Randall Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 The NFL probably needs to change some of the cap rules as this seems pretty absurd. Sounds like the the govt does with the deficit. I hope they go after somebody. Salary-cap space continues to be a boon to Packers' prospects Thompson will have about $25 million to work with in 2008, thanks in part to creative contract provisions By Pete Dougherty pdougher@greenbaypressgazette.com December 22, 2007 When the Green Bay Packers recently signed Craig Nall as their No. 3 quarterback, they netted another $1.5 million in salary-cap room in 2008 with an increasingly common contractual maneuver. The move will give the Packers about $25 million in spending room under the projected $116 million cap in 2008 when the league year starts in early March. It's the third time this year they've deployed this bookkeeping device, which uses up excess cap space at the end of the year by pushing it into the following season's cap. According to a source with access to NFL salary information, Packers Vice President Andrew Brandt put a provision in Nall's contract that calls for him to make a $1.5 million incentive bonus if Nall blocks six punts and plays on 65 percent of the team's special-teams plays this year. He obviously can't reach that. However, salary-cap rules mandate that because the incentive was added to a contract during the season, it counts against this year's cap immediately, then when he doesn't reach it, the Packers will get a cap credit of $1.5 million next year. The Packers put the same provisions in contracts signed this season by tight ends Donald Lee ($2 million) and Ryan Krause ($4 million). So, Brandt and General Manager Ted Thompson moved a total of $7.5 million in excess cap room this year to next season. "If you're able to put some forward," Thompson said, "it gives you some more flexibility for next year, whether it be for signing your own guys or signing somebody else's." In the last couple of years, the Packers have become one of the NFL's cap-healthy teams by using such tactics, as well as their pay-as-you-go philosophy of front-loading contracts rather than paying big signing bonuses that are prorated over the length of a deal. Thompson and Brandt have the Packers in a perpetual cycle of having so much cap room each year they're able to sign a couple of key players to contract extensions during the season and still push extra cap space into the next year, while never having to re-work contracts or cut players just to serve short-term cap needs. "It's all about the greater good," Brandt said, "and allowing us to make sound decisions without cap room being an issue." The Packers have a little more than $1 million in cap room this year, and they'll probably use the rest of that with incentives players reach this season. For instance, Pro Bowl bonuses alone for Al Harris ($200,000), Aaron Kampman ($100,000) and Donald Driver ($100,000) will eat up $400,000. The Packers are in the enviable position of being 12-2 with the league's youngest team, plus with plenty of cap room to use in free agency next year if Thompson chooses. The Packers have only three players who will be restricted free agents this offseason: defensive end Colin Cole and running backs Vernand Morency and Noah Herron, and only Cole will for sure get a restricted free-agent tender when the league year starts in March. So, the Packers will lose only a fraction of that $25 million in cap space there. Thompson and Brandt also are benefiting from the fiscal restraint they showed last offseason, when they signed only one unrestricted free agent, backup cornerback Frank Walker. Probably the best move they made was dropping out of the bidding for declining halfback Ahman Green. Thompson tried to re-sign him and even went higher than expected by offering a deal that included about $6 million in first-year pay, but Green went to Houston, which offered the 30-year-old $8.5 million in first-year pay. Green played in only six games this season and is on injured reserve because of a knee injury. The ample cap room for next year gives Thompson some flexibility in his offseason moves. For instance, defensive tackle Corey Williams will be an unrestricted free agent, and the emergence of Johnny Jolly and drafting of Justin Harrell at that position make it unlikely Thompson will get into the expensive bidding for Williams. Jolly was a blossoming starter before injuring a shoulder and going on injured reserve, and the Packers will want to get Harrell on the field regularly after drafting him with their top pick this year. So, Thompson probably will be reluctant to make a major investment in Williams with only so many snaps to go around. However, Thompson at least can consider putting the franchise tag on Williams, which probably will be worth close to $7 million next year, and then try to trade him. That appears to be an unlikely scenario — Williams could sign the tender immediately, and if the Packers couldn't trade him, they'd have to pay him the contract — but it's a deal Thompson could afford financially if he wants to take the risk. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Ryan Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 Geez dude. We dont care about Green Bay. Quit shoveling that sh*t down our throats. GB sucks, Chicago just showed us that fact. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaptainHook Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 (edited) What happens if Nall DOES block 6 punts next week? Has the Green Bay brain trust even though of that??? Edited December 24, 2007 by CaptainHook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ursa Majoris Posted December 24, 2007 Share Posted December 24, 2007 Geez dude. We dont care about Green Bay. Quit shoveling that sh*t down our throats. GB sucks, Chicago just showed us that fact. It's a very relevant post about increasing a franchise salary cap rather than about Green Bay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted December 25, 2007 Author Share Posted December 25, 2007 Geez dude. We dont care about Green Bay. Quit shoveling that sh*t down our throats. GB sucks, Chicago just showed us that fact. "We don't care about Green Bay"? Are you speaing for the whole "Huddle" now? I posted it because it's about manipulating the cap. Snyder probably does it the most, but most teams probably do it some too. I put GB in the subtitle so people like you could ignore it if reading about the Packers was a problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piratesownninjas Posted December 25, 2007 Share Posted December 25, 2007 "We don't care about Green Bay"? Are you speaing for the whole "Huddle" now?I posted it because it's about manipulating the cap. Snyder probably does it the most, but most teams probably do it some too. I put GB in the subtitle so people like you could ignore it if reading about the Packers was a problem. Ryan is an idiot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Dick Posted December 25, 2007 Share Posted December 25, 2007 There will be a lot of teams under the cap next year and beyond. There just isn't enough talent for teams to actually spend the money. IMO, and I haven't done any financial analysis to back this up, the salary cap number seems to have risen at a WAY faster rate than player salaries. And the top notch free agents are few and far between now because: a. teams are locking them up quicker, thus getting value on todays dollars b. teams know they can replace that mid-older free agent with younger, cheaper talent now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donutrun Jellies Posted December 25, 2007 Share Posted December 25, 2007 It's a very relevant post about increasing a franchise salary cap rather than about Green Bay. Could the Packers be clearing cap space for Mike Vick to be the heir to Favre?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randall Posted December 25, 2007 Author Share Posted December 25, 2007 Could the Packers be clearing cap space for Mike Vick to be the heir to Favre?? He did well there one playoff game. Work release? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big John Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 Could the Packers be clearing cap space for Mike Vick to be the heir to Favre?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chavez Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 What happens if Nall DOES block 6 punts next week? Has the Green Bay brain trust even though of that??? Seeing as how he doesn't play on special teams, I'd say that they've taken most of the significant factors under consideration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
budlitebrad Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 Seeing as how he doesn't play on special teams, I'd say that they've taken most of the significant factors under consideration. After watching our ST this week, he'd probably be an improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sturphy Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 After watching our ST this week, he'd probably be an improvement. agreed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CaP'N GRuNGe Posted December 26, 2007 Share Posted December 26, 2007 (edited) The Packers are amateurs at cap management compared to the Vikings. Brzezinski is a master at playing the unlikely to be earned incentives game. I just hope they spend that cap money on a QB and a couple of other much needed pieces next year. Edited December 26, 2007 by CaP'N GRuNGe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.