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

Cason and Hulsey Sign One Year Contracts

6:20pm EST

Aveion Cason

Cason is now a 7 year veteran who was a cut and resigned several times throughout the 2007 season. Cason is a likely candidate for a Vet Minimum contract. His $730,000 base salary is the minimum salary for a 7 year veteran and $285,000 will be subsidized by the NFLPA. He probably received a $40,000 signing bonus and will have a current year cap cost of $485,000.

Corey Hulsey

Hulsey is a 5 year veteran who didn't play in 2007. He played with Oakland in 2006 and prior. Hulsey signed for the Vet Minimum for a 5 year veteran of $605,000. $160,000 of his salary will be subsidized by the NFLPA. If he received a $40,000 signing bonus (the maximum for a vet minimum contract), he'll have a current year cap cost of $485,000.

Travis Fisher and Chuck Darby have both recently signed three year contracts with the Lions, cap costs will be calculated as details become available.

Estimated Cap Space $6.9M under