We're Not Leading the League in Dead Money!

[Hogskin]

Don't sweat the "couple years" from now that some of the journalists keep harping on. They were saying the EXACT same thing 3-4 years ago when we signed Deion, Bruce and the others. It seems that one thing Snyder's front office team knows how to do VERY well is manage the cap. They know how to play the game. It is extremely unlikely we will get into SF's type of trouble. The Redskins will renegotiate some contracts and make one or two KEY trades each year starting 2 years from now. (Trades similar to the Bailey/Portis deal). Then the cap hits get shoved back a couple more years (again). This works, and some writers have not figured it out yet.

Oh yeah - and don't forget the TV contracts are going to be renegotiated (I think for 2006). Expectations are for a big revenue increase. This will, in turn, drive the cap up quite a bit. Nobody ever seems to mention that when they write about the 2006 demise of the Redskins. Joe Prisco of Sportsline is notorious for calling for the Redskin collapse in 2006. He also dissed the Patriots all through the season last year. Facts don't bother some of these guys.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Excellent post HogSkin. The credit is all yours for pointing out the TV contract-salary cap link. Here's what ESPN reported awhile back.


"NFL officials confirmed Friday evening that the league will not reopen the $17.6 billion contract with its various television partners, which means the rights fees are set now through the expiration of the eight-year pact after the 2005 season.

Under the contract, negotiated in 1998, the NFL retained the option to essentially void the final three years of the deal and reopen negotiations with the networks. The deadline for such a move is Feb. 15, but that date will pass without the league exercising its option."

[SmootSmack]

If I remember right, in addition to the new TV contract, the Redskins themselves have a lot of corporate sponsorships that were set to expire at the end of this season. With Gibbs back in the fold FedEx now more than ever is the place to be in the DC area. So the Redskins can definitely drive up the fees for new sponsorships, whether with the current companies or new ones. That money can then be used for signing bonuses.

But regardless, I agree with Hogskins. I don't know what the benefit is of worrying about two years from now. Let's say the Skins win the Super Bowl this season, would we all be sitting around moping that "yeah we spent the money and got the title but what will it matter in two years" or if we spent conservatively and finished 8-8 would we all be sitting around saying "well at least we won't be in cap hell in two years. To paraphrase Herman Edwards "You spend to win the game"