Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Training Camp Battles (LB) - Cap Perspective

6:45am

Based on Nate's Projected Defensive Roster, the Lions would have $7,269,393 in the six LB's with an additional $43,240 of Dead Cap from the release of other LB's.

LB's Current Year Cap Cost:
  • Ernie Sims - $2,605,000
  • Paris Lenon - $1,800,000
  • Alex Lewis - $1,456,720
  • Jordon Dizon - $645,000
  • Gilbert Gardner - $486,240
  • Anthony Cannon - $460,953
  • Leon Joe - $445,000
  • Buster Davis - $301,720
  • Tyrone Pruitt - $297,000
  • Darnell Bing - $295,000

LB's 2008 Dead Cap if Traded or Released:

  • Ernie Sims - $1,890,000
  • Paris Lenon - $750,000
  • Alex Lewis - $456,720
  • Jordon Dizon - $350,000
  • Gilbert Gardner - $41,240
  • Anthony Cannon - $15,953
  • Buster Davis - $6,720
  • Tyrone Pruitt - $2,000
  • Leon Joe - $0
  • Darnell Bing $0

The projected defensive roster would include 26 players totalling $39,757,789 with an additional $85,380 of Dead Cap from final cuts.

  • (5) Defensive Ends - $7,666,493
  • (5) Defensive Tackles - $9,897,453
  • (5) Corner Backs - $9,528,933
  • (5) Safeties - $5,395,517
  • (6) Linebackers - $7,269,393

Training Camp Battles (DB) - Cap Perspective

6:05am

Based on Nate's Projected Defensive Roster, the Lions would have five CB's and five S's. The five CB's plus Wilson (IR) would count $9,528,933 with an additional $12,000 of Dead Cap. The Safeties would cost $5,395,517 with no dead cap implications.

CB's Current Year Cap Charge:
  • Travis Fisher - $2,756,720
  • Brian Kelly - $2,340,000
  • Keith Smith - $2,006,720
  • Leigh Bodden - $1,040,053
  • Stanley Wilson - $933,720 **
  • DeVonte Edwards - $451,720
  • Ramzee Robinson - $376,720
  • LaMarcus Hicks - $375,280

CB's 2008 Dead Cap if Traded or Released:

  • Brian Kelly - $1,090,053
  • Travis Fisher - $1,006,720
  • Keith Smith - $1,006,720
  • Leigh Bodden - $340,053
  • Stanley Wilson - $933,720 **
  • DeVonte Edwards - $6,720
  • Ramzee Robinson - $6,720
  • LaMarcus Hicks - $5,280

S's Current Year Cap Charge:

  • Dwight Smith - $2,006,720
  • Kalvin Pearson - $1,422,387
  • Daniel Bullocks - $942,970
  • Gerald Alexander - $571,720
  • Greg Blue - $451,720
  • Stephen Howell - $295,000

S's 2008 Dead Cap if Traded or Released:

  • Kalvin Pearson - $1,046,720
  • Dwight Smith - $656,720
  • Daniel Bullocks - $497,970
  • Gerald Alexander - $201,720
  • Greg Blue - $6,720
  • Stephen Howell - $0

** Stanley Wilson was placed on IR after being injured during the first preseason game. When a football injury occurs while on the roster, the base salary is guaranteed to be paid for the year. At some point, the Lions may reach a settlement with Wilson for a lesser amount, but they are currently on the hook for his current year base salary.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Training Camp Battles (DL) - Cap Perspective

8:25pm

Based on Nate's Projected Defensive Roster, the Lions will have $7,666,493 of cap charges invested in five total DE's and will incur an additional $15,440 of Dead Cap associated with the release of three DE's. At DT, the Lions will have five players accounting for $9,897,453 of cap space and will have an additional $14,700 of dead cap from the release of one DT.

DE's Current Year Cap Charges:
  • Dewayne White - $3,960,000
  • Jared DeVries - $1,656,720
  • Corey Smith - $806,720
  • Ikaika Alama-Francis - $586,720
  • Cliff Avril - $456,333
  • Victor DeGrate - $301,720
  • Claude Harriot - $301,720
  • Ruldolph Hardie - $297,000

DE's 2008 Dead Cap if Traded or Released:

  • Dewayne White - $3,355,470
  • Jared DeVries - $356,720
  • Corey Smith - $106,720
  • Ikaika Alama-Francis - $216,720
  • Cliff Avril - $161,333
  • Victor DeGrate - 6,720
  • Claude Harriot - $6,720
  • Ruldolph Hardie - $2,000

DT's Current Year Cap Charges:

  • Cory Redding - $4,983,333
  • Chuck Darby - $2,195,000
  • Shaun Cody - $1,120,000
  • Langston Moore - $933,720
  • Andre Fluellen -$465,400
  • Landon Cohen - $309,700
  • Shemiah Legrande - $200,000 **

DT's 2008 Dead Cap if Traded or Released:

  • Cory Redding - $2,083,333
  • Chuck Darby - $1,465,000
  • Shaun Cody - $600,000
  • Shemiah Legrande - $200,000 **
  • Andre Fluellen - $170,400
  • Landon Cohen - $14,700
  • Langston Moore - $6,720

**Shemiah Legrande was placed on IR at the end of June. When a football injury occurs while on the roster, a portion of the salary is guaranteed to be paid for the year. At some point, the Lions may reach a settlement with Legrande for a lesser amount, but they are currently on the hook for his split salary figure.

Training Camp Battles (RB's, FB's & TE's) - Cap Perspective

12:35am

Based on Nate's Projected Roster, the Lions will have $2,750,970 of Cap Charges in 3 RB's with an additional $50,080 of Dead Cap. At TE/FB, the Lions would have $4,818,787 tied up in 4 players with an additional $1,213,440 of Dead Cap.

RB's Current Year Cap Charges:
  • Tatum Bell - $1,600,000
  • Brian Calhoun - $639,970
  • Kevin Smith - $511,000
  • Aveion Cason - $491,720
  • Artose Pinner - $448,360

RB's 2008 Dead Cap if Traded or Released:

  • Tatum Bell - $300,000
  • Kevin Smith - $216,000
  • Aveion Cason - $46,720
  • Brian Calhoun - $6,720
  • Artose Pinner - $3,360

FB & TE Current Year Cap Charge:

  • Dan Campbell - $2,315,000
  • Michael Gaines $2,006,720
  • Casey Fitzsimmons - $1,450,000
  • Jon Bradley - $713,387
  • John Owens - $491,720
  • Sean McHugh - $451,720
  • Jerome Felton - $340,400

FB & TE Dead Cap if Released or Traded:

  • Michael Gaines - $1,206,720
  • Dan Campbell - $515,000
  • Casey Fitzsimmons - $395,000
  • Jon Bradley - $91,667
  • Jerome Felton - $45,400
  • Sean McHugh - $6,720

Based on Nate's Projected Roster, the Lions will have 24 players on offense counting for $46,901,684 of cap space. Additional cuts will yield an additional $1,386,067 of Dead Cap.

  • (3) Quarterbacks - $7,600,440
  • (5) Wide Receivers - $14,816,431
  • (3) Running Backs - $2,750,970
  • (4) Full Backs/Tight Ends - $4,818,787
  • (9) Offensive Linemen - $16,915,056

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Training Camp Battles (QB & WR) - Cap Perspective

7:45am

Based on Nate's Projected Roster, the Lions will have $7,600,440 of Cap Charges in 3 QB's. At Wide Receiver, the Lions would have $14,816,431 tide up in 5 players with an additional $113,827 of Dead Cap.

QB's Current Year Cap Charges:
  • Jon Kitna - $5,875,000
  • Dan Orlovsky - $933,720
  • Drew Stanton - $791,720

QB's 2008 Dead Cap if Traded or Released:

  • Jon Kitna - $1,925,000
  • Drew Stanton - $421,720
  • Dan Orlovsky - $6,720
WR's Current Year Cap Charges:

  • Roy Williams - $6,292,833
  • Calvin Johnson - $3,490,158
  • Mike Furrey - $2,900,000
  • Shaun McDonald - $1,681,720
  • DeVale Ellis - $451,720
  • Kenneth Moore - $388,667
  • Ronald Bellamy - $376,720
  • Brandon Middleton - $376,720
  • John Standeford - $376,720
  • Taye Biddle - $370,000

WR's 2008 Dead Cap if Traded or Released:

  • Roy Williams - $2,568,333
  • Calvin Johnson - $1,606,720
  • Mike Furrey - $1,200,000
  • Shaun McDonald - $681,720
  • Kenneth Moore - $93,667
  • DeVale Ellis - $6,720
  • Ronald Bellamy - $6,720
  • Brandon Middleton - $6,720
  • John Standeford - $6,720
  • Taye Biddle - $0

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

Friday, August 8, 2008

Leigh Bodden's Extension

6:10am

Leigh Bodden's extension was finally updated in the NFLPA salary database, about two weeks after it was announced. Bodden had two years remaining on the contract that he had originally signed with the Cleveland Browns and reportedly agreed to a 4 year $27M extension. The original contract called for base salaries of $1.7M (2008) and $1.8M (2009) with playing time and interception incentives totalling $1M (2008) and $818,750 (2009). Bodden reportedly received a $2M signing bonus and has an $8.6M non-guaranteed roster bonus due in March of 2009. The new contract calls for base salaries of $700K (2008), $2.5M (2009), $3.5M (2010), $4.35M (2011), $3.45M (2012) and $4.4M (2013). The Lions generally don't have incentives tied to individual performances (i.e. interceptions), so I'd assume that the incentives were removed when they extended his contract and adjusted his base pay for 2008 and 2009. The contract likely includes various workout and roster bonuses due in the later years of the contract. Before signing the extension, Bodden's 2008 cap cost was $2.7M. Assuming the above, for 2008, Bodden would count $1,033,333 against the cap.
  • $700,000 Base Pay
  • $333,333 SB Amortization ($2M over six years)

Teddy Lehman was placed on Injured Reserve on August 4th and subsequently released on August 8th. Normally when a player is placed on Injured Reserve, they are done for the season and receive their base pay or split salary (if applicable). In Lehman's case, he'd be entitled to a split salary of $295,000. His injury wasn't significant enough for him to miss the entire season, but was significant enough for him to miss an extended period of time. Lehman likely received an injury settlement for quite a bit less than his split salary amount and will now have the option to sign on with another team later in the year.

Updated Kenneth Moore - When I originally estimated his signing bonus, I used the 2007 signing bonus of a player drafted at roughly the same overall position. The Lions have typically signed their 3rd round and lower draft picks to three year contract, but not all teams do this. The 2007 signing bonus that I used to estimate Moore's 2008 signing bonus was for a four year contract. Consequently, his 2008 estimated signing bonus should be about $281,000 instead of $381,000. The adjustment won't effect the Lions current salary cap, but will adjust his 2008 cap cost to $388,667.

  • $295,000 Base Salary
  • $93,667 SB Amortization ($281,000 over three years)

Based on the above, I'd estimate that the Lions are currently $4.2M under the salary cap.