1. Nate Clements, CB, BuffaloProjected New Team: Cleveland BrownsNate Clements grew up a stone's throw from Cleveland, and a return home is the classic move for a Free Agent in the NFL. The Browns have the coach to draw him in in Romeo Crennel, and plenty of cap space to write him a sizeable contract.2. Asante Samuel, CB, New EnglandProjected New Team: New York JetsIt's well known that Eric Mangini was the last remaining buffer between Belichick and the defensive players. Everyone likes Eric Mangini and enjoys playing for him. The Patriots don't like to pay out lots of money for their leaving free agents. Samuel jumping teams and following Mangini (and the money) will not be a surprise to anyone in the NFL.3. Justin Smith, DE, CincinnatiProjected New Team: Arizona CardinalsJustin Smith is the classic do-it-all defensive end. Great against the pass and the run. So Don't be surprised when the Cardinals drop a load of money on his head in order to get him to sign. The Packers have been in search for a quality DE for quite some time and signing Smith will solidify their defense.4. Eric Steinbach, OG, CincinnatiProjected New Team: Cincinnati BengalsSteinbach is the mainstay of the Bengals' O-line. When Levi Jones and Willie Anderson both went out with injuries, Steinbach was the one the line bent around. The Bengals will realize their need to keep Carson Palmer out of harms way and ink the Guard to a good sized deal.5. Adalius Thomas, OLB, BaltimoreProjected New Team: Detroit LionsThis is exactly how it's going to go down: A lot of teams want him. 5 teams make an offer. The Lions have the highest offer. Thomas waffles on wanting to play for Detroit. Detroit sweetens it's already best offer. Adalius Thomas signs on to play LB for the Lions.6. Tully Banta-Cain, OLB, New EnglandProjected New Team: New England PatriotsThe Patriots will probably let Samuel go, but they'll keep Banta-Cain. Tully had a heck of a first season, but not a great enough of one to deserve top free agent dollars. The Pats will give him a fair offer and he'll stay where he is assured to be the future of his position on his team.7. Dwight Freeney, DE, IndianapolisProjected New Team: Cleveland BrownsThe Browns continue their Free Agent splurge and sign the Pass-Rush specialist to be their new OLB. Freeney isn't good against the run (hence why he's at 7 and not at 1 on the list), but he's an amazing pass rusher. Putting him at 3-4 OLB will give him the chance to terrorize QB's all game long.8. Leonard Davis, OT, Arizona Projected New Team: Kansas City ChiefsThe Chiefs need two new Offensive Tackles, so don't be surprised when they spend their free agent money buying the best one on the market. Leonard Davis is a massive talent who needs the motivation from a coach to dominate, and there is no better motivator than Herm Edwards.9. Dominic Rhodes, RB, IndianapolisProjected New Team: New York GiantsWith Tiki Barber gone, and only the big bruiser in Brandon Jacobs. Adding in a shifty guy like Rhodes will give the Giants a nice 1-2 punch where they both split carries fairly evenly. Rhodes will come for the promises of a starting RB role, even if it is in a 2 back committee setup.10. Leonard Little, DE, St. LouisProjected New Team: St. Louis RamsLittle is getting kinda up there in years, but he still got it done last year in St. Louis. So with there being a lack of huge offers in Free Agency, why leave the place that grants you success? St. Louis will give him a fair offer that he'll accept for lack of a better option and be happy with it.
Someone write this or is it your opinion? Just wondering.Steinbach is Gonna sign Elsewheres, Cincinnati already has his replacement in Whitworth IMOColts have already said they're planning on Franchiseing Freeney if they can't reach a deal.I see thomas in San Francisco personally, he has a good connection with Mike Nolan and they have the most FA money to spend.The rest of those I could see...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Jan 22 2007, 01:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Someone write this or is it your opinion? Just wondering.Steinbach is Gonna sign Elsewheres, Cincinnati already has his replacement in Whitworth IMOColts have already said they're planning on Franchiseing Freeney if they can't reach a deal.I see thomas in San Francisco personally, he has a good connection with Mike Nolan and they have the most FA money to spend.The rest of those I could see...</div>MineI see Whitworth as tacking over at Right Tackle when Anderson is spent.When and where did the Colts say that?I know the Lions want Thomas (and Marshall Faulk, lol) and have a lot of money to spend. 49ers, maybe.
I can't see anyone on that list possible for a franchise tag. Nobody on that list is a huge keeper for any teams, except for maybe Adalius Thomas.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jon_Vilma @ Jan 22 2007, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>1. Nate Clements, CB, BuffaloProjected New Team: Cleveland BrownsNate Clements grew up a stone's throw from Cleveland, and a return home is the classic move for a Free Agent in the NFL. The Browns have the coach to draw him in in Romeo Crennel, and plenty of cap space to write him a sizeable contract.</div>HE IS NOT GOING TO THE BROWNS Hello? Dan $nyder...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jan 22 2007, 04:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I can't see anyone on that list possible for a franchise tag. Nobody on that list is a huge keeper for any teams, except for maybe Adalius Thomas.</div>uh, maybe, just maybe Dwight Freeney?
Uh, maybe they've already established they will not be keeping him? Retarded for a Colts fan, aren't you?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jan 22 2007, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Uh, maybe they've already established they will not be keeping him? Retarded for a Colts fan, aren't you?</div><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>(Jan. 04, - 12:00 PM EST - Source: Sacramento Bee)Colts GM Bill Polian told Peter King that Dwight Freeney would not hit unrestricted free agency. Freeney will be re-signed or the Colts will use the franchise tag on him. They have a lot of salary cap total to lop off, however, to be able to fit Freeney under the cap.</div>http://www.nbcsports.com/nfl_players/2223/detail.html
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (AdropOFvenom @ Jan 22 2007, 10:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>(Jan. 04, - 12:00 PM EST - Source: Sacramento Bee)Colts GM Bill Polian told Peter King that Dwight Freeney would not hit unrestricted free agency. Freeney will be re-signed or the Colts will use the franchise tag on him. They have a lot of salary cap total to lop off, however, to be able to fit Freeney under the cap.</div>http://www.nbcsports.com/nfl_players/2223/detail.html</div>It's quite funny how yesterday they were saying Freeney would be let into UFA
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Punisher @ Jan 22 2007, 04:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jon_Vilma @ Jan 22 2007, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>1. Nate Clements, CB, BuffaloProjected New Team: Cleveland BrownsNate Clements grew up a stone's throw from Cleveland, and a return home is the classic move for a Free Agent in the NFL. The Browns have the coach to draw him in in Romeo Crennel, and plenty of cap space to write him a sizeable contract.</div>HE IS NOT GOING TO THE BROWNS Hello? Dan $nyder...</div>Hello? Team going no where...
[quote name='Jon_Vilma' post='81871' date='Jan 22 2007, 11:46 PM'][quote name='AdropOFvenom' post='81864' date='Jan 22 2007, 10:56 PM'] [/quote]They'll find a way. I'm sure they could just restructure Peyton and Marvin's deals for the 14th time each. :whistling:
If a team converts base salary to bonus money, does that help you get under the cap?? I don't understand how NFL contracts, cap #, cap hit, etc. work. If can someone can explain, that'd be great
Well for one, yes a bigger bonus sometimes helps a team get under contract. The only difference with that is, the higher the bonus, the less the first year of the contract is worth, therefore you spend less cash. As time goes on, the contract gets more and more each year, and basically is a lot higher considering they are not making the bonus anymore, as it is split into yearly payments of the same amount, most of the time. So basically, yes it helps for short term, but kills long term
I'm basically just expanding on what Capt. Comeback already said, but....Moving Base Salary to Bonus Money helps in the short term, but over the long-term it hurts if you're ever going to need to cut the player. Like Let's say Player A is on an evenly distributed 6 year, 24 million doller deal with a 6 million Signing BonusNow, Year 3 comes by and Player A is due to make 4 million against the cap (3 Base, 1 SB).If you cut him it'd be a 4 million cap hit (4 years remaining, 1 million SB per year = 4 million), so you're not going to do that. If you keep him it'd be 4 million cap charge (3 million Base Salary, 1 million Signing Bonus), but you need the money now.So you restructure his deal down to 850K Base Salary and transfer the other 2.15 million to his Signing Bonus. That 2.15 million gets evenly distributed over the remaining 4 years of the contract so now the players contract would be 2.38 million against the cap for the next season (850K Base Salary, 1.53 Mill SB).However, if you wanted to cut/trade that player the cost would now be a 6.15 million cap hit now. Making him basically uncuttable.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Capt. Comeback @ Jan 23 2007, 12:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well for one, yes a bigger bonus sometimes helps a team get under contract. The only difference with that is, the higher the bonus, the less the first year of the contract is worth, therefore you spend less cash. As time goes on, the contract gets more and more each year, and basically is a lot higher considering they are not making the bonus anymore, as it is split into yearly payments of the same amount, most of the time. So basically, yes it helps for short term, but kills long term </div>What you said is true.Except that while most contracts escalate, few do so evenly (like they do in Madden), and teams with good cap experts design the contracts of their Free Agent additions to form around their current cap fluctuations. IE If in 2008 a team looks to be razor thin on cap space, the FA will get very little money that year, but a lot more money in 2007 and 2009 than he did in 2008.
