2.2 million for B. Johnson?!?!

[AnonEmouse]

That's a hell of an expensive BJ! (Sorry couldn't resist.)

Seriously though, he won't be badly missed. If Gibbs is running his old offensive style virtually unchanged, Johnson would have been an expensive luxury.

One thing though - according to the write up I saw the contract is heavily laden with almost unobtainable incentives. The 2.2M amount qouted is the cap hit IF all his bonuses are paid. He's unlikely to get anywhere near that, so the Saints will get a cap rebate based on what he actually earns. The big problem in reality is his $800,000 roster bonus - it's not a signing bonus so hits the cap in full this year. We can't afford that for what we get out of him.

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by AnonEmouse

That's a hell of an expensive BJ! (Sorry couldn't resist.)

Seriously though, he won't be badly missed. If Gibbs is running his old offensive style virtually unchanged, Johnson would have been an expensive luxury.

One thing though - according to the write up I saw the contract is heavily laden with almost unobtainable incentives. The 2.2M amount qouted is the cap hit IF all his bonuses are paid. He's unlikely to get anywhere near that, so the Saints will get a cap rebate based on what he actually earns. The big problem in reality is his $800,000 roster bonus - it's not a signing bonus so hits the cap in full this year. We can't afford that for what we get out of him.

The $2.2 million cap hit sticks in 2004, so it actually is a real number and it does have to be accounted for on this year's cap. It's due to the fact that the unobtainable incentives you speak of are actually included as "likely to be earned" incentives-- which doesn't make a whole lot of sense, but it's one of the latest toys teams have started playing with to improve their future cap numbers. The Vikings did this to great success last year, and got a huge total rebate on this year's cap. It basically gives you extra cap room in future years. So the Saints would have a little more money to play with in 2005.

By including the $800,000 roster bonus up front-- rather than a prorated signing bonus--the Saints are using their 2004 cap room (around $11 million) as leverage against the Skins (around $4 million), essentially betting that the Skins can't afford to take such a large up-front hit for an unessential player. It actually makes a lot of sense-- if you have extra money in the current cap year to play with, why not use it to your advantage, while improving your outlook in future years?

[AnonEmouse]

Correct JC - I misquoted in my post - the rebate applies next year, but my point was it wasn't what he will really earn. As you say it's a kind of loophole they are exploiting to discourage the Skins.

Get the feeling this is the kind of thing someone will pull with McCants too.

[diehardskin2982]

Cecil Martin who was a hell of a blocking FB could be picked up for real cheap

[offiss]

I don't know what the big deal about a fullback is in gibb's offense, can someone give me the name of the blocking fullback gibb's used his last tenure?

[joecrisp]

Originally Posted by offiss

I don't know what the big deal about a fullback is in gibb's offense, can someone give me the name of the blocking fullback gibb's used his last tenure?

Gibbs typically used his TEs as blocking "H-backs", bringing them in motion, or shifting them into a set where they line up as a lead blocker. I don't recall any true fullbacks in Gibbs' tenure.

[joecrisp]

Now that I think about it, Riggins was often referred to as a fullback, but he's the only one I recall ever being referred to as a "fullback".

[h2tr]

Originally Posted by offiss

I don't know what the big deal about a fullback is in gibb's offense, can someone give me the name of the blocking fullback gibb's used his last tenure?

I remember Otis Wonsley and Clarence Harmon early on when Gibbs first arrived. Seems to me he had tight ends (Doc Walker, Clint Didier, Don Warren) and linemen (Russ Grimm, Joe Jacoby) blocking later on in his tenure.

Regards,

H2TR

[nosebleed]

BJ was the fourth leading reciever last year and a very good blocker. He sounds like a great "H-Back" to me. The money may be to steep though.

[Yankskins]

are we forgetting about Rock Cartwright here? He's a solid blocker, and pretty versitile; he proved he can actually run the ball too.

[skinsfanthru&thru]

I thought if u signed a veteran to the league minimum, it actually only counted around 600,000 against the cap. I could be wrong though.

[offiss]

Originally Posted by nosebleed

BJ was the fourth leading reciever last year and a very good blocker. He sounds like a great "H-Back" to me. The money may be to steep though.

refresh my memory who did he block? because if he did he was about the only 1.

[SkinsRock]

He really showed promise in his rookie (I think) year under Schotty in a more ball control oriented offense, which is probably why Gibbs really seemed to like him.
Still, if the money is deemed too much, it shouldn't be that hard to find someone else to replace him.

[MTK]

Rock isn't quite the blocker that Johnson is but Rock better get his blocking hat on quick because I don't think BJ will be back.

[SmootSmack]

Looks like we're keeping him:

Redskins | Offer to Johnson Matched - from www.KFFL.com
Fri, 26 Mar 2004 14:22:01 -0800

KFFL has learned the Washington Redskins have matched the New Orleans Saints' four-year, $4.12 million offer sheet to restricted free agent FB Bryan Johnson.