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?