Why are we still in salary cap hell?

[NorthwestDallas40]

For the lack of recent big free agent acquisitions, how is it that we still have no money to spend in free agency? Is it just the Romo, T smith, and Dez contracts? Anyone know?

 

[AzorAhai]

They aren't. They are a team who does restructures every year. That's the method they use so whatever number you see right now is irrelevant.

 

[dagreat1_87]

no such thing as salary cap hell......just keep kicking the bucket down the road

 

[Toruk_Makto]

We are not. Despite the prevailing narrative that we have no money to spend.

Our salary cap position is very comfortable and will get more so with the release/trade of Romo.

 

[NorthwestDallas40]

Based on current numbers, without restructured, we are right up against the cap. Whereas many other teams are wrll under it. While I know we can restructure and release, I still consider it salary cap hell because we cannot make a big signing without a lot of machinations.

 

[lockster]

But we do have a couple salary cap problems, Tyrone Crawford being at the head of the table on this matter

 

[AzorAhai]

Based on current numbers, without restructured, we are right up against the cap. Whereas many other teams are wrll under it. While I know we can restructure and release, I still consider it salary cap hell because we cannot make a big signing without a lot of machinations.

The Cowboys structure their contracts with the intent to restructure them. Various teams use various different methods, but any team with the cash to use this method are smart for doing so. When the Cowboys trigger the restructures they designed, how in the world is that cap hell? It's the method that they prefer and allows them to spend MORE than the cap year in and year out. It's a competitive advantage.

 

[T-RO]

It's not as bad as you hear some people say on the national front.

Neither is it nearly as giddy as some here try to imagine.

 

[Seven]

Stephen Jones Scoffs.......Scoffs I tell you, at this notion.

 

[Gameover]

they back load their contracts? baldhead bill barnwell always makes a big deal out of this.

and the cowboys overpay. I remember the Packers were paying Jordy Nelson peanuts compared to what we were paying Miles Austin back in 2011.

I'm sure the Cow team is out bidding themselves in contract negotiations.

 

[CWR]

Based on current numbers, without restructured, we are right up against the cap. Whereas many other teams are wrll under it. While I know we can restructure and release, I still consider it salary cap hell because we cannot make a big signing without a lot of machinations.

Its such a fluid number though. You have to take into consideration who is already signed to long term deals and who is getting cut and so on. I think if we see someone we really want we can sign them. However they are being conservative in part because we have alot of home grown talent we dont want to lose due to over spending for a FA.

 

[LocimusPrime]

Patriots are at 104 million in contracts. They got like 70 million in space before the cap goes up another 10. But they don't pay much for anything. Wide receivers....nope. O line.....nope. Running backs...nope.

I wonder if Bill is getting a cut of the salary cap savings. Like 10%




As far as the Cowboys...we are good! We got the space to make things happen

 

[Verdict]

The Cowboys structure their contracts with the intent to restructure them. Various teams use various different methods, but any team with the cash to use this method are smart for doing so. When the Cowboys trigger the restructures they designed, how in the world is that cap hell? It's the method that they prefer and allows them to spend MORE than the cap year in and year out. It's a competitive advantage.

Well, how is it advantaheous when the team indicates that they will not have the money to bring in a significant free agency upgrade? Not even one? That doesn't really add up, does it?

 

[Toruk_Makto]

Well, how is it advantaheous when the team indicates that they will not have the money to bring in a significant free agency upgrade? Not even one? That doesn't really add up, does it?

The team has decided to not be big spenders, as a general rule, in free agency. In the right situation they will pony up. For instance they gave Hardy 13m on a 1 year deal. Even then they were smart about the structure.

We should be thankful for this approach.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I didn't know we were in salary cap hell. Don't let the media fool you, they live by the credo that you should never let the truth get in the way of a good story.





YR

 

[Galian Beast]

The answer is a bit nuanced in reality.

Are we in salary cap hell? No. Do we need to do some salary "machinations" like you suggested? Yes, but these are planned.

That being said the salary cap is not without issues.

You're carrying a 24 million dollar salary for a QB you've made the backup. Obviously, that needs to be addressed.

Dez Bryant is significantly overpaid and the Cowboys need to think long and hard about whether or not they want to restructure his salary for the year. Is he really in the long term plans without Romo? I'm not sold that is a great idea.

Tyron Smith is fine, but you have to start worrying about his health and the fact that our depth at tackle is probably questionable with Free being lackluster as a starting right tackle.

Jason Witten is entirely overpaid for what he brings to the table at this point. Similar to Dez, I think you need to ask yourself if having him on this squad is the right thing to do without Romo. He had fewer yards receiving this year than he had with the QB carousel last year...

Then you have Tyrone Crawford who is grossly overpaid and Doug Free who is also overpaid.

Orlando Scandrick and Cedric Thornton are also overpaid.

I would say you need to move on from quite a few of these players, but the Cowboys probably won't. If Hanna is healthy, I move on from Jason Witten immediately and promote Geoff Swaim and Rico Gathers.

I would look to trade Romo and Bryant.

I would cut Orlando Scandrick not this year but next year. and I would cut Tyrone Crawford (unless he was willing to take a pay cut to stay) and Cedric Thornton.

 

[rynochop]

The skins have been in salary cap hell for 20 years and they still sign anyone they want

 

[Galian Beast]

Forgot about cutting Free.

You do all the moves I mentioned, restructure Smith, Frederick, and Sean Lee and then you're looking at 32 million under the cap this year and an estimated 83 million next year, which would go up with cutting Scandrick that year.

This allows you to re-sign Martin with ease.

 

[Galian Beast]

The skins have been in salary cap hell for 20 years and they still sign anyone they want

Remind me how many playoff games they've won.

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

We have under $500k in dead money.

Even if we eat all of Romo's proration it is going to be easy to get $20m in space this year by restructuring 88, 72, and 77; IOW all guys in their prime. Lee is about to turn 30 so we should not risk extending him unless we need to.

We would have $50m still in space for 2018 after doing only those 3 restructures which means we can frontload contracts if we want to make a splash this season.

Having your franchise QB playing for less than $500k is a recipe for cap success. We should be able to extend 70 and sign free agents to shore up the pass rush and receiving corps.