How many top tier free agents can we afford? | FinHeaven - Miami Dolphins Forums

How many top tier free agents can we afford?

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lynxdolfan

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Hi guys. This is the first season I've really payed attention to football and i'm trying to make sense of the free agency period and cap space. Is it possible for the fins to afford a QB (Manning), WR (Pierre Garcon), and Pass Rusher (Mario Williams)? IF not which ones could we afford? Is there any resource online that could help me understand NFL free agency? Thanks.
 
All 3 of those? No. I doubt Garcon will demand that much considering the WR market this year.
 
Perhaps Peyton Manning,Reggie Nelson FS, and MLB Dan Connor; if, they let all the FA's walk and cut Yeremiah Bell as well.

The Dolphins could then draft two DE's,a SS, OL,and a TE in no particular order.
 
The cap can be somewhat confusing to understand... especially if this is your first year of really trying to understand it. But basically Miami has around 14 million dollars to use up this year. That means any free agent we bring in goes directly against that 14 million. if they bring in Manning and give him a 3 year 30 million dollar deal, that means if it is an evenly distributed contract 10 million would go against that 14 leaving us with 4 million left. They usually leave around 5 million to sign rookies so basically we have around 9 ( rough estimation) million to play with unless I'm mistaking. If thats wrong I apologize.
 
top free agents we can only afford one....then maybe a couple of other guys....if we get Manning we might be able to afforda guard and a safety.......maybe a veteran WR that wants to play here for the vet minimun plus incentives.

Ozzy rules!!
 
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Finfan4lyfe91 said:
The cap can be somewhat confusing to understand... especially if this is your first year of really trying to understand it. But basically Miami has around 14 million dollars to use up this year. That means any free agent we bring in goes directly against that 14 million. if they bring in Manning and give him a 3 year 30 million dollar deal, that means if it is an evenly distributed contract 10 million would go against that 14 leaving us with 4 million left. They usually leave around 5 million to sign rookies so basically we have around 9 ( rough estimation) million to play with unless I'm mistaking. If thats wrong I apologize.
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So with all this talk of how much cap space we have that's all we can do? Well that's depressing :err:
 
They can gain more cap space by restructuring deals as well. So its not all doom and gloom!

lynxdolfan said:
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So with all this talk of how much cap space we have that's all we can do? Well that's depressing :err:
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We have a few we can re-negotiate (Long, Marshall, Dansby, Fasano, Bell), a few who could be cut (Bell, McDaniel, Incognito), which would free up space, but in my mind this year we should really be paying Cam Wake too.

I would say re-negotiate all mentioned and if not cut Fasano, Bell, McDaniel & Incognito (I like him but he is more suited to a run orientated O) to free up space, as in my mind they are earning more than their performance deserves.

I think we will look to get more athletic as opposed to physical on both sides of the ball.

If Mike McCarthy has a high opinion of Matt Flynn, bets are Philbin will think same, especially when no draft pick will is sacrificed.

I could see players on O like, Tom Crabtree TE, Anthony Collins OT & maybe Reggie Wayne on a favourable contract coming back to Miami.

On D, maybe Jason Jones to play DT, , Mark Anderson, Manny Lawson, , Geno Hayes, Barrett Ruud, Richard Marshall, Reggie Nelson.
 
normaniii said:
We have a few we can re-negotiate (Long, Marshall, Dansby, Fasano, Bell), a few who could be cut (Bell, McDaniel, Incognito), which would free up space, but in my mind this year we should really be paying Cam Wake too.

I would say re-negotiate all mentioned and if not cut Fasano, Bell, McDaniel & Incognito (I like him but he is more suited to a run orientated O) to free up space, as in my mind they are earning more than their performance deserves.

I think we will look to get more athletic as opposed to physical on both sides of the ball.

If Mike McCarthy has a high opinion of Matt Flynn, bets are Philbin will think same, especially when no draft pick will is sacrificed.

I could see players on O like, Tom Crabtree TE, Anthony Collins OT & maybe Reggie Wayne on a favourable contract coming back to Miami.

On D, maybe Jason Jones to play DT, , Mark Anderson, Manny Lawson, , Geno Hayes, Barrett Ruud, Richard Marshall, Reggie Nelson.
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Out of all the players you mentioned i only know Reggie Wayne lol. Thanks for the info
 
MIAMI had already used c. $116.4 Million on everyone except its own F/As. The 2012 "cap" is believed to be c. $123.4 Million. Over and above that, MIAMI had a "credit" from last season, of $9.050 Million+. So, MIAMI should start out w/about $16 Million+. $5 Million has to be reserved for Rookies. That leaves c. $11 Million+ for F/As. But that's w/o any cuts or "restructures". E.G., if MIAMI cuts BELL, who i/m/o can't cover his a** anymore, the "cap savings" for MIAMI would be $4.3 Million, making our hypothetical figure c. $15.4 Million.

Restructures will be easy, and more amicable this year. The "cap" is expected to go up by a HUGE amount in 2013, so a little "backloading" won't be a problem at all--for ANY team, including us. The best restructuring example is JAKE. I'm no capologist, but the way I understand it, MIAMI'll want to reduce his c. $11.2 Million salary and $12.8 "cap#". Well, merge his present contract w/an extension agreement of 5 years at $10.5 Million/year, and that's $52.5 Million of new money, plus the $11.2 Million salary for this season. That's $63.7 Million in salary over 6 years. JAKE's also got $1.6 Million in various "bonuses" due to him. Convert all his present "bonus money", and $30.8 Million of the "new money"/salary, into a "signing bonus". That would make $32.4 Million in signing bonus due to JAKE right now. BUT it's spread out over the 6 year life of the contract to get the "cap" amount! So, this year's "cap" liability for it is only $5.4 Million. JAKE's straight salary amount over 6 years would be $32.9 Million, or $5.485 Million/year w/no fancy "backloads", "incentive bonuses", etc.. Guarantee JAKE 60% and he's a "happy camper"! And MIAMI saves a total of a little under $2 Million against the 2012 "cap", w/o bleeding its star LT white...and (of course) keeping him here for 6 more years.

There are plenty of other candidates for restructure. Just as w/JAKE, MIAMI could extend their contracts and offer them both the money and SECURITY that they would want, and not only greatly add to its "caproom", but get a little "security" for ITSELF as well. But W/O DOING ANYTHING ELSE, the 2012 "cap" money would increase to c. $17.25 Million...which means that MIAMI might well get P MANNING and M WILLIAMS for "openers".
 
It's hard to say because players can restructure their contracts and create more salary cap space. Also, Miami could cut a few players to gain cap space. Right now with $15 million to spend I'd say the Dolphins could afford one big free agent such as Matt Flynn (projected salary around $9 million) and a couple of bargain basement types. If the team signs Peyton Manning to an incentive loaded contract then they might be able to get Manning and Mario Williams. I do like that scenario, but then I believe Miami would need to draft a qb in the first round, maybe Ryan Tannehill. You can always sign a big name guy and defer some of the money to not hurt the team in the first year. Lots of creative ways to create some cap room so you just never know.
 
SF Dolphin Fan said:
It's hard to say because players can restructure their contracts and create more salary cap space. Also, Miami could cut a few players to gain cap space. Right now with $15 million to spend I'd say the Dolphins could afford one big free agent such as Matt Flynn (projected salary around $9 million) and a couple of bargain basement types. If the team signs Peyton Manning to an incentive loaded contract then they might be able to get Manning and Mario Williams. I do like that scenario, but then I believe Miami would need to draft a qb in the first round, maybe Ryan Tannehill. You can always sign a big name guy and defer some of the money to not hurt the team in the first year. Lots of creative ways to create some cap room so you just never know.
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That's a little more along the lines of what i'd like. I think we should get or QB and pass rusher in free agency, while we trade down, and grab a speed WR, RG, RT, FS in the first 3 rounds.
 
We should be smart and use our money on the offensive line. Signing Carl Nicks would be the best move we could make this off-season.
 
For FA I would look to sign Reggie Nelson S, and WR at an affordable cost since there are many good FA WRs out there. Of course having to sign Manning or Flynn will cost alot.

Cut Bell or restructure him. Cut Fasano or restructure him. Cut McDaniel or restructure him. Cant afford to lose Incognito as the OL already has 2 holes. Looks like Jerry and Murtha play better at Tackle position then a Guard.

Restructure Long and Marshall. Need to resign Wake to long term contract too.
 
We probably wouldn't be able to sign more than 2 or 3 guys. If it is someone like P. Manning or Mario Williiams, that would probably take up most of our cap space on just that one guy. I think we should try to add Mike Flynn and maybe Reggie Wayne/Dwayne Bowe...you can also try to get below the cap by asking some veteran players to restructure their deals, or you can trade guys away.
 
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