gmenroc

No, they don't get that money immediately. But it is guaranteed, so they will see every penny of it at some point.

Actually, when it comes to signing bonuses, the players do get that money up front. However, when it comes to accounting for it against the salary cap, Money's example was spot on.

The one thing that confuses me more than anything are the performance incentives that players can hit depending upon their play on the field, the multi-tiered bonuses, roster bonuses, and how these are counted against the cap.

Nicely thought through. Not sure that all those players will get to us in the draft, but I haven't looked into it too much. Just becoming familiar with some of the names at this point. Researching who we might draft is a little pointless in my opinion because the draft strategy could change big time depending upon what we do in free agency. And what we do in free agency is highly dependent upon what happens with this collective bargaining agreement.

The only glaring problem I saw was the draft pick trade with Denver. If I'm Denver and I can't afford 2 first round picks, I'm packaging the two of them together and moving up in the first round of the draft, not just picking up an additional pick next year. So that logic is a little off...to me anyways. Furthermore, we'd have to throw in more than just our 1st rounder next year to get the value from both sides remotely close to equal. No way that 1 first rounder this year is equal to 1 first rounder next year.

But other than that, as long as we shore up the LBers and Secondary in the offseason, I'll be happy.

Wouldn't mind seeing a TE drafted as long as by that time we've signed a CB (preferrably a FA), 2 LBers (1 FA and 1st round pick), a DT, a S, and Offensive line depth were all addressed first.

I'll explain through the use of an example.

 

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A player's cap number for a given season is the combination of that player's salary for that season and the amount of money from his signing's bonus due to him that season.

 

Let's say Will Allen re-signs with the Giants. His contract is 5-years, $20 million with a $5 million signing bonus. The distribution of his salary may look something like this (hypothetically):

 

2006: 2,000,000

2007: 3,000,000

2008: 4,000,000

2009: 5,000,000

2010: 6,000,000

 

The distribution of his signing bonus would look exactly like this, as signing bonus is evenly distributed over the duration of the contract ($5.0 million / 5 years = $1.0 million per year):

 

2006: 1,000,000

2007: 1,000,000

2008: 1,000,000

2009: 1,000,000

2010: 1,000,000

 

Thus, Allen's cap number during the contract will look exactly like this:

 

Year: Salary + Signing Bonus = Cap Number

 

2006: 2,000,000 + 1,000,000 = 3,000,000

2007: 3,000,000 + 1,000,000 = 4,000,000

2008: 4,000,000 + 1,000,000 = 5,000,000

2009: 5,000,000 + 1,000,000 = 6,000,000

2010: 6,000,000 + 1,000,000 = 7,000,000

 

So, if someone were to say "in 2008, Will Allen's cap number is $5.0 million," they are saying that Will Allen is taking up $5 million in cap space. In other words, if the salary cap (maximum amount a team can spend on player's salaries) for 2008 is set at $100 million, $5 million is going to Will Allen.

 

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Seems simple, right? It gets a little more complicated. The important distinction is that salaries are not guaranteed, but signing bonus is guaranteed. Thus, if a team cuts a player, they have to pay him the remaining money from his signing bonus. But, they do not have to pay him his salary.

 

I'll return to the Will Allen example. Let's say that in March 2008, the Giants decide to cut Will Allen. At that point, only $2 million of his original $5 million bonus has been paid to him ($1 million in 2006, and $1 million in 2007). So, if they cut him, the remaining $3 million owed to him gets accelerated in the form of a "cap hit" (and Will Allen basically gets a check for $3 million).

 

However, Will Allen does not see $.01 from the $4 million salary he is set to make in 2008. Since player salaries aren't guaranteed, that $4 million is wiped off the books ... disappears. In this hypothetical situation, although the Giants took a $3 million cap hit (aka "dead money") by releasing Will Allen, they also save $4 million because his $4 million salary is erased. Thus, cutting Will Allen results in a net cap saving of $1 million ($4 million salary erased - $ 3 million cap hit).

 

In this situation, Will Allen's cap number prior to release was $5 million, but cutting him freed up $1 million.

 

Hope that makes sense. Any questions?

 

(Bottom line: don't become a capologist!)

Nicely explained!

Also noteworthy is the significance of the June 1st date. That's the day that the signing bonus is paid. So in the Will Allen example previously noted, if he were cut June 1st, 2008 instead of March 2008, he'd get paid the 1,000,000 bonus that year and the remaining 2,000,000 salary cap hit would take affect the following year. So, in that case, he received 3 million of the original 5 million bonus (2006, 2007, and 2008). The remaining 2 million would hit in 2009. So we would lower his cap number from 5 million to 1 million THIS YEAR, saving 4 million. But, he'd have a 2 million hit NEXT YEAR.

I think I got that right. I'd also agree on the not becoming a capologist.

This year is his last chance to prove himself worthy of a first rounder. He needs to stay healthy. You know he will make the team.

Bingo. He's shown flashes, now he just needs consistency.

Defense begins at the point-of-attack, at DT, with pressure up the middle...which we were sorely lacking last season, especially when Joseph got hurt. I'm hoping we go DT in the 1st Round (2nd Round at the latest).

You're right, we didn't get much pressure. I'm telling you that with Clancy (if resigined), Joseph, Strahan, Umenyiora and the backups, we'd be fine on the D-line if our LBers played better. My thoughts are

1- Outside LB

2- CB or S

3- WR

4- DT

5- LB

6 & 7- Offensive line depth

I'd like to see Greenway, but doubtful he'll drop to us. Sims would be my pick if he's there.

After what we went through last season at LB and in the Secondary, if we go DT in the first in the draft, then we're not very smart. Now, if we get a shut down CB or fix the hole at S in free agency, than I'm fine with the DT.

But we have to get the best LB we can.

Wouldn't mind Julian Peterson, Cato June, or Will Witherspoon coming our way in the offseason.

I can't say that I agree with Peterson being rated that highly, but I still wouldn't mind seeing him come our way. Cato June and Witherspoon played well for Indy and Carolina respectively and both are still fairly young in their careers if I remember correctly.

I sent the PM, but I'll take the shotgun approach: 13,019 from the old GMB and SW1 combined.

Just noticed it was updated. Thanks.

I sent the PM, but I'll take the shotgun approach: 13,019 from the old GMB and SW1 combined.

I wish I had the link to my old signature and avatar. Is there a way to view your old profile?