Ok Mr. Salary Cap Expert...Clump or Eb...

[BillsMan80]

Chidi makes how much this year, because I think it is either 450,000 or 650,000 correct? Anyway, if TD decides to bring him back, will a veteran such as Ahanotu command an up front bonus, ammort bonus, etc. Also, do you have any idea of what it might take to lock him up? Any help is appreciated.

[clumping platelets]

Ahanotu's salary is $650,000 (vet minimum for 7-9 yrs NFL experience), however, because of new provisions in the CBA for a vet exclusion, his cap number is only $450,000

No way of knowing what the market will be next offseason. More teams appear to be a good cap shape, thus the market will be higher. I do not suspect he would play another season at the vet minimum. His age will also preclude a long-term deal of more than 3 yrs, thus I'll say he'll sign a 2 or 3 yr deal.....$$$ is much more difficult to ascertain at this time.

[itsandthings]

Ahanotu likely will not be extended until after this year. When he signed with the Bills he received a one year deal with a $650K base and a $25K signing bonus, which qualified him for the veteran minimum salary exception rules under the new CBA. The new rule allows only $450K of his base to count toward the cap if there is $25K or less in non-base compensation, which set Ahanotu's cap number at $475K.

If the Bills extended Ahanotu before the end of the season, he would no longer qualify for the exception and his full $650K salary would count on the cap. It is unlikely the Bills would do that. If Ahanotu is extended it will most likely will be after the season.

As for how much he would command, it likely won't be very much. Ahanotu is a lunchpail guy and will turn 32 in a couple weeks. Guys like that generally don't command much more than minimum plus a small bonus.

[itsandthings]

One other thing, Ahanotu is a 9-year vet, which is why his minimum is set at $650K. Next year, as a 10-year vet, he falls into a new category of minimum, which is set at $755K.

With Ahanotu commanding a base of $755K with any bonus larger than $25K, it is unlikely any team would offer him more than that bonus on a 1-year deal and disqualify him for the veteran minimum exception.

Think about it, the Bills could offer him the minimum plus a $25K SB on a 1-year deal and he would count $475K against the cap again. Contrast that with them offering him a 3-year deal with minimum base salaries and a $75K bonus, which makes his bonus amortization of $25K per season. The multiyear contract wouldn't count for the veteran minimum exception so his 2003 cap value would now be $780K. Is it worth if for the Bills (or anyone else) to spend that extra $305K in cap room for $2003? Not likely.

For Ahanotu, he still receives the $755K despite the fact only $450K counts toward the cap, and he receives additional money (in the form of incentives) paid out from a league-wide pool based on his performance. He isn't going to earn that kind of money out of football.

Thus, if Ahanotu returns, it is most likely another 1-year minimum-level deal with a $25K SB and a cap value of $475K.

[casdhf]

cap man #3? :eek:

[Ebenezer]

he's got an in...;)