Cap Questions

[fairbanksb]

For anyone that can give a fairly simple explanation. I just read an article from PFW. Miami has been allocated 2.78 mil for it's rookie salary pool for 9 picks.
1. If we sign all nine that means thats all the money we have too sign them with, right or wrong?
2. Does that pool also include money for undrafted FA's?
3. What happens to the money, if we sign the player then cut them during the final roster cuts? The players keep it I would presume.
4. Where does the money come from to sign veteran FA's?
This cap stuff is so confusing I'm not even sure of the questions to ask.

 

[fairbanksb]

Well, I got some views but no answers. I was just curious. A lot of people are throwing all these ideas and names around. Sign Brian Griese, Sammy Knight, a veteran WR, a veteran OT. We signed 9 in the draft, 12 undrafted FA's. I was just wondering where the money was coming from.

 

[Merman]

Please post that link from PFW. The 2.78 mil seems high considering we didn't have a 1st round pick. The usual rule of thumb is 2 mill for the team's rookie cap. as for :
1. wrong
2. yes
3. any contract money that is not bonus (bonus is paid) goes back into the cap.
4. out of the regular cap.

Please note that even with all this said, only the top 51 contracts are considered for cap purposes until the season starts. Probably so the teams can sign and cut players during the off season without exceeding the cap.

 

[Merman]

Originally posted by fairbanksb
I was just wondering where the money was coming from.

I'm sure you have already heard the answers.
1. using a low first year salary combined with a signing bonus for low cap numbers. ie Seau's 1.36 cap for 2003.
2. cutting non starting players with salaries considered too high for depth purposes. ie Derrick Rodgers.
3. salary cuts or cutting players who don't agree to the salary cut.
4. just outright cutting players to keep the ones you want.

 

[fairbanksb]

Following are the rookie pool numbers, the maximum amount of cap room franchises can invest in draft choices and free agents, for each NFL team:
Team Picks Pool
Detroit 11 $5,551,658
Chicago 12 $5,534,184
Houston 10 $5,429,639
Cincinnati 9 $5,238,956
Baltimore 11 $5,106,802
St. Louis 11 $4,529,954
Jacksonville 9 $4,523,643
Oakland 10 $4,409,382
New England 10 $4,402,216
Dallas 7 $4,205,176
N.Y. Jets 7 $4,126,787
Carolina 8 $4,125,852
New Orleans 7 $4,078,143
Seattle 9 $4,059,952
Arizona 7 $3,955,832
N.Y. Giants 11 $3,895,689
Denver 10 $3,825,469
Minnesota 7 $3,703,686
San Diego 8 $3,445,654
Buffalo 8 $3,356,039
Kansas City 8 $3,200,348
Indianapolis 8 $3,181,480
Cleveland 7 $3,066,558
Green Bay 9 $3,052,958
San Francisco 7 $2,868,751
Philadelphia 6 $2,832,711
Miami 9 $2,782,469
Tennessee 6 $2,592,890
Pittsburgh 5 $2,464,281
Tampa Bay 6 $1,923,161
Atlanta 6 $1,818,854
Washington 3 $1,214,480

 

[WharfRat]

Nice "nutshell" responses Merman! :up:

 

[Gonk]

How come Denver gets more then a million more then us, when we both didn't have first rounders and they only drafted one more player then us?

 

[iceblizzard69]

Originally posted by Gonk
How come Denver gets more then a million more then us, when we both didn't have first rounders and they only drafted one more player then us?

Denver did have a first round pick, they took George Foster.

 

[Merman]

The calculation is suppose to include the number of picks, round and position in the round. A top first round player will bet a much bigger contract than a first round player picked at the end of the round.

Hey fairbanksb any reason not to post the link???

 

[fairbanksb]

No, no specific reason. I thought I told you where it was. http://www.profootballweekly.com

 

[Merman]

That I know. I didn't exactly find what you were talking about or I would not have asked. Usually when someone talks about something specific the link is given so others don't have to seach all over and maybe miss it. Especially when others are helping you with your questions.

 

[fairbanksb]

Hey, I appreciate your help but come on!!! See if this works for you.
http://espn.go.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1547910.html

 

[Merman]

Thanks anyway. I already found it. I was looking all over Pro football Weekly and it was in the ESPN section.

 

[BeatCrazy2]

As far as I'm concerned , we can cut every damn draft pick and use the money to sign knight and a WR. We need both!

 

[Aqua]

1. Right. All nine drafted players must fit under the rookie cap pool. I researched what our nine drafted rookies cap numbers will probably be based on the signed contracts of the players drafted last year at the exact same spot and my numbers are $2.789M. I'll list a break down below.

2. No (Sorry Merman wrong answer). ARTICLE XVII Section 1(a) of the CBA.
“Entering Player Pool†means the League-wide limit on the total amount of Salary to which all of the NFL Clubs may contract for in signing Drafted Rookies.

Merman answered three and four.

Expected drafted rookies cap numbers (rounded).
Moore 553K
Smith 392K
Whitley 371K
Lee 258K
Tolver 255K
Jenkins 249K
Provost 239K
Bell 238K
Williams 234K