Saturday, August 9, 2008

Training Camp Battles (OL) - Cap Perspective

12:15pm

As the start of the season approaches, the salary cap will be calculated differently. Beginning with the first game of the season, all money will be counted against the cap, not just the Top 51 player contracts. Player cuts can yield some salary cap charges for the current season, the following season, both or neither. In order to understand what happens to the Lions salary cap when we start the regular season, some common terms and phrases need to be understood.
  • Current year player cap charge is the charge that I've been calculating and posting in this blog for each free agent or drafted pick that is signed.
  • Dead Cap or Dead Money is cap charges that have to do with a player that is no longer with the team.
  • Current year cap savings (charge) - When a player is released or traded, their is a current year cap impact and potentially a future year cap impact (if that player is signed beyond the current season). Typically when a player is released, the team will save on money not yet played to a player, for the most part this is the base salary and can also include roster bonuses and/or incentives, depending on when they are due.
  • Future year cap savings (charges) - When a player is signed beyond the current season, his trade or release will have an impact on future years. After June 1st, all unamortized signing bonuses are accelerated to the following season (2009). Unless there are guarantees associated with the contract, the team will save by not being obligated to pay base salaries, Roster or Workout bonuses or incentives, but will be charged for all unamortized signing bonuses.

According to Nate Caminata's Projected Roster for the offensive line, the Lions would have $16,915,056 tied up in 9 players and an additional $8,720 in Dead Cap in 2008.

Current year Cap Charges:

  • Jeff Backus - $5,523,176
  • Dominic Raiola - $4,370,000
  • Edwin Mulitalo - $2,250,000
  • Gosder Cherilus - $1,280,000
  • George Foster - $1,106,720
  • Stephen Peterman - $933,720
  • Jonathan Scott - $511,000
  • Manny Ramirez - $487,053
  • Frank Davis - $453,387
  • Corey Hulsey - $451,720
  • Andy McCollum -$445,000
  • Carroll Madison - $297,000
  • Nick Jones - $295,000

2008 Dead Cap if Released or Traded:

  • Jeff Backus - $2,823,176
  • Gosder Cherilus $1,280,000
  • Dominic Raiola - $970,000
  • Edwin Mulitalo - $750,000
  • George Foster - 306,720
  • Manny Ramirez - $117,053
  • Jonathon Scott - $51,053
  • Frank Davis - $8,387
  • Stephen Peterman - $6,720
  • Corey Hulsey - $6,720
  • Carroll Madison - $2,000
  • Andy McCollum - $0
  • Nick Jones - $0

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