Shawn Springs Salary Cap Status

[Schneed10]

I'm seeing multiple posts around the site concerning the likelihood of Shawn Springs being axed due to salary cap constraints, in an effort to save cap space. This is often being used as an argument in favor of pursuing a high priced CB free agent. The Springs cap situation has to be clarified:

In 2008, his cap number is $7.5 million. His base salary that season is $5 million. We can cut him and save $2.5 mill, but the Skins can also reduce the cap number by $2.5 million by simply restructuring the guy. With the restructure, he wouldn't take one ounce of paycut, he'd simply get his money up front instead of in base salaries. He'd have no incentive to refuse that, and if you're the Skins, what would you prefer? Save $2.5 million with Springs off the roster, or save $2.5 million with Springs on the roster?

On top of that, there's still the chance that they extend his contract another 2 years or so to reduce the cap hit even further, a la Jon Jansen two years ago.

The only way it makes sense to cut the guy at this point is if you think he's going to be an ineffective CB next season. With the way he's playing now, I have absolutely no idea why anyone would think that.

Signing a big money free agent CB, like Nnamdi Asomugha, may be a good move, or it may not, I'm not going to argue that one way or another here. He's a hell of a player. But Springs won't be cut, I'll guarantee you that much. So you tell me, with Springs, Smoot, and a healing Rogers back next year, would you spend a lot for a muffler?

[Beemnseven]

I'd love to be able to keep him, and not have to sign another FA CB, but the general consensus has been that he won't accept a restructure. It just seems as though Springs has been the player who recently is least likely to work with the team when trying to clear up cap space.

Of course, if someone can find a quote refuting this, and he is willing to help out, that would alleviate another potential problem area.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Beemnseven

I'd love to be able to keep him, and not have to sign another FA CB, but the general consensus has been that he won't accept a restructure. It just seems as though Springs has been the player who recently is least likely to work with the team when trying to clear up cap space.

Of course, if someone can find a quote refuting this, and he is willing to help out, that would alleviate another potential problem area.

No, he refused to take a pay cut, not a restructure.

[MTK]

There's a good chance he will restructure. I don't see anyone else out there paying him more than what he'll get here.

[GoSkins!]

Best bet is to keep him on the roster since Rogers will not be full strength next year. We can still sign or draft another CB, just not a top tier guy. I'd like to see new top tier talent at either OL tackle or guard and LB (since rocky will not be ready next season), solid new guys at WR, DE, and CB. These needs can easily be filled through FA and the draft.

Springs gives us solid depth at DB and is perfect against slot receivers. Keep him!

[That Guy]

springs is still old, a restructure just pushes the cap hit farther down the road, and he's still had a bunch of injuries.

I'd be totally fine with keeping him, and i'm not saying he will be cut, but assuming he'll just be here isn't exactly a surefire bet either. he's always played well for us (when healthy) though.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by That Guy

springs is still old, a restructure just pushes the cap hit farther down the road, and he's still had a bunch of injuries.

I'd be totally fine with keeping him, and i'm not saying he will be cut, but assuming he'll just be here isn't exactly a surefire bet either. he's always played well for us (when healthy) though.

While it may not be a 100% bet, I'd go so far as to say 95% when I look at the cap situation, consider how much GW likes him, and consider Rogers will be shaky next season.

And this part of my response is to Beem. Dude, why wouldn't he restructure? Last year he balked at a pay CUT, not a restructure.

A restructure is simply when they take the money you're due to earn as salary (game checks) and give you that exact total, in a lump sum, up front in March. He still gets the same amount of money. To my knowledge, no player in the NFL has ever refused a simple restructure of this nature. This kind of restructure can save the Skins the same amount of cap space next year as cutting him would save.

Yes, it kicks cap hit further down the road. But I'll put serious money on the line that says the Skins will take that future hit because they like Springs that much.

[That Guy]

plenty of players have refused simple restructures cause they don't like teams screwing with their contracts... we had that issue during spurrier. other players have also refused due to the fact that kicking the money down the road makes getting cut (and not seeing the high end year salaries) much more likely.

while most players don't care, both issues have happened here in the past, though i forget the names.

[Dirtbag59]

Present Value of money.......its a bitch.

[saden1]

Can we keep Springs and trade Carlos Rogers? I know, I know, he's damaged good but I'm just thinking out loud here.

[Redskin Warrior]

Originally Posted by saden1

Can we keep Springs and trade Carlos Rogers? I know, I know, he's damaged good but I'm just thinking out loud here.

no, I like Carlos I think he was a decent corner before injury with potential to be a pro bowl cailber player. Springs is okay but in time I think CR will be damn good corner.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by That Guy

plenty of players have refused simple restructures cause they don't like teams screwing with their contracts... we had that issue during spurrier. other players have also refused due to the fact that kicking the money down the road makes getting cut (and not seeing the high end year salaries) much more likely.

while most players don't care, both issues have happened here in the past, though i forget the names.

Screwing with the contracts?? A simple restructure, as the Skins do, consists only of changing base salary into signing bonus. You take the $5 million you owe the player during the season, and give it to him sooner. Um, what the hell's not to like?

What players have previously refused is a RENEGOTIATION, not a restructure. Pay cuts, changing $ amounts in given years, extensions for lower $ per year, those kinds of things give players pause. But not the kind of restructure we're talking here in Springs' case.

[Bill B]

I think if the Redskins gave a restructure like Schneed was describing he would be a fool not to accept. No team in the league would give him that kind of guranteed money with his age and injury history. Now if the SKins come back and say take a pay cut Springs would have to think on that one depending on the amount of the paycut. I wonder how much Springs would command on the free agent market at this time given his age and injuries? Remember his current contract is based more on his prime, so any contract now would most likely be a lot lower.

[GoSkins!]

I can't find the article from last year, but I remember it well. Springs was asked about a restructure or pay cut. He said like: "Wait a minute... if you are asking about if I'll restructure, that's one thing but a pay cut is a different story. I'm not going to be talking about that!"

Well, not a real quote, but you get the drift. He was cool talking about the restructure, but when the reporter mentioned the idea of a pay cut he was noticeably irritated.

I think he will be here next year with the restructure (barring injury).

[freddyg12]

great thread Schneed.
Could it be simply that talks w/Springs' agent about restructuring never materialized because the skins tried to talk pay cut first?

This offseason, if the talk is strictly about restructuring, looks like there's a good chance of it happening.

Springs is worth keeping around, but we'll need another cb as all of our top 3 will either be coming off an injury or just injury prone. It would be great if Torrence suddenly improved in these last 2 games to the point they felt secure about the position, but I don't see that given GW's preference to build around solid corners.

Another reason to keep Springs & maybe the most important; the dude was a total pro this year & played well through tough times. He deserves the team's & the fans vote of confidence.