Assuming the other thread is true and Bledsoe decides to leave....

[OpIv37]

...rather than backing up Losman- do we have to wait until June 1 to cut him? Find someone to take his contract in a trade like we did with NE last time? I guess what I'm getting at is how we can release/trade him with the lowest possible cap hit.

Eb/Clump- this one's probably for one of you guys.

[Ebenezer]

if they are going to cut him the best option is probably to do it before 3/1...no need to pay him a huge bonus and then cut him...i broke this down someplace else...i will try to find it.

[Ebenezer]

here ya go!:
if DB is cut before 3/1 the Bills would save:
2005: $1.14M (Dead Cap $4.432M)
2006: $8.316M (Dead Cap $0)

if DB were cut between 3/3 and 6/1 the Bills would save:
2005: $140K (Dead Cap $5.432M)
2006: $8.316 (Dead Cap $0)

if DB were cut between 6/2 and the day before the opener the Bills would save:
2005: $3.3M (Dead Cap $3.216M)
2006: $6.05M (Dead Cap $2.216M)

[OpIv37]

So basically, the only way to avoid a huge cap hit is to either restructure his contract or trade him with the contract?

Damn, if we have to pay $4 million for him whether he's here or not, might as well keep him on the bench.

[Ebenezer]

So basically, the only way to avoid a huge cap hit is to either restructure his contract or trade him with the contract?

Damn, if we have to pay $4 million for him whether he's here or not, might as well keep him on the bench.

the Bills take a cap hit no matter what...that was the money they saved against the 2004 salcap...that was the damage by redoing the deal to keep him last year (not passing judgement about the signing, just stating the facts)...

the kicker is that the money they save by cutting him before 3/1 will go to pay for whatever back-up they bring in - so, no real savings...getting rid of him before 3/1 is just the way to ensure he is not a cancer to JP and the team...

[TigerJ]

I imagine they might quietly talk to some other teams, like Dallas, to see if there is any market for a trade. If not I think he would be released. I don't see him willingly accepting a backup role on the Bills.

[YardRat]

Sorry---just can't see TD and MM putting all their eggs in Losman's basket for the 2005 season, unless he was damn impressive during practices late in the year.

I still think the issue is restructuring and competing for the job, not whether or not Drew has already been named the back-up.