd tendered him this year and then let him go, it might not have been that big an issue, and there would be money to direct elsewhere, but they're going with a guy they know, that they've coached, and that they know they can count on. If he tails off over the next 3 years, they can release him after that without much of a cap hit.

 

[speedkilz88]

CONTRACT:7 yr(s) / $22,500,000SIGNING BONUS$4,000,000AVERAGE SALARY$3,214,286GUARANTEED:$7,500,000FREE AGENT:2021 / Unrestricted
YEARBASES. BONUS MISC.CAP HIT DEAD
2014 900,000 800,000-1,700,000-
2015 1,700,000 800,000-2,500,000-
2016 2,500,000 800,000-3,300,000-
2017 3,200,000 800,000-4,000,000-
2018 3,400,000 800,000-4,200,000-
2019 3,400,000 - - 3,400,000-
2020 3,400,000 - - 3,400,000-
2021 UFA

• $7.5M guaranteed (2014-15 base + signing bonus)

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/dan-bailey/

 

[AbeBeta]

CONTRACT:7 yr(s) / $22,500,000SIGNING BONUS$4,000,000AVERAGE SALARY$3,214,286GUARANTEED:$7,500,000FREE AGENT:2021 / Unrestricted
YEARBASES. BONUS MISC.CAP HIT DEAD
2014 900,000 800,000-1,700,000-
2015 1,700,000 800,000-2,500,000-
2016 2,500,000 800,000-3,300,000-
2017 3,200,000 800,000-4,000,000-
2018 3,400,000 800,000-4,200,000-
2019 3,400,000 - - 3,400,000-
2020 3,400,000 - - 3,400,000-
2021 UFA

• $7.5M guaranteed (2014-15 base + signing bonus)

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/dan-bailey/

Cap hit is less than tender at 2nd round.

 

[Red Dragon]

Bailey is one of the best players the Cowboys have acquired in recent years - no exaggeration. But even still, that's a lot of money for a kicker.

 

[Bluefin]

YEARBASES. BONUS MISC.CAP HIT DEAD
2014 900,000 800,000-1,700,000-
2015 1,700,000 800,000-2,500,000-
2016 2,500,000 800,000-3,300,000-
2017 3,200,000 800,000-4,000,000-
2018 3,400,000 800,000-4,200,000-
2019 3,400,000 - - 3,400,000-
2020 3,400,000 - - 3,400,000-
2021 UFA

• $7.5M guaranteed (2014-15 base + signing bonus)

Cap hit is less than tender at 2nd round.

And the team has the option to restructure the contract in 2015 and 2016, if desired, to lower the cap hits.

2015: current cap number, $2.5M, can be lowered to $1.736M with restructure.
2016: post '15 restructure, $3.491M cap number, can be lowered to $2.099M with another restructure.
2017: $4.539M cap number ($3.565M poss dead money, release saves $0.974K, June release saves $3.2M).
2018: $4.739M cap number ($2.226M poss dead money, release saves $2.513M).
2019: $3.939M cap number ($0.887 poss dead money, release saves $3.052M).
2020: $3.748M cap number ($0.348K poss dead money, release saves $3.4M).

 

[CanadianCowboysFan]

some posts require some thought on responding too. Canadian never warrants any real effort; Frog is pretty much the same. You get the response you deserve.


Only true football 101 failures have a problem with this one. You two are right up there and need those pointy hats to wear while you are sitting in the corner.

what a thoughtful comeback marine

you know as well as I do, that you respond to people who disagree with you by calling them names

 

[CowboysBrandon]

Bailey is one of the best players the Cowboys have acquired in recent years - no exaggeration. But even still, that's a lot of money for a kicker.

This is why Jerry said he doesn't envision a time where the Cowboys won't ever be up against the cap needing to get creative just to get under. He sort of just throws money at guys and then figures out how to make it work later on. Unfortunately, I don't believe this organization employs a "cap guru" and this is the result you get.

I'm glad we locked Bailey up though, great kicker. Being in kicker hell is a place we don't have to worry about being in for the next six years which is one less thing to worry about.

 

[AbeBeta]

And the team has the option to restructure the contract in 2015 and 2016, if desired, to lower the cap hits.

2015: current cap number, $2.5M, can be lowered to $1.736M with restructure.
2016: post '15 restructure, $3.491M cap number, can be lowered to $2.099M with another restructure.
2017: $4.539M cap number ($3.565M poss dead money, release saves $0.974K, June release saves $3.2M).
2018: $4.739M cap number ($2.226M poss dead money, release saves $2.513M).
2019: $3.939M cap number ($0.887 poss dead money, release saves $3.052M).
2020: $3.748M cap number ($0.348K poss dead money, release saves $3.4M).

I think if folks followed the team closely, they'd have fully expected the deal to look like this.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

That and the notion that kickers that hit over 95% grow on trees. The bottom guys hit in the 70's and that is replacement level. Bailey had about 30 attempts last year and that is a 6 FG or 18 point difference. Then you consider he kicks very well in high pressure situations and then the contract makes sense.

Kickers get hammered as weaklings or the like but because every kick he makes has points on the line, his contribution to the team is significant.

To give more perspective, that 18 points is 4% of the total points we scored last season. IOW if you replace Bailey with a guy off the street, you lose 4% of your offensive output.

Cowboys know better than anyone that you find a kicker you keep him. Nick Folk was terrible his last year here and between then and now? I can't find a solid reason to be against re-signing Bailey.

 

[Bluefin]

Different cap approaches. What jerry was saying was that he's always going to spend as much as possible as creatively as possible.

Another thing everyone needs to keep in mind is that the salary cap has been flat since it's return in 2011.

It was growing by $7M per season from 2006 ($102M) to 2009 ($123M) prior to the uncapped 2010 season.

That's a $21M increase in cap space over four seasons.

The cap came back in 2011 ($120M), barely moved in 2012 ($120.6M) and increased $2.4M in 2013 ($123M).

Teams could also "borrow" up to $3M from future caps in 2011 and up to $1.5M in 2012 (the "borrowed space will be repaid from 2014-17 however a team desires).

The 2014 unadjusted cap is currently estimated at $126.3M, an increase of $3.3M, but it may end up as high as $128M per NFP.

That's a $6.3M to $8M increase in cap space over four seasons and Dallas had to endure the Mara penalty ($10M divided over 2 yrs) the past two seasons as well.

Mickey Spagnola relayed last week that Stephen Jones expects the cap to remain flat in 2014 and 2015 before it will finally get a real bump in 2016.

The cap has actually gone up more than originally expected in '13 and '14, but a real increase is being anticipated in 2016.

The team will always be aggressive, but cap compliance should get easier going forward as we witness larger yearly increases in the salary cap.

 

[big dog cowboy]

Unfortunately, I don't believe this organization employs a "cap guru" and this is the result you get.

Stephen Jones says "Hello!"

 

[rojan]

And the team has the option to restructure the contract in 2015 and 2016, if desired, to lower the cap hits.

2015: current cap number, $2.5M, can be lowered to $1.736M with restructure.
2016: post '15 restructure, $3.491M cap number, can be lowered to $2.099M with another restructure.
2017: $4.539M cap number ($3.565M poss dead money, release saves $0.974K, June release saves $3.2M).
2018: $4.739M cap number ($2.226M poss dead money, release saves $2.513M).
2019: $3.939M cap number ($0.887 poss dead money, release saves $3.052M).
2020: $3.748M cap number ($0.348K poss dead money, release saves $3.4M).

Did you take into account restructuring for years 2017-2020? If not, his cap number will be even lower.
I'd rather he keep playing at a high level and us keep paying him.
If you did, its gonna be tough to justify playing him 4.5 and 4.7 in 2017 and 2018.

 

[Miller]

some posts require some thought on responding too. Canadian never warrants any real effort; Frog is pretty much the same. You get the response you deserve.


Only true football 101 failures have a problem with this one. You two are right up there and need those pointy hats to wear while you are sitting in the corner.

I take this as a compliment. Anytime name calling and "football 101" comes up that means that the poster has lost and has no facts. Thanks. Move along. I've never even debated anything with you. That would require you to talk football.

 

[WinnipegBoy22]

Good move getting him signed now they can go about other business. Contract seems a little long to me.

 

[Beast_from_East]

CONTRACT:7 yr(s) / $22,500,000SIGNING BONUS$4,000,000AVERAGE SALARY$3,214,286GUARANTEED:$7,500,000FREE AGENT:2021 / Unrestricted
YEARBASES. BONUS MISC.CAP HIT DEAD
2014 900,000 800,000-1,700,000-
2015 1,700,000 800,000-2,500,000-
2016 2,500,000 800,000-3,300,000-
2017 3,200,000 800,000-4,000,000-
2018 3,400,000 800,000-4,200,000-
2019 3,400,000 - - 3,400,000-
2020 3,400,000 - - 3,400,000-
2021 UFA

• $7.5M guaranteed (2014-15 base + signing bonus)

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/dallas-cowboys/dan-bailey/

This is actually a pretty good deal when you look at it. Only $7.5 mill guaranteed means that if he pulls a Nick Folk on us and starts missing chip shots, we can hit the eject button and not blow our cap up.

The last years are probably ghost years to make the contract look bigger than it actually is by the agent, it is going to be either restructured or Bailey released before those $3.4 mill base salaries kick in for 18, 19, and 20 seasons.

 

[Bluefin]

Did you take into account restructuring for years 2017-2020? If not, his cap number will be even lower.
I'd rather he keep playing at a high level and us keep paying him.
If you did, its gonna be tough to justify playing him 4.5 and 4.7 in 2017 and 2018.

I did.

The salary cap is going to be a lot higher in 2017 and 2018 than it is now.

If Dan Bailey is playing well, his cap numbers those seasons shouldn't be an issue.

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Another thing everyone needs to keep in mind is that the salary cap has been flat since it's return in 2011.

It was growing by $7M per season from 2006 ($102M) to 2009 ($123M) prior to the uncapped 2010 season.

That's a $21M increase in cap space over four seasons.

The cap came back in 2011 ($120M), barely moved in 2012 ($120.6M) and increased $2.4M in 2013 ($123M).

Teams could also "borrow" up to $3M from future caps in 2011 and up to $1.5M in 2012 (the "borrowed space will be repaid from 2014-17 however a team desires).

The 2014 unadjusted cap is currently estimated at $126.3M, an increase of $3.3M, but it may end up as high as $128M per NFP.

That's a $6.3M to $8M increase in cap space over four seasons and Dallas had to endure the Mara penalty ($10M divided over 2 yrs) the past two seasons as well.

Mickey Spagnola relayed last week that Stephen Jones expects the cap to remain flat in 2014 and 2015 before it will finally get a real bump in 2016.

The cap has actually gone up more than originally expected in '13 and '14, but a real increase is being anticipated in 2016.

The team will always be aggressive, but cap compliance should get easier going forward as we witness larger yearly increases in the salary cap.

Salaries rise.

 

[Rockport]

I did.

The salary cap is going to be a lot higher in 2017 and 2018 than it is now.

If Dan Bailey is playing well, his cap numbers those seasons shouldn't be an issue.

Is this Jerry or Stephen?

 

[Bluefin]

Salaries rise.

And the cap has remained flat since returning in 2011.

When the cap really starts growing again, which Stephen Jones expects to be 2016, it will make it easier to have big contracts.

The 2014 cap is currently expected to be $126.3M, but it may go as high as $128M when things get finalized around a month from now.

So the cap is already starting to increase more than was originally expected in the early years of the new CBA.

 

[rojan]

And the cap has remained flat since returning in 2011.

When the cap really starts growing again, which Stephen Jones expects to be 2016, it will make it easier to have big contracts.

The 2014 cap is currently expected to be $126.3M, but it may go as high as $128M when things get finalized around a month from now.

So the cap is already starting to increase more than was originally expected in the early years of the new CBA.

Even if the cap is only at 130 in 2017, Bailey is only going to account for 3.6% of our cap which i think everyone can agree is pretty fair for an elite kicker.