Cap Strategy

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcsouth/post/_/id/32366/bucs-making-magic-with-no-signing-bonuses


This is what I thought the Panthers were going to do last year with so much cap space. Strikes me as a good way to build core players. Eat the contract costs up front in the form of salary while the players are at peak. Remove the disincentive to cut them when performance drops off (accelerated bonus money). And make players cheaper as the contract progresses, and therefore easier to retain veterans who are still performing well. I was disappointed we didn't do some of this, and now Tampa is.

 

Interesting that they are using guaranteed salaries instead of bonuses. That's pretty rare in the NFL. I guess the downside is that if they ever got a hit with a bunch of injuries, they could get caught in a bind with no cap wiggle room to bring in replacements. But frankly I wouldn't mind seeing the NFL stop allowing teams to pro-rate bonuses make everything count against the cap the moment they print the check. But I'm sure the Danny Snyder's and Jerry Jones' of the NFL wouldn't stand for that.

 

The Vikings did it with most of their big signings from 02-06ish, it allowed them to keep having tons of space each year to buy new people.

 

No reason to make it mandatory. Snyder and Jones lack the self discipline to do it unless it's forced on them, that's why they can't put together a strong roster. They think they can spend their way to success. So let them lose. But I thought Hurney and JR had figured it out. Guess ego got in the way for them too.