Article: 2007 and the Cap

[Schneed10]

I'd look for the following moves:

Cut: John Hall, Christian Fauria, Mike Rumph (save $3.5 million)

Cut: Adam Archuleta as a Post June 1 move, (save $600K in 2007, absorb a $7 million deadcap hit in 2008)

Forced Paycuts: Mark Brunell and Reynaldo Wynn, if they don't accept, cut them to save $4.8 million in FY 2007 between the two of them)

Restructured Contracts (no pay reduction, just restructure): Jon Jansen, Randy Thomas, Shawn Springs, Cornelius Griffin, Marcus Washington, Clinton Portis, Casey Rabach. This could generate $10-15 million in cap space.

Resign: Derrick Dockery to a long term deal

They'll have the flexibility to keep it all together and make another free agency run, if they want to.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I'd look for the following moves:

Cut: John Hall, Christian Fauria, Mike Rumph (save $3.5 million)

Cut: Adam Archuleta as a Post June 1 move, (save $600K in 2007, absorb a $7 million deadcap hit in 2008)

Forced Paycuts: Mark Brunell and Reynaldo Wynn, if they don't accept, cut them to save $4.8 million in FY 2007 between the two of them)

Restructured Contracts (no pay reduction, just restructure): Jon Jansen, Randy Thomas, Shawn Springs, Cornelius Griffin, Marcus Washington, Clinton Portis, Casey Rabach. This could generate $10-15 million in cap space.

Resign: Derrick Dockery to a long term deal

They'll have the flexibility to keep it all together and make another free agency run, if they want to.

Schneed - wouldn't it be better to cut Brunnel before June 1st so we don't take AA and Brunell dead hits in 2008?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Bill B

Schneed - wouldn't it be better to cut Brunnel before June 1st so we don't take AA and Brunell dead hits in 2008?

Cutting Brunell before June 1 would create $2.3 million in cap space in 2007. Cutting him after June 1 would create $3.7 million in cap space in 2007, but we'd have to carry about $2.8 million in deadcap for him in 2008. Since Gibbs still loves him so much, I'm guessing they'll keep him even if they can't get him to take a paycut. But they'll probably try to get him to take the paycut.

As for Archuleta, if we cut him before June 1, he'll count $9 million against our cap. He's scheduled to count $2.5 million in 2007 as it stands now, so going from there to $9 million would represent a $6.5 million jump. I don't think the team would take that approach, it's too limiting in 2007.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

Cutting Brunell before June 1 would create $2.3 million in cap space in 2007. Cutting him after June 1 would create $3.7 million in cap space in 2007, but we'd have to carry about $2.8 million in deadcap for him in 2008. Since Gibbs still loves him so much, I'm guessing they'll keep him even if they can't get him to take a paycut. But they'll probably try to get him to take the paycut.

As for Archuleta, if we cut him before June 1, he'll count $9 million against our cap. He's scheduled to count $2.5 million in 2007 as it stands now, so going from there to $9 million would represent a $6.5 million jump. I don't think the team would take that approach, it's too limiting in 2007.

Well it looks like the Redskins will once again be the leaders in dead cap space. At least the cap rises to $116 million in 2008 so that will help some.

[CrazyCanuck]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I'd look for the following moves:

Cut: John Hall, Christian Fauria, Mike Rumph (save $3.5 million)

Cut: Adam Archuleta as a Post June 1 move, (save $600K in 2007, absorb a $7 million deadcap hit in 2008)

Forced Paycuts: Mark Brunell and Reynaldo Wynn, if they don't accept, cut them to save $4.8 million in FY 2007 between the two of them)

Restructured Contracts (no pay reduction, just restructure): Jon Jansen, Randy Thomas, Shawn Springs, Cornelius Griffin, Marcus Washington, Clinton Portis, Casey Rabach. This could generate $10-15 million in cap space.

Resign: Derrick Dockery to a long term deal

They'll have the flexibility to keep it all together and make another free agency run, if they want to.

Great stuff. I agree with all of this.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I'd look for the following moves:

Cut: John Hall, Christian Fauria, Mike Rumph (save $3.5 million)

Cut: Adam Archuleta as a Post June 1 move, (save $600K in 2007, absorb a $7 million deadcap hit in 2008)

Forced Paycuts: Mark Brunell and Reynaldo Wynn, if they don't accept, cut them to save $4.8 million in FY 2007 between the two of them)

Restructured Contracts (no pay reduction, just restructure): Jon Jansen, Randy Thomas, Shawn Springs, Cornelius Griffin, Marcus Washington, Clinton Portis, Casey Rabach. This could generate $10-15 million in cap space.

Resign: Derrick Dockery to a long term deal

They'll have the flexibility to keep it all together and make another free agency run, if they want to.

Nice breakdown, I think you're pretty much dead on with what will probably happen for real.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I'd look for the following moves:

Cut: John Hall, Christian Fauria, Mike Rumph (save $3.5 million)

Cut: Adam Archuleta as a Post June 1 move, (save $600K in 2007, absorb a $7 million deadcap hit in 2008)

Forced Paycuts: Mark Brunell and Reynaldo Wynn, if they don't accept, cut them to save $4.8 million in FY 2007 between the two of them)

Restructured Contracts (no pay reduction, just restructure): Jon Jansen, Randy Thomas, Shawn Springs, Cornelius Griffin, Marcus Washington, Clinton Portis, Casey Rabach. This could generate $10-15 million in cap space.

Resign: Derrick Dockery to a long term deal

They'll have the flexibility to keep it all together and make another free agency run, if they want to.

I frankly don't want to see another big free agency spree. For once, let's show a little restraint and use cap relief gained through restructuring to resign core Redskins coming to the end of current contracts (Dockery this season, Cooley and Sellers next season). Perhaps target one key free agent to help the D and use the first round pick on Defense as well. I believe the pieces are already in place for the offense to be scary good if Campbell continues to progress. I love that he put the ball downfield at least a half dozen times last week. That was a months worth of deep balls for Brunell, and will keep opposing safeties from crowding the line to stop Portis/Betts.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

I frankly don't want to see another big free agency spree. For once, let's show a little restraint and use cap relief gained through restructuring to resign core Redskins coming to the end of current contracts (Dockery this season, Cooley and Sellers next season). Perhaps target one key free agent to help the D and use the first round pick on Defense as well. I believe the pieces are already in place for the offense to be scary good if Campbell continues to progress. I love that he put the ball downfield at least a half dozen times last week. That was a months worth of deep balls for Brunell, and will keep opposing safeties from crowding the line to stop Portis/Betts.

I would agree with taking the opportunity to extend the contracts of some of our key players. The three you mentioned are key components for us.

I don't want to see us going out and getting a shopping cart full of free agents either. A key guy here or there is what we really need. We need to break the cycle of continually bringing in multiple new free agent starters. They require such a learning curve. The offseason preceding our 10-6 2005 season was pretty quiet if you'll all remember. We traded Coles for Moss and signed David Patten, and that was pretty much it. The continuity lended itself very well to a successful season. Moss came in and immediately injected the team with a big-play threat.

I'd think along the same way for this season, except I'd focus on D. One big DT up front like Alan Branch in the draft, and one player in the secondary (CB or SS, I don't care). If you get Nate Clements at CB, maybe you can move Springs to SS. If you get a Michael Lewis at SS, you can keep Springs at CB.

But that's it. I wouldn't touch the LBs for continuity's sake. And if they have big DTs in front of them, they'll look better. I wouldn't touch the DEs because I think they're coming on and player better now. And on offense, I'd keep everything the same, because right now we're 5th in the league in rushing offense, and Campbell has the weapons to keep developing Saunders' passing game.

[Bill B]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

I would agree with taking the opportunity to extend the contracts of some of our key players. The three you mentioned are key components for us.

I don't want to see us going out and getting a shopping cart full of free agents either. A key guy here or there is what we really need. We need to break the cycle of continually bringing in multiple new free agent starters. They require such a learning curve. The offseason preceding our 10-6 2005 season was pretty quiet if you'll all remember. We traded Coles for Moss and signed David Patten, and that was pretty much it. The continuity lended itself very well to a successful season. Moss came in and immediately injected the team with a big-play threat.

I'd think along the same way for this season, except I'd focus on D. One big DT up front like Alan Branch in the draft, and one player in the secondary (CB or SS, I don't care). If you get Nate Clements at CB, maybe you can move Springs to SS. If you get a Michael Lewis at SS, you can keep Springs at CB.

But that's it. I wouldn't touch the LBs for continuity's sake. And if they have big DTs in front of them, they'll look better. I wouldn't touch the DEs because I think they're coming on and player better now. And on offense, I'd keep everything the same, because right now we're 5th in the league in rushing offense, and Campbell has the weapons to keep developing Saunders' passing game.

Schneed - one more thing - wouldn't you also look to bring in a new kicker (Josh Brown would be nice) or is Suisham the answer? I would just think it would be a good move to have the kicking position solidified in preseason so we aren't scrambling to correct our kicking game midseason like we did this year.

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by Bill B

Schneed - one more thing - wouldn't you also look to bring in a new kicker (Josh Brown would be nice) or is Suisham the answer? I would just think it would be a good move to have the kicking position solidified in preseason so we aren't scrambling to correct our kicking game midseason like we did this year.

Oh yeah. K too. I forgot about K. K's not really a position where there's any kind of learning curve, and continuity isn't necessary. You can get any K, plug them in, and not worry about effects on team chemistry.

I do want to give Suisham a chance though. You never know, he could be the next David Akers. If he looks really impressive the rest of this year, bring him back to camp to compete with a vet like Josh Brown. If he falters, just straight up go with Josh Brown.

Or Vanderjagt if he's healthy.