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.

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.

Jordon Dizon Signs and Other Transactions

1:00pm

Since July 23rd, the Lions have had several transactions.

• Signed: Leon Joe (07/24/08), Jordon Dizon (07/25/08), Teddy Lehman (07/26/08), Eric Fowler (07/27/08), Eddie Johnson (07/30/08), Andy McCollum (07/31/08) and Nick Jones (07/31/08).
• Claimed off Waivers: Taye Biddle (07/29/08)
• Released: Jon Dunn (07/23/08), Alfred Fincher (07/26/08), Paul Ernster (07/29/08), Eric Fowler (07/30/08), Matt Butler (07/31/08) and Chris Patrick (07/31/08).
• Place on Injured Reserve: Reggie Ball (07/27/08)
• Extended: Leigh Bodden (07/25/08)

Jordon Dizon signed his contract on July 25th. Based on slotting, Dizon should make slightly less than Matt Forte's reported $3.7M contract and slightly more than the contract that Dewayne Jarrett (last years #45 overall pick) made. Based on the above and factoring in the way that Tom Lewand usually structures his contracts, I'd guesstimate Dizon's contract to be a four year, $3.6M contract that included a $1.4M signing bonus and a $495,000 one-time bonus with base salaries of $295,000 (2008), $385,000 (2009), $470,000 (2010), $555,000 (2011). Based on the above information and guesstimates, Dizon's 2008 Salary Cap Cost would be $645,000.

• $350,000 SB Amortization ($1.4M over 4 years)
• $295,000 Base Salary

Teddy Lehman and Leon Joe both have four accrued seasons in the NFL and both qualify for a minimum salary of $605,000. Neither player likely received a signing bonus and therefore their contracts would qualify for a veteran minimum treatment with the NFLPA subsidizing $160,000 of their contracts. Both Contracts would count $445,000 against the cap and neither contract would be part of the Top 51 player contracts and therefore neither contract would have an immediate effect on the Lions salary cap status.

• $605,000 Base Salary
• $(160,000) Subsidized by the NFLPA

Eric Fowler has zero accrued seasons in the NFL and qualifies for a minimum salary of $295,000. He signed his contract on 07/27/08 and was released on 07/30/08. His signing and subsequent release had no effect on the Lions salary cap status.

Eddie Johnson has one accrued season in the NFL and qualifies for a minimum salary of $370,000. His contract would not figure into the Lions Top 51 calculation.

Andy McCollum is a 13 year veteran and qualifies for a minimum salary of $830,000, assuming that his contract qualifies for vet minimum treatment, the NLFPA will pay $385,000 of his contract. McCollum's salary cap cost will be $445,000 and will currently not count against the Lion's salary cap.

Nick Jones hasn't accrued any seasons in the NFL and qualifies for a minimum contract of $295,000. His contract would not count against the Lions salary cap.

Taye Biddle has one accrued seasons in the NFL and was claimed off waivers. His contract includes base salaries of $370,000 (2008) and $460,000 (2009). His salary also will not effect the Lions current salary cap status.

Jon Dunn, Matt Butler and Chris Patrick were all scheduled to earn a base salary of $295,000. Their release has no effect on the Lions salary cap status.

Alfred Fincher was scheduled to earn a base salary of $520,000 and for Salary Cap purposes, was included in the calculation of the Lions Top 51 Contracts. His release will save the Lions about $65,000 against the salary cap.

Paul Ernster was scheduled to earn a base salary of $445,000 and for salary cap purposes, was not included in the calculation of the Lions Top 51 contracts. His release has no effect on the Lions salary cap status.

Reggie Ball was scheduled to earn $295,000 for the year. His contract likely included a split salary adjustment, which is basically an injury provision that allows for a lower base salary should the player end up on injured reserve. Ball has no accrued seasons in the NFL and his split salary adjustment will likely reduce his base pay for the season from $295,000 to $200,000. His contract is not part of the Lions' top 51 player contracts and at the current time, does not effect the Lions salary cap status.

Leigh Bodden signed an extension on July 25th, however, his salaries for 2010-2013 have not been updated in the NFLPA salary database. I'm not sure why his base salaries haven't been updated, it could be that the Lions organization have dragged their feet on submitting the contract to the NFL Management Council and consequently, it hasn't been forwarded to the NFLPA or the NFL Management Council is still reviewing the contract. If we assume that Bodden received the reported $2M signing bonus and has either an option bonus or a roster bonus (I've seen it reported both ways) due next March in the amount of $8.6M and the contract for 2008 and 2009 remains unchanged, Bodden would count $3,033,333 against the salary cap.

• $1,700,000 Base Salary
• $333,333 Renegotiation Bonus ($2M over six years)
• $500,000 Roster Bonus
• $500,000 LTBE bonus based on Interceptions and Playing Time

Updated Gosder Cherilus signed his contract on July 24th. Based on the information that I had at the time, I reported that he would count $1.4M against the cap. After obtaining additional information, I'd guesstimate his contract to include no signing bonus, a roster bonus of $985,000 payable at the start of training camp in 2008, a $1.85M one-time bonus based on 35% playing time and minimal team performance, an option bonus due in March of 2009 in the amount of $6,025,000 and base salaries of $295,000 (2008), $495,000 (2009), $745,000 (2010), $610,000 (2011) and $810,000 (2012). He's also likely due various workout and roster bonuses starting in 2010. Based on the above information and guesstimates, Cherilus would count $1,280,000 against the current years salary cap.

• $295,000 Base Salary
• $985,000 Roster Bonus

Based on the above information I'd estimate that the Lions are about $2.25M under the cap.

Updated Player Costs

7:00pm EDT

Over the past weekend, I received some really good information on player contracts, Lions current cap status and cap commitments for the future. With the recent signings in free agency, I had to make several educated guesses on some of the monies received by the players. The recently obtained information provides better insight and I can more accurately project the Lions current cap costs. Also, I believe that the Lions are so tight against the cap, that they'll need to cut someone else before they officially sign Tatum bell.

John Kitna - As I reported earlier, Jon had reached an escalator in his contract that bumped his base pay for 2008 from $1.95M to $2.95M. In addition to that, he also reached an escalator that bumped a roster bonus due this year from $500K to $1M plus he has a playing time incentive that based on last years playing time is deemed to be likely-to-be-earned (LTBE) of $1M and is due a workout bonus of $50,000. He originally signed a 4 year contract that included a $3.5M signing bonus. His current year cap cost is $5.875M.

Roy Williams - As I reported earlier, Roy had reached an escalator in his contract that bumped his base pay by $3.15M, from $574,500 to $3,724,500. As a part of that escalator, Roy was due a Roster bonus of $1,110,000. As a result of reaching the probowl in 2006, he's also due a workout bonus of $100,000. During the summer of 2004, Roy originally signed a 6 year contract that is voidable after this season and included a signing bonus of $4.5M. The Lions also exercised two options that at the time of execution, altered the details of the contract. The first option was for $6,662,500 in 2005 and the second option was for $990,000 in 2006, those option bonuses allow for a $971,667 deion credit (I'll explain this in another blog). His current year cap cost is $6,292,833.

Michael Gaines - When I originally reported his cap cost, I classified the entire $3M of guaranteed money as signing bonus money. According to the new information, $2.4M was signing bonus and $600,000 was a roster bonus due this year, plus a $500,000 roster bonus due in 2011. Along with his base pay of $800,000, his corrected current year cap cost is $2,000,000.

Keith Smith - When I had originally estimated his cap cost, I classified the $2M guaranteed as $1.75M signing bonus and a $250K roster bonus. The new information shows that the entire $2M was signing bonus money on his 2 year contract. Therefore, along with Smith's base pay of $1M, his corrected current year cap cost is $2M.

Leigh Bodden - When I last projected his current year cap cost, I estimated that his bonuses to be $1.5M. His bonuses due this year are $500K roster bonus and a $500K likely-to-be-earned playing time and interceptions incentive. He's also due $818,750 in bonuses in 2009. His updated current year cap cost is $2.7M.

Travis Fisher - When I originally estimated his cap cost , I estimated that he was due $1.75M in base salary and $2.5M in signing bonus. He actually received a $2.25M signing bonus and a $250,000 roster bonus to go along with his $1.75M base salary. I correctly assumed that he is also due a $500,000 roster bonus in 2010. His updated current year cap cost is $2.75M.

Chuck Darby - I had very little information when I originally estimated his current year cap cost. I guessed at a $3M signing bonus. He actually received a $1.2M signing bonus and a $965,000 roster bonus, with $100,000 workout bonuses due in each year of his contract. Those costs, along with his $730,000 base salary puts his current year cap cost at $2.195M.

Drew Stanton - Either has received or will receive a $1.245M option bonus that reduced his base pay for the current season from $785,000 to $370,000. He's also due a $513,900 NLTBE bonus that is based on playing time. Unless he wins the starting job or inherits it due to injury, he likely won't obtain that bonus and it will carry over to the following season. His current year cap cost is $785,000.

Kalimba Edwards - He was designated as a June 1st cut. On June 1st, the Lions will receive $4M in cap savings and will have $2M worth of dead cap space in 2009. I explain it in a little more detail in an earlier blog entry. The $4M in cap savings will provide for the bulk of the rookie cap space needed (usually a little over $5M per year, but won't be determined until after the draft). Current year cap savings $0 (nothing until June 1st).

Current year cap status $2.4M under, without including the Brian Kelly signing.

Several Free Agent Transactions

7:20PM EDT

The Lions have been busy over the last several days. First, I need to update a couple of previously reported cap costs for Keith Smith and Leigh Bodden. Then I'll break down the official signings of Travis Fisher, George Foster and Chuck Darby. Lastly, I'll address the cap implications from the release of Kevin Jones, Kalimba Edwards and Blaine Saipaia.


Keith Smith

According to John Clayton of ESPN, Smith agreed to a 2 year $5M contract. His base salaries are $1M in 2008 and $2M in 2009. The other $2M of the contract can be either signing bonus and/or roster bonuses in 2008 or 2009. I'm going to assume that $1.75M is a signing bonus and the other $250K is a roster bonus due if he makes the opening day roster. Current year cap cost $2.125M.

Leigh Bodden

The Browns extended Bodden's contract in December of 2005. He received bonuses of $1.5M in 2006 and $1.1M in 2007. Based on that and the fact that Jason Cole of Yahoo.com reported that the Lions as $4.4M under the cap on March 6th, I'm going to assume that he has a bonus due to him of $1.5M. That added with his base salary of $1.7M would put his current year cap cost at $3.2M.

Travis Fisher

According to profootballtalk.com, Fisher agreed to a 3 year $9M deal with $4.25M due in 2008. His base salaries are $1.75M in 2008, $1.75M in 2009 and $2.5M in 2010. I would assume that the other $2.5M of his 2008 compensation is his signing bonus, while the other $500K that makes up his $9M total contract is a roster bonus due in 2010. Under the above assumption, Fisher's current year cap cost would be $2.58M.

George Foster

According to John Clayton of ESPN, Foster agreed to a 1 year $1.1M deal with a base salary of $800,000. The other $300,000 of Foster's contract is probably a signing bonus. Either way, his current year cap cost is $1.1M.

Chuck Darby

Darby agreed to a 3 year deal with the Lions. He's due base salaries of $730K in 2008, $745K in 2009 and $760K in 2010. Other financial terms were not disclosed. Based on what he's made in the past and his current age, I'd guess that his signing bonus was $3M. With the above assumptions, his current year cap cost would be $1.73M.

Tatum Bell

According to John Clayton of ESPN, Bell agreed to a 1 year $1.6M contract. The contract hasn't been officially signed and submitted to the NFL or the NFLPA, but irregardless of how much is base salary or bonus money, Bell's current year cap cost will be $1.6M.

Blaine Saipaia

In 2007, the Lions signed Saipaia to a 2 year contract with a $300,000 signing bonus. Saipaia was due to make $775,000 that the Lions will not now have to pay. As a result of Saipaia's release, he provides a current year cap savings of $775K.

Kevin Jones

Jones signed a rookie year contract that gave him a two-tiered signing bonus. The 2nd year bonus is an option bonus that alters the contract but allows the option bonus to be amortized over the life of the contract. He received a $1.2M signing bonus in 2004 and a $1.805M option bonus in 2005. During the 2007 season, Jones had reached an escalator in his contract that increased his 2008 base salary by $1.86M and was scheduled to make a base salary of $2.37M this year plus, according to John Clayton, a roster bonus of $142,500. As a result of his release, he gives the Lions a current year cap savings of $2.51M.

Kalimba Edwards

For a detailed breakdown of Edwards contract, check out my June 1st designation blog entry. Because of the immediate need for cap space, I doubt that Edwards was designated as a June 1st cut and he was therefore released outright. His current year cap savings is $1.9M.



Based on the above transactions, I have the Lions about $3.2M under the current year cap and expect almost the entire amount to be used up when Kalvin Pearson and Brian Kelly officially sign.

The Shaun Rogers/Leigh Bodden Trade

8:35am EST

Shaun Rogers was traded to the Bengals for a 3rd and 5th rounder, which was rescinded and then he was finally dealt to the Browns for Leigh Bodden. My guess (and it's purely a guess), is that after the trade was agreed to, Cincinnati was either under the impression or was going to wait until after midnight (when the Lions would have been responsible for Rogers roster bonus) to submit the trade proposal to the league. Millen balked at the idea that he'd pay the roster bonus and traded Rogers to the Browns. Which is ok, I personally like that trade better. It's purely a guess on my part.

Breaking down Shaun Rogers contract

In December of 2004, Shaun Rogers signed an extension. When he signed the extension, he received a $9M signing bonus. In March of 2005, he received a 3.5M guaranteed roster bonus. The contract called for him to receive base salaries of $650K for 2005, $850K for 2006, $1.5M for 2007, $4.25M for 2008, $5.25M for 2009 and $7M in 2010. He was also due $1M roster bonuses (non-guaranteed) on the first of March in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

When a player receives a signing bonus, the CBA allows the signing bonus to be amortized over the length of the contract. However, for the 2004 season the maximum proration for signing bonuses to be amortized was six years. So, the Signing bonus is allocated proportionately over the first 6 years of the contract (2004-2009) and nothing is allocated to the final year of the contract. $1.5M allocated to each year through 2009.

The guaranteed roster bonus, for salary cap purposes, is treated just like a signing bonus. The $3.5M is amortized over the length of the contract. For the 2005 season (the year the bonus was paid), the maximum proration of signing bonuses was 5 years. The roster bonus would have been amortized proportionately over the five years from 2005-2009 or $700K per year.

According to Rogers contract, his salary cap figure by year, would have been as follows:
2004 $2,213,750 (1.5M added to his current 2004 cap figure of $713,750)
2005 $2.85M (650K in salary, 1.5M in SB amortization and 700K in RB amortization)
2006 $3.05M (850K in salary, 1.5M in SB amortization and 700K in RB amortization)
2007 $3.7M (1.5M in salary, 1.5M in SB amortization and 700K in RB amortization)
2008 $7.45M (4.25M in salary, 1.5M in SB amort, 700K in RB amort, 1M in RB)
2009 $8.45M (5.25M in salary, 1.5M in SB amort, 700K in RB amort, 1M in RB)
2010 $8M (7M in salary and 1M in RB)

In 2008, Shaun Rogers would have been included in the Lions cap calculation for 7.45M, when he was traded, we would have saved his salary (4.25M) and his roster bonus (1.M), but we would also have to accelerate the remaining unamortized portion of his bonuses (1.5M and 700K) that were allocated to 2009. So the cap effect of trading Rogers was $3.05M cap savings). His cap figure on our books for 2008 would be 4.4M (2.2M in 2008 amortization and 2.2M in accelerated 2009 amortization), commonly referred to as dead cap.

Leigh Bodden

Leigh Bodden was acquired in the trade of Rogers. He is due base salaries of 1.7M in 2008 and 1.8M in 2009. Current year Cap cost $1.7M.

Assuming that Adam Schefter was correct when he reported that the Lions were 6.8M under the cap on 02/21/08. And since he's looking at actual reports generated by the league, there's no reason to assume that he isn't correct. From now to the start of the season, teams only must count the top 51 player cap costs toward their cap figure. So, by my estimation, we are about 8.5M under the cap.

Askthecommish.com has a nice FAQ section that explains a lot of the rules of the salary cap and how it relates to player contracts. http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/faq.asp