Signings and the rumors of signings

[yimyammer]

Thats refreshing to see, I think this is a better way to manage the cap. Stop pushing the cap hit into the future and take the hit early so you have leverage over the player and can cut him if he doesn't perform but you need a big chunk of cap space to begin this process.

I really wish they would have used the 8-8 and 3-13 years to clear out the roster of dead weight and dead cap money so they could get a nice chunk of cap available (50+ million). Then they could spend it on bonuses each year (& have a big chunk again the next year) that can be completely absorbed in the first 2 years of a players contract so there is little to no dead or guaranteed money beyond year 2.

Wish I had time to do the math on this to show whether its doable. Seems like once you get ahead of the cap, you can stay ahead or you can stay behind like the cowboys always seem to be. When you're ahead, a team has cap room, flexibility and leverage over a player, when you're behind, you have none of the above.

Looks like Sturm is making similar observations, here's a quote from his recent article:

Now, there is one thing that I continue to be dissatisfied about, and that is the way they write their contracts. They do not write contracts that they intend to honor as written. They write contracts to allow them multiple restructures to accommodate other contracts that they have already restructured to make room for contracts that they wrote before that were restructured. And so on and so on and so on. There was some back and forth on this behavior this past week when Stephen Jones again defended the fine art of credit-card juggling.

They have so much dead money on Player A, that they must restructure Player B to free up the room. But, then, Player B cannot be cut because he isn't very good anymore, since the restructure guaranteed money for him in Year 3 of his deal (because of Player A's situation), so now we must restructure Player C's deal to accommodate Player B, who is only in his spot because of Player A. It is maddening. But, perhaps not as maddening as knowing we have all be desensitized to it as a poor way of doing business.

There are media folks who tell us "everyone does it", which is sort of true, but not. Yes, everyone you know uses credit cards. So, you can justify your credit card use by looking around the room and seeing everyone uses them. But, does everyone open up new credit cards to pay off the old ones? Does everyone max them out and have to sit out shopping because of the unpaid balances?

The Cowboys are doing better, but a sign that they are still in a weird spot is that they definitely need to retain some players, but in order to do so, they have to figure out how to restructure more deals to make even a little room.

The best example is the Romo deal. They signed his deal in 2013. Restructured in 2014. Restructured in 2015. And now have $20 million in dead money. It isn't uncommon to restructure a QB deal when you are in a pinch. But, hopefully, you can see the difference between an emergency restructure and a planned contract to do it every year because it is our way of "gaming the cap".

Now, in a year where they should likely at least consider walking away from Tyrone Crawford's deal, they are still upside down in his deal (meaning, it costs more to cut him than it does to keep him). There is no reason a defensive tackle should have a deal that is five years long and Year 3 is basically guaranteed again. Unless, you planned on it. Which, why would you ever fully guarantee Tyrone Crawford's deal?

And look, Year 4 already has $7.3 million in dead money which might become fully "upside down" if they restructure him again this month - which they just might.

Heck, everyone loves Jason Witten, but should you really restructure his deal every single season? Because, they did in 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2016. Why? Because they had to.

And before you feed me the propaganda that they have never lost a player because of money and they always have a good team, let me stop you there. They started rookies Phil Costa and Bill Nagy in a season opener in 2011 because of money. They started George Selvie and Nick Hayden on NFL minimum deals off of their couches in 2013 because of money. They weren't half bad, but that isn't the point.

The point is that restructuring (like blitzing the quarterback) should be a weapon, not a necessity or a habit. This team not only restructures everyone with routine, but then acts like it is both normal and acceptable. It isn't. Try writing one deal that you plan to pay out as you wish. Write one deal where in Year 3 of a five-year deal, if you don't like the player's performance, you can walk away because you paid him every guaranteed penny when it was scheduled.

Then, you aren't scrambling every year at this time and watching everyone else participate in team building while you try to figure out how to "June 1st" your latest money mess.

 

[Midswat]

Bennie Logan signs with the Chiefs.

Eagles take a huge blow along their DL.

 

[Midswat]

Giants re-sign free agent offensive lineman John Jerry


The New York Giants have re-signed John Jerry, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to Dan Duggan of the Newark Star-Ledger. The NFL Network reported that the three-year deal is worth $10 million with $4.25 million guaranteed.

Jerry, who turns 31 in June, has started 40 games in three seasons with the Giants. Jerry started every game at right guard in the 2016 season.

The Giants signed free agent D.J. Fluker to a one-year, $3 million contract on Saturday. Fluker played right guard and right tackle during his four seasons with the Chargers.

 

[cockstrong]

Salary Cap not affecting a single thing we are trying to do

 

[yimyammer]

Salary Cap not affecting a single thing we are trying to do

 

[LAZARUS_LOGAN]

Bennie Logan signs with the Chiefs.

Eagles take a huge blow along their DL.

Good. I had originally heard that he had signed with the Redskins. He had visited them.

 

[dbair1967]

The Chargers are releasing OT King Dunlap. Was ranked 53rd as far as OT's last year. Missed parts of the past two seasons because of injury.

The Los Angeles Chargers aren't finished retooling their beleaguered offensive line.

After signing Russell Okung to protect Philip Rivers' blind side, the Bolts released veteran tackle King Dunlap, the team announced Monday. Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager first reported the news.

Dunlap was arrested last month on suspicion of violating a protective order. Signed to a four-year, $28 million extension in February of 2015, he was due to collect a $500,000 roster bonus on March 18.

Often banged up, the 31-year-old veteran started 46 of a possible 64 games in San Diego over the past four years.

Dunlap is the second offensive-line starter to be dumped by the Chargers in the past week. D.J. Fluker was also released, opening a vacancy at right guard.

The veteran tackle market has been picked clean, leaving Dunlap and the oft-injured duo of Ryan Clady and Andre Smith as the biggest names available.

 

[dbair1967]

Eagles release quarterback Chase Daniel


By Marc Sessler
Around the NFL Writer
Published: March 13, 2017 at 06:58 p.m.

Chase Daniel's run with the Eagles is over.

The team on Monday released the veteran quarterback just hours after signing free-agent passer Nick Foles.

"Chase's professionalism and intelligence were valuable assets to our quarterback room," said Eagles executive VP of football operations Howie Roseman. "His veteran leadership was incredibly helpful in (quarterback Carson Wentz's) development as a rookie, and his familiarity with Coach (Doug) Pederson's offense was instrumental in installing our system last season."

Roseman went on to say that a "healthy discussion" with Daniel led both sides to conclude "it was best to move forward in a different direction as circumstances have changed since he originally signed."

Monday's signing of Foles simply sped up the timeline for a player who was likely out the door either way. The 30-year-old Daniel expected to fight for a starting role last season, but wound up throwing just one pass as Philadelphia leaned on Wentz from wire to wire.

The quarterback market is drying up, but it's fair to wonder if Daniel could wind up just miles away with the New York Jets, one of the few remaining teams league-wide without a clear plan under center.

 

[dbair1967]

The Giants continue to work on their offensive line in free agency.

New York agreed to terms with versatile lineman John Jerry on a three-year deal, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday. The deal is worth $10 million with $4.25 million in guarantees, Rapoport added.

Jerry is entering his eighth year as a pro after being drafted by the Dolphins in the third round in 2010. He has played in all 48 games since joining the Giants prior to the 2014 season, earning 40 starts in that time.

The move comes two days after they added offensive tackle D.J. Fluker from the Chargers.

Here are some other moves we are tracking on day five of free agency:

1. The Jets have touched base with veteran quarterback Josh McCown's people, Rapoport reported.

2. Former Packers pass-rusher Datone Jones is visiting the Vikings, Rapoport reported.

3. The Panthers re-signed guard Chris Scott to a one-year deal, the team announced. Scott can play guard and tackle and has spent the last four years in Carolina.

4. The Bills held free-agent visits with offensive tackle Andre Smith, defensive end Jayrone Elliott, and wideout Jeremy Butler, the team announced.

5. The deal that brought former Buccaneers wideout Russell Shepard to the Panthers is a three-year pact, Rapoport reported. The deal is worth $10 million, with $2.1 million guaranteed, Rapoport added, with incentives bringing the maximum to $13 million.

6. The Cardinals announced they re-signed running back Andre Ellington to a one-year contract.

7. Colts running back Robert Turbin is staying in Indianapolis on a two-year deal worth up to $4.1 million, Rapoport reported.

 

[Midswat]

Raiders sign Cordarelle Patterson, WR. Former Vol. Naturally I love the signing.

 

[ThoughtExperiment]

That Raiders team is going to be really fun to watch this year. Possible AFC favorite?

 

[Midswat]

Eddie Lacy signs with Seattle

 

[Midswat]

Why hasn't Claiborn signed with anyone? Or Carr even gotten a look?

 

[dbair1967]

Why hasn't Claiborn signed with anyone? Or Carr even gotten a look?

Claiborne met with Ravens and was getting interest from 2-3 other teams I read. I thought I read yesterday he was close to signing with Baltimore.

Carr has been meeting with Jets, haven't heard if anyone else interested.

 

[dbair1967]

That Raiders team is going to be really fun to watch this year. Possible AFC favorite?

I think the moves New England has made have them a notch above everyone else.

The Raiders should be good again this year though. If Houston gets Romo and he stays healthy, they could go from playoff contender to AFC title contender.

 

[bbgun]

Why hasn't Claiborn signed with anyone? Or Carr even gotten a look?

because the rest of the league has Dallas game film?

 

[Scot]

Why hasn't Claiborn signed with anyone? Or Carr even gotten a look?

Mo will end up elsewhere

But Carr will be a Cowboy again this season

 

[Scot]

Claiborne met with Ravens and was getting interest from 2-3 other teams I read. I thought I read yesterday he was close to signing with Baltimore.

Carr has been meeting with Jets, haven't heard if anyone else interested.

The Jets are going to go from Lockdown Island in Revis to Carr?

Poor Jets

 

[Midswat]

Carr met with the Jets days ago and nothing came from it.

Same with Mo. Nothing came from his meeting with the Ravens. And it was only reported by one site IIRC

 

[jeremysmith214]

I'm signing Mo Claiborne to a three to four year incentive laced contract. Heck look at the dollars Scandrick is getting and how often he is injured now.