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Their total space now

Right, but $7 million is enough to sigh their draft picks even if they trade him and take the $8 million hit.

There are also a million other options that would allow them to make it happen.

Cap hits aren't fun, but they rarely affect a trade or release when it comes down to it.

Big hits usually affect them. It makes no sense for them to pay that much in dead space. It'll cost more than $7 million for draft picks, I saw a breakdown of costs for that. Plus, they wouldn't be able to lock up any of their own players to longer contracts, or sign anyone now or after June 1.

Next up in the cue


GM Rod Graves made it clear yesterday that the Cardinals weren't going to go on a shopping spree in free agency with the cap space created by Larry Fitzgerald's new deal.

The focus will be on taking care of their own. Adam Schefter of NFL.com writes today that the Cardinals attention will turn now to receiver Anquan Boldin, who makes far less now than Fitzgerald. He also speculates that Boldin could be a subject of trade inquiries and rumors.

I would be surprised if the Cardinals traded Boldin. Along with strong safety Adrian Wilson, he's the soul of this team. When management meets with college scouts to describe the type of player they want to draft, they essentially point to No. 81 and say, "Get us more of this type of guy."

As good as Fitzgerald is, he's not a leader on this team. Boldin is. The Cardinals would be foolish to trade him.

But, Anquan is human, I think. None of us like to be paid far less than someone of comparable talent doing the same job. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, will want a new deal. The Cardinals approached Boldin about it last season, but their offer wasn't enough to interest him.

I see Rosenhaus being ripped on some messages boards, but I'll say this for him: He gets deals done, and he has an excellent relationship with the Cardinals front office. If I'm a GM, I'd rather deal with Rosenhaus than a lot of other guys.

Big hits usually affect them. It makes no sense for them to pay that much in dead space. It'll cost more than $7 million for draft picks, I saw a breakdown of costs for that. Plus, they wouldn't be able to lock up any of their own players to longer contracts, or sign anyone now or after June 1.

Nah. The rookie pool for the Raiders last year was $6.9 million (which was significantly higher than anyone else). The average last year $4.27 million and it normally goes up about 10% per year (at most). The Bengals should be at $5 or $6 million tops.

June 1st is another non-barrier, since no one of any substance gets cut on June 1st anymore (partially because all these teams are so flush with cash).

Lastly, one stroke of a pen can create cap space. There's a reason "cap hell" no longer exists...it's incredibly simple to get out of if.

The only barrier to trading or releasing a player with a cap hit is the owner's stomach for it, really.

Ok, you're right about that. I wish I could find what I read earlier.

Still, what trade or cut can you think of happening where the guy cost the team a lot of money?

And this is a team where it will represent 25% of the money they have to spend on players

BTW, how does that rookie pool work? With signing bonuses, the totals would add up to more than that, wouldn't it?

The rookie pool allocations are based on the picks you (where they are, how many, etc.) and bonuses don't figure in (just the cap hit of the salary plus prorated portion of the bonus).

In terms of other players who were traded with big cap hits, T.O. was one. He was traded from the 49ers with a significant cap hit when he came to the Eagles. Jeff Garcia, when released from the 49ers counted for $10 million in dead money.

David Boston cost the Chargers a pile of dead money when he was traded.

No one ever wants to take dead money on the cap, but teams do it depending on the alternative. if Chad Johnson forces their hand (say he decides to sit out), would you rather have:

- Lito Sheppard, a pick (just for example), and an $8 million cap hit.

- No cap hit for a disgruntled player sitting out, doing daily interviews with ESPN, and hurting team chemistry.

- $8 million cap hit for releasing the disgruntled player with nothing in return.


I don't even want Ocho, but if he forces their hand they'll take the cap hit and survive...it won;t bankrupt them.

Ok, so it's the rookie pool, plus the signing bonuses. That would easily cost more thatn the $5-6 mil against the cap for the Bengals.

I'm not saying it's impossible, just that huge trades are very infrequent, and that kind of dead cap space is infrequent. That was my point, it really doesn't happen much at all

forfuckssake the signing bonuses are part of the rookie pool forruckssake

Then how did Jamarcus Russell sign a deal that was $5mil a year in signing bonuses PLUS his salary PLUS the rest of the players they drafted

and i'm sorry for being dense, but there are so many rules with this i'm getting lost

If a rookie gets a 4 year deal with a $3 million bonus, for instance, they will have something like:

- $250K salary
- $750K prorated bonus money
- $1 million cap hit in 2008.

The last number is the money that is counted against the rookie pool, as far as I know.

Ok, best I can see, the rookie cap only counts the prorated portion of the bonus. So that doesn't include the immediate bonuses, which does count against the cap

Then how did Jamarcus Russell sign a deal that was $5mil a year in signing bonuses PLUS his salary PLUS the rest of the players they drafted

I don't know for sure, to be honest.

They have to get creative with the first round pick and that's one of the reasons no one wants it, but I'd have to see his contract and see exactly how they broke it down. he might have made the rookie minimum last year and received a $15 signing bonus prorated over 6 years.

Ok, so that's right.

From 2002:

"With a signing bonus of $10.92 million and a first-year base salary of $1.04 million, the Texans already have expended $2.6 million in rookie pool funds on quarterback David Carr, the first player chosen in the draft."

So that $10 mil would still count against this year's cap, wouldn't it? It wasn't inclusive in the rookie pool, but it counts against the cap?

Ok, best I can see, the rookie cap only counts the prorated portion of the bonus. So that doesn't include the immediate bonuses, which does count against the cap

Only prorated money counts again the cap. So if Russell received a $15 million bonus last year spread out over 6 years, the cap hit for that bonus would have been $2.5.

nm on my post

So there's the problem that isn't factored in. There will be the immediate bonus that the player receives, in addition to the prorated. But since only the prorated portion is counted, it makes the rookie pool look like a much smaller amount of money is actually spent.

I think I see what your saying, but the only number that matters is the prorated portion of the bonus and the salary that make up the cap hit when it comes to the money that will count against their 2008 cap.

Another thing they can do to create instant space is guarantee Carson Palmer's salary and turn a big number into a small one. They could sign or trade Stacy Andrews, which would free up roughly $6 to $7 million this year (in either instance).

They have options.

I'm not saying Ocho WILL be dealt, but I think the cap hit isn't going to hold it up when it comes down to it.

I think it's much more likely a player like Reggie isn't dealt because his cap hit is extremely high for the amount of value you'd get in return AND he's not going to force a trade.

I mean, if Reggie was the key ingredient in acquiring Roy Williams, they'd make it work, but I can't see that happening.

Wait, FITZ IS COMING HERE!??!?!?

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH FITZ?????

I wish Banner would give a lecture at Montco on Capology

I'll say it:

I want CHAD Johnson. The other scrubs being discussed are exactly that. The current crop of receivers is the same quality of slop the team has trotted out for years. If they want to go far into the playoffs, they need a CJ-type player.

BTW, Roy Williams is nowhere near as good as Fitzgerald of CJ.

BJ,DH

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