Pretty good article about the future of the team!

[So Be]

Wallace's bonus money is guaranteed which is what I was referring to in the post. It makes it nearly impossible to negotiate with Wallace. Also if you back load contracts, it will catch up to you in the long run (see Wallace's 2014 cap number). Their are all kind of tricks to try to circumvent the cap but really all you can do is postpone the inevitable. You can bank on the cap rising next year but ultimately it raises for all 32 teams making free agents more expensive for everyone. The only way to truly beat the cap is to find value in the draft and free agency. Something the phins have struggled with since the start of free agency.

I'm very familiar with or cap status. It's not only Wallace's $11M signing bonus which is guaranteed, it is also his $1M salary this year (a joke), his $15M salary next year, and $3M of his 2015 salary. No one is back loading anything. Wallace took lunch money this year, and it averages out next year. It gave the team some flexibility which was not used.

 

[madmic21]

There are a couple of issues i have with the article. 1)Wallace isn't going to say OK I'll take a huge pay cut. What he is going to say is go ahead and cut me I'll take my bonus money and sign with another team. 2) While 34 mil seems like a lot, you''ll be down to $27 mil after signing and cutting all our players that you wanted than look at all the holes on the team; back up QB, LT, RG, LG, RT, CB, DT. Depending on where we draft we'll need close to 10 mil for the rookies. If we grab Clady(at a least $10 mil per year) we will have pissed away just about the rest of our capspace. I don't think the picture is as rosy as the article paints it.

Could be wrong on this but I am pretty sure him and the Donkeys came to a long term deal after a hold-out this offseason because of the franchise tag.

 

[ciscoholgate]

If needed, a portion of Wallace's $15 million base salary in 2014 can be converted into a bonus and his cap hit can be reduced.

Here is an example:

Wallace can take a $7 million bonus in the offseason and his new base salary will be $8 million.
The $7 million bonus will be pro-rated over the four years left on his contract ($1.75 million per year).

His new 2014 cap hit will be his base salary ($8 million) plus his bonuses (signing bonus of $2.2 million & $1.75 million).
That number would be $11.95 million and would save us $5.3 million in cap space.

Of course the downside to giving a bonus means his cap hit in 2015, 2016, and 2017 would rise by $1.75 million per year.
He'd also be harder to cut because of the dead money he would carry.

 

[bcsupratt]

Great article. Finally a good post from someone showing optimism about our team and its future

 

[roy_miami]

Yay, we're talking off season week 7...again.

 

[ciscoholgate]

Great article. Finally a good post from someone showing optimism about our team and its future

Optimism for the future pretty much means you have conceded defeat on the present.
I haven't given up on this team winning this year.

 

[So Be]

If needed, a portion of Wallace's $15 million base salary in 2014 can be converted into a bonus and his cap hit can be reduced.

Here is an example:

Wallace can take a $7 million bonus in the offseason and his new base salary will be $8 million.
The $7 million bonus will be pro-rated over the four years left on his contract ($1.75 million per year).

His new 2014 cap hit will be his base salary ($8 million) plus his bonuses (signing bonus of $2.2 million & $1.75 million).
That number would be $11.95 million and would save us $5.3 million in cap space.

Of course the downside to giving a bonus means his cap hit in 2015, 2016, and 2017 would rise by $1.75 million per year.
He'd also be harder to cut because of the dead money he would carry.

Agreed. I cannot see us needing to re-do Wallace's contract but, it is an option out there.

 

[Third Eye]

Nice summary by OP. I disagree however that teh 2014 Fins can enter the season with a low round rookie backing up Tannehill at QB and no veteran backup. Releasing Moore is fine, however the team will just ened to spend that money on a veteran insurance policy. If (when is more likely) Tannehill gets dismembered, the team needs to turn the offense over to a capable vet.

 

[So Be]

Nice summary by OP. I disagree however that teh 2014 Fins can enter the season with a low round rookie backing up Tannehill at QB and no veteran backup. Releasing Moore is fine, however the team will just ened to spend that money on a veteran insurance policy. If (when is more likely) Tannehill gets dismembered, the team needs to turn the offense over to a capable vet.

We may wel decide to keep Moore, and can afford to do so, while still having a ton of cap space.

 

[hoops]

You don't know what other offers he received from other teams. For all we know he got decent offers but the guaranteed money was to low.
Don't act like teams don't talk to agents before free agency so that day one sign doesn't mean anything.

If you're Clemons, why not play with a team you are very familiar with, a defensive front that is great and lets you maximize your abilities.
Why go to a team that is terrible like the Jaguars or someone in a similar situation and take a deal that pays $3-4 million per year.

Clemons one year deal in Miami was his way of really getting a bigger deal if you ask me. Plus 2013's free agent class was deep at Safety.

that plays against your argument actually...

 

[DeathStar]

Future talk already?

hahahaha

 

[ciscoholgate]

that plays against your argument actually...

I don't see how it does.

Clemons knew his worth around the league before free agency started and felt he could get a better long term deal if he played better in 2013 than in 2012.

 

[hoops]

I don't see how it does.

Clemons knew his worth around the league before free agency started and felt he could get a better long term deal if he played better in 2013 than in 2012.

right and his options were low thus the low # one year deal to stay...his value in league circles was low...this year theres been nothing shown on the field to say that it will be any different this free agent offseason either

 

[NCFINFAN13]

I think Aponte is going to be all over these numbers and we may find out, our actual cap numbers will be even better then we think after a little creative restructuring.

As to the list, there are some real nice - get well quick - players on that list .... providing Ross keeps Ireland, he's going to have a serious opportunity to redeem himself in many peoples' eyes.

If he blows it, I think even his most adamant defenders will turn.

 

[ciscoholgate]

right and his options were low thus the low # one year deal to stay...his value in league circles was low...this year theres been nothing shown on the field to say that it will be any different this free agent offseason either

Not saying he'll be the top paid Safety in the NFL, but he won't be cheap either if he keeps out playing Jones.
He's clearly having a better year than Jones right now and if he keeps up his strong play he'll get a much larger deal than 1 year $2 million.