Lets talk cap

From Yaz on the NFC South

In recent weeks, I’ve updated you a few times on where the NFC South teams stood on salary-cap commitments for 2012.

Let’s do it again, but let’s do it from a slightly different perspective. When the league year starts in mid-March, the cap figures that will be used to calculate on where each team stands will be based solely on the top 51 cap figures for each team. That system will be used until just before the season starts, when all cap hits, even those for players that get released, determine where each team stands.

So let’s look at the figures for the top 51 for each team. The Panthers lead the division at $126.9 million. They’re going to have to make some roster moves (likely including, but not limited to, releasing linebacker Thomas Davis) before the league year starts just to get below the $120-million cap by the start of free agency.

The Saints are next at $101.4 million, but that number doesn’t come close to telling their whole story. They obviously are going to be re-signing quarterback Drew Brees to a huge new contract. If they also want to keep receiver Marques Colston and guard Carl Nicks, they’re going to have to create some cap space. I’m looking at contract numbers, age and 2011 production and thinking defensive end Will Smith and linebacker Jonathan Vilma could be candidates for restructured contracts or releases.

The Falcons are just behind the Saints at $100.2 million. But Atlanta’s situation isn’t as complicated as New Orleans’. The Falcons do have some free agents they want to keep, starting with linebacker Curtis Lofton and cornerback Brent Grimes. But those two combined won’t eat up as much cap space as Brees. Besides, if the Falcons do want to be big players in free agency, there are some moves they could make to create room and the first one I’d point to would be releasing left tackle Sam Baker.

The Buccaneers are at $97.4 million, but go ahead and knock that down to $90.2 million. I can’t see any way the Bucs keep defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth at a $7.2 million cap figure, especially when there would be absolutely no cap implications for releasing him. I don’t want to raise the expectations of Tampa Bay fans unrealistically. But the Bucs, who still believe that building through the draft is the way to go, will be somewhat more active in free agency than they were last year when punter Michael Koenen was their only real signing. Don’t expect a free-agent frenzy, but the Bucs will add a few free agents.

 

Yeah, ya'll are fucked.

 

I guess Yasinskas is including TD's $8 mil roster bonus in that figure. If he's not, then releasing Davis would actually make things worse since it moves the $5.6 million remaining from his signing bonus to the 2012 cap. The only hope for the Panthers is if TD has mercy on the idiot general manager and waives his roster bonus entirely in exchange for staying on the roster.

 

The Cap and individual cap numbers are smoke and mirror figures conjured up by Agents and GM's to appease the ego's of the players (in a lot of cases) restructring will get done, the Panthers will find a away to restructure deals to get under the cap, sign some free agents, pay draft picks and field a team in 2012.

 

The point is that they have no room to be active in free agency even if Hurney & Richardson suddenly stop being stupid.

 

agree, just adding that they'll shake out the "false-money" through restructuring and have money..

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2784920

 

nothing we already didnt know

http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/02/04/seahawks-believe-healthy-gallery-will-rebound

• Injury-plagued OLB Thomas Davis would like to stay with the Panthers and is willing to restructure his contract to facilitate his return. The Panthers would like to have him back, but the team is expected to release him before March 15, when he's due an $8 million bonus, if the two sides can't work out a very modest short-term deal (which would include a massive pay cut) by that time. Releasing him, of course, would not preclude them from working out a deal later in the offseason. Davis tore his right ACL for the third time in 22 months in Week Two of the 2011 season, bringing his season to an end. We're told the team feels he still has a chance to be a big contributor and battle for a starting spot, but he's just not a player any team can count on to stay healthy at this point.

 

I put this out there about a month ago

 

so how much room can be made if TD agrees to tear up his current contract and start from scratch? And arent we over the cap at 124, having to get down to 120?