A response regarding the salary cap..
I got into a debate with Phil and Ice earlier regarding the Bills lack of spending for impact players on the cap. Well, I shouldn't say Phil and Ice, I should say Phil.. Ice aka "Moulds for Javon Walker" and "Lets bring in Harrington" is in his own world. I really need to just ignore that hamerhead.
But I suggested we had at LEAST $8 million (with after research we have more than $8 mill to spend, AFTER signing Larry Tripplet and the "triplet" of scrubs we just signed (Bowen, Davis and Royal) to spend on FREE AGENTS alone.. Not draft money, not NLTB money.. Just at least $8 million to spend on FA's.. OH, and did I include that's NOT counting the Eric Moulds money?
Anywho, Phil (who's opinions I do respect whether I agree or not) told me that quote "$8 million would get eaten up with two signings".
Phil, you are wrong.
I just completed research on my own and talked to the best cap guy I know (Outside of Clump of course)..
I would concur that ANY Buffalo Bills fan would think that LeCharles Bentley over Preston, Kevin Shaffer over Gandy and Joe Jurevious over parrish/davis are ALL tremendous upgrades that would help this team in a HUGE way, no?
WEll check this out.. This is how much these players count against the cap for the Cleveland Browns in 2006..
Bentley: $2.66 million (2.08 + 650k base)
Shaffer: $2.585 million (2.0 + 585k base)
Joe J. $1.71 million (1.0 + 710k base)
That is a TOTAL of $7.22 million against the salary cap for 2006. for ALL THREE of them. Three IMPACT players.. I think we can all agree we wouldnt be talking OL anymore (our #1 weakness) with Bentley and Shaffer on the roster, or a quality 2nd WR to replace Moulds..
For the Record: IN 2007 the cap figure goes up to $8.3 million. BTW, the salary cap goes up some $7-8 million for each team in 2007..
Bentley and Shaffer's cap numbers start to really get up there in year four of their contracts.. That's what having a good draft over the next few years is SUPPOSED to accomplish.. HAving young guys primed to replace the older, expensive guys who by 2008-09 will be on their way out.
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So I hope what is learned that its NOT just about how much salary cap room you have.. Its even more about what your owner is willing to spend. Cleveland is a small market team like Buffalo.. Yet the owner was willing to shell out exactly $28.5 million in signing bonuses to these three players who WILL make Cleveland a better team.. by doing that, he prorated the bonuses and lowered the cap numbers so the team could go and get MORE role players, like Washington and McGinest.
The Bottom line is Buffalo doesnt get these kind of players and make these kind of moves, NOT because we dont have the cap space, it's because we have a FRUGAL owner who refuses to pay what it takes to put a winning team on the field anymore.. Hell, he admits he didnt even understand the new CBA.
Say what you want about Dan Snyder to, He got the guys he got with less cap room than Buffalo because he was willing to pay the bonus money out to spread the cap out more.
Until Ralph Wilson ever does this if ever, we're going to continue to sign the Robert Royal's and Matt Bowen's of the league and try to sell our fans on the draft.
In some cases, especially with Snyder owners do FOOLISHLY throw away money.. But if you're in the Buffalo organization, getting players like Bentley, Shaffer and Jurevicious isn't foolish.. Its NECESSARY to winning.
I got into a debate with Phil and Ice earlier regarding the Bills lack of spending for impact players on the cap. Well, I shouldn't say Phil and Ice, I should say Phil.. Ice aka "Moulds for Javon Walker" and "Lets bring in Harrington" is in his own world. I really need to just ignore that hamerhead.
But I suggested we had at LEAST $8 million (with after research we have more than $8 mill to spend, AFTER signing Larry Tripplet and the "triplet" of scrubs we just signed (Bowen, Davis and Royal) to spend on FREE AGENTS alone.. Not draft money, not NLTB money.. Just at least $8 million to spend on FA's.. OH, and did I include that's NOT counting the Eric Moulds money?
Anywho, Phil (who's opinions I do respect whether I agree or not) told me that quote "$8 million would get eaten up with two signings".
Phil, you are wrong.
I just completed research on my own and talked to the best cap guy I know (Outside of Clump of course)..
I would concur that ANY Buffalo Bills fan would think that LeCharles Bentley over Preston, Kevin Shaffer over Gandy and Joe Jurevious over parrish/davis are ALL tremendous upgrades that would help this team in a HUGE way, no?
WEll check this out.. This is how much these players count against the cap for the Cleveland Browns in 2006..
Bentley: $2.66 million (2.08 + 650k base)
Shaffer: $2.585 million (2.0 + 585k base)
Joe J. $1.71 million (1.0 + 710k base)
That is a TOTAL of $7.22 million against the salary cap for 2006. for ALL THREE of them. Three IMPACT players.. I think we can all agree we wouldnt be talking OL anymore (our #1 weakness) with Bentley and Shaffer on the roster, or a quality 2nd WR to replace Moulds..
For the Record: IN 2007 the cap figure goes up to $8.3 million. BTW, the salary cap goes up some $7-8 million for each team in 2007..
Bentley and Shaffer's cap numbers start to really get up there in year four of their contracts.. That's what having a good draft over the next few years is SUPPOSED to accomplish.. HAving young guys primed to replace the older, expensive guys who by 2008-09 will be on their way out.
====================================================
So I hope what is learned that its NOT just about how much salary cap room you have.. Its even more about what your owner is willing to spend. Cleveland is a small market team like Buffalo.. Yet the owner was willing to shell out exactly $28.5 million in signing bonuses to these three players who WILL make Cleveland a better team.. by doing that, he prorated the bonuses and lowered the cap numbers so the team could go and get MORE role players, like Washington and McGinest.
The Bottom line is Buffalo doesnt get these kind of players and make these kind of moves, NOT because we dont have the cap space, it's because we have a FRUGAL owner who refuses to pay what it takes to put a winning team on the field anymore.. Hell, he admits he didnt even understand the new CBA.
Say what you want about Dan Snyder to, He got the guys he got with less cap room than Buffalo because he was willing to pay the bonus money out to spread the cap out more.
Until Ralph Wilson ever does this if ever, we're going to continue to sign the Robert Royal's and Matt Bowen's of the league and try to sell our fans on the draft.
In some cases, especially with Snyder owners do FOOLISHLY throw away money.. But if you're in the Buffalo organization, getting players like Bentley, Shaffer and Jurevicious isn't foolish.. Its NECESSARY to winning.
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