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.

Compensatory Picks Released

5:30am EDT

And the Lions got . . .none. This wasn't a surprise. Compensatory picks are awarded to teams that lose more Unrestricted Free Agents (UFA) than they gain, with an emphasis put on the Average per Year (APY) value of the contract that was signed and additional consideration given to playing time. An UFA is a player whose contract has expired or who voided his contract. Last year during the unrestricted free agency period, we had:

The following significant roster acquisitions:

• Dewayne White - 5.8M APY
• TJ Duckett - 1.6M APY
• Shaun McDonald - 1.4M APY
• Edwin Mulitalo - Released by the Ravens, doesn't qualify
• George Foster - Traded for, doesn't qualify
• Tatum Bell - Traded for, doesn't qualify

Significant roster losses:

• Terrance Holt - 3M APY
• Jamar Fletcher - 1.125M APY
• Dre' Bly - Traded away, doesn't qualify
• James Hall - Traded away, doesn't qualify
• Marcus Pollard - Released, doesn't qualify
• Ross Verba - Released, doesn't qualify
• Marcus Bell - Released, doesn't qualify

2009 compensatory draft picks might be a little different. We only signed a few unrestricted free agents, but had more significant unrestricted free agent losses than we've had in previous years.

Significant Roster Additions:

• Dwight Smith - Cut by Vikings, does not qualify
• Leigh Bodden - Traded for, does not qualify
• Kalvin Pearson - designated as a restricted free agent, does not qualify
• Corey Hulsey - insignificant
• Alfred Fincher - insignificant
• Gilbert Gardner - insignificant
• Michael Gaines - Signed a 4 year 10M contract (2.5M APY)
• Chuck Darby - Signed a 3 year 4.7M contract (1.55M APY)
• Brian Kelly - Signed a 3 year 9M contract (3M APY)

Significant Roster Losses:

• Shaun Rogers -Traded, does not qualify
• Fernando Bryant - Released, does not qualify
• Kalimba Edwards - Released, does not qualify
• Kenoy Kennedy - Released, does not qualify
• Kevin Jones - Released, does not qualify
• TJ Duckett - Signed a 5 year 13.1M contract (2.6M APY)
• Boss Bailey - Signed a 5 year 17.5M contract (3.5M APY)
• Damien Woody - Signed a 5 year 25.5M contract (5.1M APY)
• Teddy Lehman - Signed a 1 year 1.2M contract with another 500K in incentives

Financial details of Brian Kelly's contract were not released, so I'm making an educated guess on what he may have signed for. I'm also not 100% sure that he qualifies as an UFA. He paid back a percentage of his signing bonus to become a free agent this year. My guess is that he paid it back and Tampa Bay gave him the option to void his contract. If that's the case, he'd qualify as a UFA. If he paid back part of the bonus and they subsequently released him, he would not qualify as an UFA.

Playing time and any post season honors will effect the determination of compensatory picks, but initially, I think we may be looking at getting a 4th round compensatory pick for Damien Woody, provided that he's healthy and starts every or most games. Gaines and Duckett would offset each other, Darby and Lehman would offset each other and Kelly and Bailey would offset each other. If Kelly is not considered an UFA (I really think he is), we could get a 6th round pick for Boss, depending on playing time. I made these estimates based on information posted by AdamJT in his blog. He attempted to predict the compensatory picks for all teams and he came pretty close. His blog on compensatory picks is worth a read through if you have time.