2013 Bills Salary Cap Thread

[X-Era]

Hey guys. Many of us watch the cap. I figured I would start and sticky a thread on it. Feel free to post links, etc... and I'll update it as we go.

Please understand that we all will find conflicting info and that were only as good as the info we find.

Here's what I found for the start of the year:

http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2013/02/08/bills-cap-space-rank/

Removed Sportstrac's numbers. No idea if this includes the roll-over. But it's from the official site so let's start there until we get more clarification.

This gives the cap hits for every player (can't post the whole thing due to TOS):

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap-hit/

X's Projection of our current cap room

<tbody>
Date
Transaction
Player
Change
Rolling Cap Room
Comments






16.7



2-11
Cut
Nick Barnett
+3.5
20.2



2-11
Cut
George Wilson
+2.9
23.1



2-14
Cut
Terrence McGee
+2.1
25.2



2-15
Re-sign
Travaris Jackson
-2.25
22.95



2-19
Re-sign
Colin Brown
-0.63
22.32



2-27
Retired
Chris Kelsay
+4.975
27.295



3-1
Cap Raised

+2
29.295



3-1
Franchise Tag
Jarius Byrd
-6.916
22.379



3-6
Tender
Dorin Dickerson
-0.5
21.879



3-7
Re-sign
Bryan Scott
-0.94
20.939



3-9
Re-sign
Leodis McKelvin
-3.05
17.889



3-12
Release
Ryan Fitzpatrick
+7.0
24.889



3-13
Sign
Manny Lawson
-3.0
21.889



4-02
Extend
Tashard Choice
-0.78
21.109



4-02
Sign
Alan Branch
-3.0
18.109



4-08
Sign
Kevin Kolb
-1.0
17.109
LTBE and NLTBE could make this up to 12 mill. 1 mill guaranteed


4-29
Trade
Jerry Hughes
-0.225
16.884
Shepp's hit was 0.64423. Hughes is .87


6-03
Cap gain
Ryan Fitzpatrick
+0.0
16.884
BB used June designation to split 10 mill hit over 2 years. 3 mill this year. Previously acct for.


6-05
Sign
Doug Legursky
-0.8
16.084
2 years 2 mill


6-10
Release
Tarvaris Jackson
+1.7
17.084
Would have been 2.25 hit. Release gains 1.7 back. Goes to .55 hit.


6-14
Sign
All rookies
-4.4
12.684
Manuel- 1.615
Woods- 0.934
Alonso- 0.781
Goodwin- 0.554
Williams- 0.522
Others not reported yet

</tbody>
Cap Room based on Sportstrac's numbers including dead money

<tbody>
Per Team Max Salary Cap
123,000,000


Current Total Cap Salary

106,347,907



Dead Money

10,062,118



Total Cap Room

16,702,975


</tbody>

[Night Train]

Thanks man. It's been hard to get an idea how much we're roughly under the cap.

Looks like we can do a little shopping in Free Agency. Cutting Kelsay could get us another good player or provide room for the rookie contracts.

[YardRat]

I think your 'rolling cap room' is incorrect, the rollover is already taken into account on the bottom line to come to the ~20mil under figure.

From the second link...

105,027,804 cap figure + 5,366,702 dead money = 110,394,506...minus the rollover of 9.8 = 100,594,506 (their bottom line), which would put us approx 21,405,494 under including the rollover.

[X-Era]

I think your 'rolling cap room' is incorrect, the rollover is already taken into account on the bottom line to come to the ~20mil under figure.

From the second link...

105,027,804 cap figure + 5,366,702 dead money = 110,394,506...minus the rollover of 9.8 = 100,594,506 (their bottom line), which would put us approx 21,405,494 under including the rollover.Not really sure what they are doing there. They have dead money on McKelvin who is a UFA...

I do see what you're saying though. The 21 they have includes everything to date... Let me look a bit further into it.

ESPN had us starting at 20.6 including the roll-over:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/2012/story/_/id/8822266/nfl-mailbag-carryover-rules-impact-cap-strategy

[YardRat]

Thanks man. It's been hard to get an idea how much we're roughly under the cap.

Looks like we can do a little shopping in Free Agency. Cutting Kelsay could get us another good player or provide room for the rookie contracts.

Less ~5.5mil for rookies leaves us with 16mil, and you've got to assume they are going to bank 4 or 5mil (at least) for in-season pick-ups and extensions. That only leaves 11-12mil for Byrd, Levitre and others. Let's assume Illuminati's contract suggestions come to pass (3, 072,000 and 6mil for Levitre and Byrd, respectively), a 9,072,000 total cap hit...that leaves roughly 2-3mil to sign our own (Nelson, Moore, Johnson, etc etc) and or go shopping.

Without more massive cuts, I don't see us being much of player re-signing our own, let alone bringing in anybody worthwhile that's new.

[X-Era]

BB.com referenced NFL.com's number which had the Bills at 16.7 to start.

http://blogs.buffalobills.com/2013/02/08/bills-cap-space-rank/

I think I'll just start with that figure. No clue if it includes the roll-over...

[X-Era]

Less ~5.5mil for rookies leaves us with 16mil, and you've got to assume they are going to bank 4 or 5mil (at least) for in-season pick-ups and extensions. That only leaves 11-12mil for Byrd, Levitre and others. Let's assume Illuminati's contract suggestions come to pass (3, 072,000 and 6mil for Levitre and Byrd, respectively), a 9,072,000 total cap hit...that leaves roughly 2-3mil to sign our own (Nelson, Moore, Johnson, etc etc) and or go shopping.

Without more massive cuts, I don't see us being much of player re-signing our own, let alone bringing in anybody worthwhile that's new.
Nix said we will be going after some players.

“We’re in pretty good shape and we’ve got cap space even though I read sometimes that we’re in trouble,” said Nix. “We’re going to be a player probably in free agency at some point. It may not be the first day or two, but we’ll be looking for guys that can come in and help us and take some pressure off the draft. We think we can be active and go places.”

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Nix-Franchise-tag-an-option-for-Byrd-Levitre/0e6a41f4-c098-4972-af19-1f3fbddae7a5

[YardRat]

Nix said we will be going after some players.

“We’re in pretty good shape and we’ve got cap space even though I read sometimes that we’re in trouble,” said Nix. “We’re going to be a player probably in free agency at some point. It may not be the first day or two, but we’ll be looking for guys that can come in and help us and take some pressure off the draft. We think we can be active and go places.”

http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-2/Nix-Franchise-tag-an-option-for-Byrd-Levitre/0e6a41f4-c098-4972-af19-1f3fbddae7a5

Yeah, I saw that in the other thread...they better get busy whacking some more dead wood if they plan on on signing anybody worth a damn.

[X-Era]

Using the 16.7 and updating the OP I end up about at the 21-22 range like Sportstrac has.

Hey, no one said it was clear or easy... LOL

If someone can explain why ESPN with the roll-over (9.8) is at 20.6 and NFL.com is at 16.7 I'd love to hear it.

[X-Era]

To Yardies point, Buff News projects not a lot of room to sign FA's:

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130213/SPORTS/130219671/1082

They had us at 20.9 in room after the Barnett and Wilson moves which means BB.com, Buff News, Sportstrac, and my new numbers are all pretty close to within a few mill. It's ESPN that has the number that's very different (they have us at 4-5 mill more in room).

[clumping platelets]

McKelvin was a first rd pick.....he likely had a voidable year which caused an acceraleration of his signing bonus proration into 2013

Bills must also keep $2.25 million available for Jackson's contract due to NLTBE's incentives that are now treated as LTBE's. Bills gain cap relief if Jackson doesn't play

[X-Era]

Updated with Kelsay's retirement.

[X-Era]

A newer development:

The cap could actually be north of 123 mill...

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/02/26/cap-could-now-be-above-123-million/

The initial projection was 121 or so.

[X-Era]

From Jay Skurski of the Buff News:

"Jay Skurski ‏@JaySkurski (https://twitter.com/JaySkurski)The #Bills (https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Bills&src=hash) are in a much more favorable salary cap situation with the retirement of Kelsay. They are currently $28.425 million under the cap"

https://twitter.com/JaySkurski/status/306932753113436160

[clumping platelets]

I do not know why they were saying on WGR yesterday morning that the Bills had a difficult cap situation. I wouldn't touch Mario's contract but they could re-work Fitz's and Kyle Williams deals to free up some additional cap space.

They could also release Brad Smith, Troup

[Don't Panic]

I'd love to see them rework Fitz but not in a way that would hurt us more if we cut him after this season. That'll be tough as it would likely mean he'd be willing to give up some of what has already been promised in his current deal. I'm a bit surprised Smith is still on the roster. Considering a lot of the vets deemed unnecessary have already been let go, you'd have to think Marrone sees a place for him here. We'll see how that one shakes out.

[YardRat]

B.Smith and Lindell may be the next two dominoes to fall.

[clumping platelets]

I keep Lindell

[Yasgur's Farm]

McKelvin was a first rd pick.....he likely had a voidable year which caused an acceraleration of his signing bonus proration into 2013

Bills must also keep $2.25 million available for Jackson's contract due to NLTBE's incentives that are now treated as LTBE's. Bills gain cap relief if Jackson doesn't playWow... I didn't realize they now treat NLTBE the same as LTBE.

[Yasgur's Farm]

http://www.overthecap.com/teamcap.php?Team=Bills&Year=2013
This guy has our updated top 51 salary at $100,307,609... But as X has pointed out, he's got some questionable dead money of $6,158,705... Some of which comes from McKelvin etc.

Anyway... If we take him at face value... We have $106,466,314 against the cap as of this minute. We don't know what the cap is yet... But we do know we have something like $9.8M available to add to it.

So if we assume His $106.5M is correct... And we assume $121M is the cap... And we assume we have $9.8M to roll into that... We're looking at $24.3M under the cap before draft pick allowances.

[clumping platelets]

I explained McKelvin in an earlier post

Bills adjusted cap appears to $123 million (or might be $123.9 million) plus $9.8 million carry over = $132.8 million (or $133.7 million)

- - - Updated - - -


Wow... I didn't realize they now treat NLTBE the same as LTBE.


This is why "carryover" now exists

[X-Era]

I explained McKelvin in an earlier post

Bills adjusted cap appears to $123 million (or might be $123.9 million) plus $9.8 million carry over = $132.8 million (or $133.7 million)

- - - Updated - - -




This is why "carryover" now exists

Ok. My original 16.7 mil was at the 121 cap. I'll add the 2 more that the cap will be now.

[X-Era]

http://www.overthecap.com/teamcap.php?Team=Bills&Year=2013
This guy has our updated top 51 salary at $100,307,609... But as X has pointed out, he's got some questionable dead money of $6,158,705... Some of which comes from McKelvin etc.

Anyway... If we take him at face value... We have $106,466,314 against the cap as of this minute. We don't know what the cap is yet... But we do know we have something like $9.8M available to add to it.

So if we assume His $106.5M is correct... And we assume $121M is the cap... And we assume we have $9.8M to roll into that... We're looking at $24.3M under the cap before draft pick allowances.The last calculation I threw in using these numbers and the new cap of 123 puts us at 26+... It follows these numbers.

I just decided to show both.

[Yasgur's Farm]

Clump... Is that Jets page you? The format seems familiar.

[X-Era]

I found this on McKelvin's contract. No idea where the data came from but it looks authentic.

It was a Word doc download that had every contract that year.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDsQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ianwhetstone.com%2Ffootball%2FBUFNotes.docx&ei=BZswUdLbAoSU0QGgjIDQAg&usg=AFQjCNFI8yVPlhnLuI4_VZSsNq4QvHtwYg&sig2=uwh1193KGGYb-aqY-z4M7A

Leodis McKelvin

2008 5/15.9525 TRV, 19.3525 TRMV, .295/.385/.69625/1.0075/1.31875/1.075 BS
2008 3 SB/6
2008 .95 RB
2008 .1 NLTBE (rookie honors)
2008-2012 .1 NLTBE (Pro Bowl)
2009 5.85625 OB/5
2009 IR after week 3 (broken leg)
2012 2.8 esc possible
2013 voidable
2.44375 PTI (earned in 2008)
DEION: +.758125 in 2009-2010, -.505416 in 2011-2012, -.505418 in 2013)

This shows 2013 as a voidable year as Clump thought. That makes dead money possible. I'll look for more details on the original signing.

[alnilla]

What does Mayham Merriman do to the cap??

[clumping platelets]

Nothing...he was going to be an UFA

[clumping platelets]

Ok....finally had time to complete my spreadsheet....these are my numbers:

I presently have the Bills $17,288,796 under an adjusted salary cap of $132,817,628 which includes $9,817,628 carryover from 2012 with $6.25 million (rounded) dead cap.

This number is "top 51" adjusted but does not include Bryan Scott re-signing

This number does include $2.4 million for Fred Jackson who is scheduled to get a $150,000 per game roster bonus. In the past, these would have been considered NLTBE but Bills must account for the cap space as long as Fred Jackson is on the roster. If Jackson misses a game, Bills gain $150,000 cap space.

[YardRat]

Ok....finally had time to complete my spreadsheet....these are my numbers:

I presently have the Bills $17,288,796 under an adjusted salary cap of $132,817,628 which includes $9,817,628 carryover from 2012 with $6.25 million (rounded) dead cap.

This number is "top 51" adjusted but does not include Bryan Scott re-signing

This number does include $2.4 million for Fred Jackson who is scheduled to get a $150,000 per game roster bonus. In the past, these would have been considered NLTBE but Bills must account for the cap space as long as Fred Jackson is on the roster. If Jackson misses a game, Bills gain $150,00 cap space.

So 5.5 for rookies, and another 5 minimum for mid-season pick ups and extensions, gives us roughly 6.5-7 mil for shopping at the moment.

[clumping platelets]

Depends on how the contract is structured. Bills can do a lot with that cap space

[X-Era]

I'm looking for contract details for Scott and McKelvin.

I'm also unsure if the supposed "dead money" for McKelvin still counts now that he is resigned. It's 1.16 mill or something.

[clumping platelets]

yes it still counts

[X-Era]

Joe B claims we have recouped 7 mill in room with Fitz being cut giving us 23 mill in room. Not sure.

[clumping platelets]

If he was designated as a "post June 1st" release then Fitz's dead cap in 2013 is $3 million and $7 million in 2014

[X-Era]

If he was designated as a "post June 1st" release then Fitz's dead cap in 2013 is $3 million and $7 million in 2014
Which means the 10 mill cap hit goes to 3 for this year and gives us back 7?

[clumping platelets]

:nod:

[X-Era]

Updated

[clumping platelets]

Still trying to confirm McKelvin's dead cap...............it depends on when he achieved the triggers to void the contract

[X-Era]

Gaughan puts us at 23 mill under after Fitz but before Lawson:

"Releasing Fitzpatrick left the Bills in excellent salary cap shape. They had about $23 million in room under their cap limit of $133 million for 2013."

http://www.buffalonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130312/SPORTS/130319741/1004

That's inline with Sportstrac's numbers, who know he may have used their numbers... LOL.

[Skooby]

Nice, thanks.

[clumping platelets]

About $20 million under with the signing of lawson

[X-Era]

PFT has us at 16.8:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/27/plenty-of-teams-have-plenty-of-cap-room/

[X-Era]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/jason-la-canfora/22036612/kevin-kolbs-bills-deal-guarantees-him-only-1m-more-like-a-kick-tires-backup-contract

[The last buffalo fan]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/jason-la-canfora/22036612/kevin-kolbs-bills-deal-guarantees-him-only-1m-more-like-a-kick-tires-backup-contract


So we are now around $15.8? Still we can get some old farts out there! :pray:

[MoormanRules8]

So we are now around $15.8? Still we can get some old farts out there! :pray:

So with the UDFAs added to the roster and an estimated $5.5M for rookie contracts we are sitting closer to $10M?

With $7M on the books for Fitz in 2014 we are better off keeping that cap space for roll over next year.

[MoormanRules8]

So with the UDFAs added to the roster and an estimated $5.5M for rookie contracts we are sitting closer to $10M?

With $7M on the books for Fitz in 2014 we are better off keeping that cap space for roll over next year.

Manuel should make about $8.9M with a $4.8M Siging Bonus and be about a $1.615M cap hit in 2013.

http://www.spotrac.com/premium/research ... racts-311/ (http://www.spotrac.com/premium/research/nfl/2013-nfl-draft-projected-contracts-311/)

[Yasgur's Farm]

So with the UDFAs added to the roster and an estimated $5.5M for rookie contracts we are sitting closer to $10M?

With $7M on the books for Fitz in 2014 we are better off keeping that cap space for roll over next year.Cap is based on the top 51 salaries... Not all 90 potential heading into TC. So it's unlikely that the UDFA's have any impact on it at all.

That said... The NFL assigns a cap figure based upon the draft picks a team has. That number must be kept in reserve from available cap space.

[Yasgur's Farm]

Also... The $7M towards 2014 from Fitz won't be off the books until June 1st.

[X-Era]

ESPN has us at 13 or so mill:

http://espn.go.com/blog/afceast/post/_/id/58703/updating-afc-east-salary-cap-info

Estimates are 5.5 mill on this years cap to sign all the rookies.

Still have some room.

At some point I'll get this caught up.

[Skooby]

I see us with around $8 M in wiggle room. If Dansby wants to come here, he better get reasonable.

[X-Era]

Sportrac has us at 13.6 mill in cap room.

They have the following for the rookies so far:


<thead>
Player
Contract Terms
Avg. Salary
Guaranteed
Free Agent

</thead>

<tbody>
Chris Gragg (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/chris-gragg/) atTight End
4 yr/$2,219,175 (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/chris-gragg/)
$554,794
$59,175
2017

</tbody>

<tbody>
Kiko Alonso (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/kiko-alonso/) atLinebacker
4 yr/$4,300,401 (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/kiko-alonso/)
$1,075,100
$2,463,037
2017

</tbody>

<tbody>
Marquise Goodwin (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/marquise-goodwin/) atWide Receiver
4 yr/$2,758,876 (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/marquise-goodwin/)
$689,719
$598,876
2017

</tbody>

<tbody>
Duke Williams (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/duke-williams/) atSafety
4 yr/$2,630,252 (http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/duke-williams/)
$657,563
$470,252
2017

</tbody>

[X-Era]

Also, they have us at just over 20 mill in cap space next year at this point. Now that's for the top 51 contracts. It comes in at around 102 mill and the cap should be north of 123.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap-hit/2014/

I think it looks like there will be money for both Byrd and Wood if we want them back.

[MoormanRules8]

Also, they have us at just over 20 mill in cap space next year at this point. Now that's for the top 51 contracts. It comes in at around 102 mill and the cap should be north of 123.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap-hit/2014/

I think it looks like there will be money for both Byrd and Wood if we want them back.

With Byrd I think the issue may be him wanting to come back, not us wanting him back. If they didn't want him they wouldn't have franchised him. I think he is torn with the idea of staying here versus going on to a winner. He said in his interviews that playing for a winner is one of the most important things.

I won't clutter this thread with Byrd talk though.

Thanks for the updates.

[X-Era]

Updated. Not complete. I'm missing some of the rookie hits. And for some reason, Sportstrac has us with 4 mill more in room than I do.

But what really stands out to me is that were basically neutral spend on cap room... Coming into the year we had 16.7 and Sportrac has us at 16.7 now... We simply used the slight bump in room.

We have more than enough for Byrd but that's another matter.

[clumping platelets]

Bills got $4.25 million back on June 1st.....had to carry Fitz's salary until June 1st

[gebobs]

Coming into the year we had 16.7 and Sportrac has us at 16.7 now
And come 1 Sep 2013, we'll have that much and maybe more.

[X-Era]

Interesting thing about taking a cap hit of 3 this year and 7 on nexts is that it gives us flexibility. If we keep that 7 in room this year it can roll-over to next year and pay for it then with that 7 in room from this year.

[Skooby]

Anyone going update this ?

[X-Era]

Sportstrac has us at 25+ mill in cap space.

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap-hit/

[Skooby]

Nice.

[clumping platelets]

Get Eric Wood signed long term

[stuckincincy]

Get Eric Wood signed long term

Why? It won't affect the gate... :mybills:

[X-Era]

Sportrac now has us at 27+ mill under. They have us at 110mill for 2014 cap. I think the 2014 cap figure will be 122.

Does that mean 12 mill in room + another 27 if we roll it all over to next year? That's 39 mill in cap room if that's the case.

Seems like there is more to it than a straight rollover over of whatever is left. But I couldn't seem to find the details.

[Skooby]

Any updates ?

[X-Era]

At 3.7 potentially saved... F Jax should be gone. He's done.

[Skooby]

At 3.7 potentially saved... F Jax should be gone. He's done.

Whoa, we need a double back set.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

At 3.7 potentially saved... F Jax should be gone. He's done.

Spotrac lists his cap hit at 3.7 with a dead cap of 2.1 if we cut him. So 1.6 million in savings.

Why? He's a popular player and a good locker room guy from what I understand. Cut him next year when the savings jump to 2.7 million.

[X-Era]

Spotrac lists his cap hit at 3.7 with a dead cap of 2.1 if we cut him. So 1.6 million in savings.

Why? He's a popular player and a good locker room guy from what I understand. Cut him next year when the savings jump to 2.7 million.
You're right on that. That's my mistake.

[gebobs]

What are we saving all this money for?

[X-Era]

Sportrac already has Lindell removed. They have 900K in dead money but our cap room up to 29.4 mill.

[gebobs]

Sportrac already has Lindell removed. They have 900K in dead money but our cap room up to 29.4 mill.

And nothing to do with it.

[clumping platelets]

Byrd already counts $6.916 million and that will not change unless the tag is removed or he's traded

They can sign any of the following to contract extensions. They all become UFAs after 2013 season:

Carrington, Wood, Chandler, Dareus, Moats

[X-Era]

Byrd already counts $6.916 million and that will not change unless the tag is removed or he's traded

They can sign any of the following to contract extensions. They all become UFAs after 2013 season:

Carrington, Wood, Chandler, Dareus, MoatsWood, Byrd, and Carrington I see. But not Dareus. Not that concerned with Moats.

Dareus is a UFA after 2015. Is it a voidable contract or something?

2016 is a ***** for us... Gilmore, Glenn, and Spiller all become UFA's... And Graham and Brooks.

[X-Era]

Dareus was a 4 year deal with an option for the 5th in 2011.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/07/marcell_dareus_signs_4-year_20.html

[clumping platelets]

Rotoworld has him as a UFA after the season. If it's a playing time option, then he's probably met the requirements to void the last year. If it's an team option, then it was probably designed to force a renegotiation/extension

[clumping platelets]

7/29/2011: Signed a four-year, $20.407 million contract. The deal is fully guaranteed, including a $13.342 million signing bonus. 2013: $2,230,210, 2014: $3,157,814, 2014: Free Agent

[IlluminatusUIUC]

7/29/2011: Signed a four-year, $20.407 million contract. The deal is fully guaranteed, including a $13.342 million signing bonus. 2013: $2,230,210, 2014: $3,157,814, 2014: Free Agent

That's clearly a typo. He's under contract for this season (2013) and next season (2014) and becomes a free agent in the following calendar year (2015).

[clumping platelets]

But as a top 5 pick, he likely had an option that has already been met and 5th yr voided

[Yasgur's Farm]

Hmmm... Usually 1st rounders are signed to 5 years.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

But as a top 5 pick, he likely had an option that has already been met and 5th yr voided

That's not his 5th year, that would be his fourth year.

2011
2012
2013
2014 <- 4th season.

He's on a four year deal, and so he'll be a free agent the following march when the 2014 league year ends... in 2015.

[X-Era]

That's not his 5th year, that would be his fourth year.

2011
2012
2013
2014 <- 4th season.

He's on a four year deal, and so he'll be a free agent the following march when the 2014 league year ends... in 2015.5th year is a team option (for 1st rounders) if I'm not mistaken but also has a much higher cap figure... I'll do my homework, hold on.

[X-Era]

Here's some talk on it:

"Essentially, the contracts for players drafted at the end of the first round give teams a club option for a fifth year at an extremely controlled price. While that advantage also existed under the previous system, many of the tactics that agents and players used to get around that in the past have been eliminated"

"To an extent, this situation has existed for a long time. Under previous versions of the CBA, all first-round picks had five-year contracts and, at one point, even six. The difference is that previous CBA rules allowed players, particularly quarterbacks, to void years on the contract if they reached certain statistical plateaus, such as games started or playing time threshold. In 2006, for instance, a significant holdup in the negotiations between the Cleveland Browns and first-round pick Brady Quinn was over language in the contract.

All of that has been eliminated now because of the CBA that was agreed upon in July 2011 (three months after Dalton and Kaepernick were drafted).
Additionally, teams control the fifth year. In the past teams had to pay a larger up-front signing bonus in exchange for getting the fifth year in the contract. Now, teams don't have to exercise the option on a fifth year until after the player's third season (and before the start of his fourth). Furthermore, the fifth year isn't even fully guaranteed. If the player gets hurt, he gets paid. If he's simply not good enough, a team can cut him."

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/nfl--nfl-contract-rules-could-help-matt-barkley--other-qbs-get-drafted-in-first-round-150546269.html

"The CBA requires all drafted players to receive a four year contract but teams hold a fifth year option with first round picks. The teams can exercise this option after the end of the players third season adding an additional year to the original contract. The salary is figured like this: A player picked 1-10 receive the average salary of the top ten players at his position while picks 11-32 get the average salary of the top three through twenty five players at his position. The salary is determined at that time the option is exercised after the players third season entering their fourth. The fifth year salary is guaranteed for injury only until the start of the players “Fifth League” year where it becomes fully guaranteed."

http://www.jetnation.com/2012/05/21/the-rookie-wage-system-part-two-positives-and-potential-problems/

Basically, after the 2013 year (after this season) we have to decide whether or not to pay him the average of the top 10 at his position for the last year of the deal. If we do we get a 5th year added with that average-of-the-top-10 pay.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

So if it's the average of the Top 10 picks, it would be the Transition tag # if I'm not mistaken. Last year for a DT that was 6.9 million.

Let's be careful about playing him outside, the DE transition tag was almost 9 million (!)

[IAG]

Cap is in decent shape.

[Mr. Pink]

Cap is in decent shape.

Ralph's pocketbook is looking good these days...as well as days gone by.

[BillsFever21]

Cap is in decent shape.

It usually is in good shape because we refuse to spend to the cap.

[X-Era]

http://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/cap-hit/

This has us at 18.78 mill under.

I guess we couldn't use 2 top 10 starting G's at 5.5-6 mill per (cap hit)

http://www.spotrac.com/rankings/nfl/cap-hit/guard/

Or 5 significant depth upgrades at 2 mill (cap hit) per.

Ugh. I digress.

[Mouldsie]

We need to cut Stevie and save money. It's obvious to any cap expert.

[BillsFever21]

We need to cut Stevie and save money. It's obvious to any cap expert.

We don't save any cap money by releasing him this year though. Whether they save money in actual dollars outside of cap dollars is another story.

[Mouldsie]

We don't save any cap money by releasing him this year though. Whether they save money in actual dollars outside of cap dollars is another story.
You're clearly not a cap expert. Or a football expert.

[X-Era]

This says the Bills will have 28.66 mill in cap room next year.

[clumping platelets]

Stevie's cap number in 2014 is $7.375 million. If released or traded before paying $1.75 million roster bonus and/or not designed as post June 1st release, Bills would save $2.275 million on the 2014 cap. His dead cap would be $5.1 million.

[X-Era]

Stevie's cap number in 2014 is $7.375 million. If released or traded before paying $1.75 million roster bonus and/or not designed as post June 1st release, Bills would save $2.275 million on the 2014 cap. His dead cap would be $5.1 million.
I really think something will happen here. I think he will restructure most likely. But I can't see him staying at this number.

[BillsFever21]

You're clearly not a cap expert. Or a football expert.

So even if we saved 2 million dollars in cap room that's worth getting rid of Johnson? Are you going to get another WR of his talent for that price? Good luck with that. The real cap savings doesn't come until 2015.

That's just idiotic to think about getting rid of him over 2 million dollars when we have almost 30 million in cap room next season. You will find one hell of a replacement for 2 million dollars.

[Mouldsie]

So even if we saved 2 million dollars in cap room that's worth getting rid of Johnson? Are you going to get another WR of his talent for that price? Good luck with that. The real cap savings doesn't come until 2015.

That's just idiotic to think about getting rid of him over 2 million dollars when we have almost 30 million in cap room next season. You will find one hell of a replacement for 2 million dollars.
Yes, in the draft. Stevie was a 7th rounder so it stands that we should be able to find a better player in the 6th round. N00b!

[GingerP]

Stevie's cap number in 2014 is $7.375 million. If released or traded before paying $1.75 million roster bonus and/or not designed as post June 1st release, Bills would save $2.275 million on the 2014 cap. His dead cap would be $5.1 million.

Stevie's cap number in 2014 is $8.5M. This is made up of $3.65M in base salary, a $1.75M roster bonus, $1.7M in bonus amortization from his original $8M signing bonus (spread over 5 years), $1.125M in bonus amortization from his $4.5M 2013 option bonus (spread over 4 years), and a $275K workout bonus.

That adds up to $8.5M on the cap, with him being paid $5.675M in cash this year.

Cutting him means $8.475M in dead money, which is $5.1M remaining un-amortized bonus allocation from his original signing bonus and $3.375M in un-amortized bonus allocation from his 2013 option bonus. Cutting him saves virtually nothing against the cap, so from that perspective it makes no sense to cut him at all (especially since you would have to spend additional monies to replace his production).

[BillsFever21]

Yes, in the draft. Stevie was a 7th rounder so it stands that we should be able to find a better player in the 6th round. N00b!

Yeah because 6th and 7th round picks turn into decent players all the time. Brady wasn't drafted until the 6th round so I guess that means you can replace his production with a QB in the 5th round. Jason Peters wasn't even drafted so there is no sense in ever taking a LT before the 7th round. Kyle Williams was a 5th round pick so what the hell are we doing drafting DT's early in the draft since then? You should be able to find them in the 4th round to at least match his production. Brilliant strategy for two million dollars.

We've drafted two WR's in the 3rd round over the past couple years, a 4th round on Easley, a 2nd on Woods and even James Hardy in the 2nd round of the same draft Johnson was selected. All of them must be better then Johnson by them standards. That's one of the craziest ideas to replace a #2 WR at the very worse that I've ever heard.

[BillsFever21]

Stevie's cap number in 2014 is $8.5M. This is made up of $3.65M in base salary, a $1.75M roster bonus, $1.7M in bonus amortization from his original $8M signing bonus (spread over 5 years), $1.125M in bonus amortization from his $4.5M 2013 option bonus (spread over 4 years), and a $275K workout bonus.

That adds up to $8.5M on the cap, with him being paid $5.675M in cash this year.

Cutting him means $8.475M in dead money, which is $5.1M remaining un-amortized bonus allocation from his original signing bonus and $3.375M in un-amortized bonus allocation from his 2013 option bonus. Cutting him saves virtually nothing against the cap, so from that perspective it makes no sense to cut him at all (especially since you would have to spend additional monies to replace his production).

We can just use a 6th round draft pick to replace him. He was a 7th round pick so any WR drafted in the 6th round should technically be better then him. :rofl:

[clumping platelets]

Stevie's cap number in 2014 is $8.5M. This is made up of $3.65M in base salary, a $1.75M roster bonus, $1.7M in bonus amortization from his original $8M signing bonus (spread over 5 years), $1.125M in bonus amortization from his $4.5M 2013 option bonus (spread over 4 years), and a $275K workout bonus.

That adds up to $8.5M on the cap, with him being paid $5.675M in cash this year.

Cutting him means $8.475M in dead money, which is $5.1M remaining un-amortized bonus allocation from his original signing bonus and $3.375M in un-amortized bonus allocation from his 2013 option bonus. Cutting him saves virtually nothing against the cap, so from that perspective it makes no sense to cut him at all (especially since you would have to spend additional monies to replace his production).


His signing bonus was $8.5 million so that agrees with a $1.7 million amortization. What source do you have for the 2013 option bonus? Rotoworld does not list it

[Mouldsie]

Yeah because 6th and 7th round picks turn into decent players all the time. Brady wasn't drafted until the 6th round so I guess that means you can replace his production with a QB in the 5th round. Jason Peters wasn't even drafted so there is no sense in ever taking a LT before the 7th round. Kyle Williams was a 5th round pick so what the hell are we doing drafting DT's early in the draft since then? You should be able to find them in the 4th round to at least match his production. Brilliant strategy for two million dollars.

We've drafted two WR's in the 3rd round over the past couple years, a 4th round on Easley, a 2nd on Woods and even James Hardy in the 2nd round of the same draft Johnson was selected. All of them must be better then Johnson by them standards. That's one of the craziest ideas to replace a #2 WR at the very worse that I've ever heard.See? It's simple.

[don137]

Not sure if this site is good but I found this site that looks good for salary cap information. You can even play around with the numbers and see the effect if you cut particular players

http://overthecap.com/calculator/?Team=Bills

[GingerP]

His signing bonus was $8.5 million so that agrees with a $1.7 million amortization. What source do you have for the 2013 option bonus? Rotoworld does not list it

He also had a $4.5M option bonus in 2013, amortized at $1.125M per year from 2013 to 2016. That was reported when he signed it, like here:

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/03/06/stevie-johnson-gets-11-million-fullyguaranteed-at-signing/