2009 Arizona Cardinals Cap Spreadsheet

[dreamcastrocks]

Thanks, as usual.

MODS: Can this be made a sticky?

We can make it a sticky after our season is over.

How awesome it is to say that.

 

[joeshmo]

Mike Jurecki was the one that said Rolle's cap number was gonna increase next year because he hit an escalator. I think he said next year.

He said he would talk about it more after the super bowl

Interesting. It must not kick in until the end of Feb. then because the NFLPA isnt accounting for it yet on his 2009 salary so far.

I am sure that is the case for a few players as I get caught not knowing at least one every year, as to how much that I do not know yet.

 

[joeshmo]

Graves has SO MUCH money tied up in this years salaries to make it APPEAR that we spent to the cap that I can see an additional 8-10 million that could be freed up by simply restructuring a few contracts with a modest raises.

There is no reason what we couldn't give Dockket, Dansby, Wilson and Warner new contracts, go after some good FAs, AND resign veteran depth.

Graves better learn to multi-task or hire some healp, because he is going to have a very busy offseason if he expects to make this culture change permanent.

Extensions can happen this year, asking a player to take a payroll deduction and turn it into incentives instead can happen, but outright restructuring is going to be difficult for every team in the league. Its all because of the looming "uncapped" 2010 offseason. I put uncapped in quotes because thats what it is being called but it really isnt uncapped and there would be far more rules to the offseason then there is now, which I have mentioned before but will bring up again with some new info much later down th road.

Anyways, becuase of that 2010 uncapped year because of the way the CBA is written any team that wants to lower a players cap hit this year wont be able to lower there base salary and turn it into a signing bonus. Thus lowering his cap hit this year and spreading out that signing bonus to over the life of the contract. That is the most common way to restructure and lower a players cap hit and unless teams get really creative they will not be able to do it. So because of that expect to see teams with cap troubles either just flat out cut a problem cap player or try and do an extension as a form of restructure. We could see a few more cuts this year then in years past, because it is going to be harder to restructure this offseason.

Also Dockett will not get an extension without a doubt in my mind. He still has 3 years left on his deal. Not a FA until 2012.

 

[joeshmo]

I would like to see them sign Breaston to an extension this offseason or he hits FA after next season.

He will be a RFA next year but you could be right. They did the same thing with Dockett and because of the proactive nature of that Dockett signing it made hsi contract very cap friendly considering DT market standards.

But I think they wait until next offseason. I will say that if we did see a long term extension for Breaston this season, I think it means the signs point to a Boldin trade.

On another RFA note I could see us trying to give Watson a long term deal as well and avoid the RFA tender porcess with him all together.

 

[perivolaki]

Looks to me like Joe accounted for that...

Man, Chike with a $5.4 million hit next year... Ouch!

Thats a big number but Chike has played lights out in the playoffs. A lot of times it takes a player nearly a whole season to come back from an injury after being out the year before.

A lot of people want to release him but I think it would be better to work out something to get a more cap friendly number.

 

[Sandan]

Thanks, as usual.

MODS: Can this be made a sticky?

Yes I plan to after the game

 

[Redheart]

Thats a big number but Chike has played lights out in the playoffs. A lot of times it takes a player nearly a whole season to come back from an injury after being out the year before.

A lot of people want to release him but I think it would be better to work out something to get a more cap friendly number.

I think Chike and B-Train are a coupe of old, crafty, DE's that still have gas; both these guys create problems for pro-bowl tackles.

I would like to get them both signed for two-year incentive laden deals (restructure in Chike's case).

Joe, your work is SO impressive. Thanks for the sweat.

 

[MadCardDisease]

Sticking it up top!

Great job as usual!

Thanks!!!!

 

[Cheesebeef]

UFA:
JJ Arington - Try and re-sign but only to a contract that suits us. We like what he has broght to the table recently but lets face it he can be replaced.

Monty Beisel - Vet minimum or bring in a younger guy who will cost less.

Bertrand Berry - two year incentive laiden contract.

Elton Brown - See Arrington Commentary.

Ralph Brown - Two year slightly over vet min contract should do it.

Karlos Dansby - Leader and best player on our D. Yes better then Wilson this year. Still young and a Must re-sign.

Eric Green - See Ya.

Antonio Smith - Would like to re-sign but only if price is right, only because it seems as if we have already started to replacement process if price gets to high. Campbell and Iwebema.

Terrelle Smith - Good locker room guy, but lets face it FB's can be replaced. Vet min contract or see ya.

Jerame Tuman - Adios.

Kurt Warner - Two year incentive laiden contract full of incentives sort of like his last contract he signed with us. Make it easy to cut him or let him ride the bench if the slipper falls off and age catches up to him in 2009 and Matt does happen to start.

Clark Haggans - If Berry is re-signed No need for Haggans anymore. If Okeafer doesnt take a pay cut then re-sign Haggans. There is no need to keep all 4 current OLB's considering we will probably add a FA or draftee to upgrade the talent,speed and youth at the position. So one of Haggans, Berry, or Okeafer wont be here next year and I would prefer to keep Berry and Okeafer.

Brian St. Pierre - See ya, #3 QB's can be replaced and replaced by a cheaper younger guy. If not a vet min. contract should get him to sign pretty easily.

Ben Graham - we have liked what he has done down the stretch but his hang time is still low and his production can be replaced. Vet min. contract.

Scott Peters - see ya.

i pretty much agree with all of this. I think Antonio will be the biggest beneficiary of the Super Bowl run and be one of those guys who gets huge money in the off-season that the Cards (and our fans) will want to match but would be smart not to. There's only one player on the D that deserves major bucks and that's Dansby. He had a good season and was a monster in the first two games of the playoffs and played very well in the Conference Title game and from every bit of film I've seen, he's the leader of the D... not to mention, the guy, who never got an extension on his rookie deal even though he was completely outplaying it, never said a word about it and never bad-mouthed the team. He just played. He even said he took the Franchise Tag as a sign of respect, as opposed to the ****-fit a lot of other guys make. I was on the fence with him most of the season because he just wasn't completely wowing me, but he did have a good year and he's having a great playoffs. The guy loves it here, is young and is a leader. Can't let him get away.

 

[cardsfanmd]

I hope and expect to see Watson extended this offseason.

 

[Chopper0080]

I have to agree with your ideas Joe...

Warner will be resigned because you can't discount his season just because of his age. I think that today's NFL shows that it is more beneficial to pay money for two quality QB's than not. It is harder to recover from a loss at QB than any other position. Dansby needs to be offered a top deal as he has earned it, even though I don't think that the 3-4 suits him best. Ralph Brown needs to be offered a contract due to our lack of depth at corner.

JJ Arrington, Elton Brown, Jerame Tuman, Terrelle Smith and Ben Graham are all dependent on what they are asking for. None of them have earned much over the vet min. If we fail to retain Arrington though, it could mean that we would only have Hightower on the depth chart. Could make things interesting in what looks to be a poor year for running backs.

I would guess that between Bert Berry, Monty Beisel, Clark Haggans and Chike Okeafer, only two are kept. I wouldn't be surprised if Okeafer is cut due to Haggans familiarity with the 3-4 scheme, however I think that it also depends on if we go after another rush outside backer. If we do, Okeafer is gone.

A Smith has priced himself out of Arizona, and I saw him leaving last draft when we took Iwebema and Campbell. E Green also played himself out of Arizona, though the opposite way of Antonio. Lastly, Brian St. Pierre should be sent packing as we need a young QB to groom as Leinert is now our vet backup.

By the way, resigning A Rolle this offseason to a long term deal this offseason would be a very smart move. I also agree that any extension Breaston gets could be an indicator of Boldin's departure.

 

[az1965]

My preference...

JJ Arington
Monty Beisel
Bertrand Berry
Elton Brown
Ralph Brown
Karlos Dansby
Eric Green
Antonio Smith
Terrelle Smith
Jerame Tuman
Kurt Warner
Clark Haggans
Brian St. Pierre
Ben Graham
Scott Peters

I wouldn't mind these if they come really cheap

JJ Arington
Monty Beisel
Brian St. Pierre


In addition, we must find a way to extend / resolve issues with (I don't agree with comments that we will be fine without Boldin... we need both Larry and Q to keep the offense potent.)

Anquan Boldin
Adrian Wilson
Edgerin James


And we need to find

A good pass rusher in FA or draft to replace Chike
#2 CB n draft or FA to move Hood to nickle


We absolutely must let go

Eric Green
Alan Branch


We have to keep as many playmakers as possible if we need to have some consistency in record and want to keep division lead.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

My preference...

JJ Arington
Monty Beisel
Bertrand Berry
Elton Brown
Ralph Brown
Karlos Dansby
Eric Green
Antonio Smith
Terrelle Smith
Jerame Tuman
Kurt Warner
Clark Haggans
Brian St. Pierre
Ben Graham
Scott Peters

I wouldn't mind these if they come really cheap

JJ Arington
Monty Beisel
Brian St. Pierre


In addition, we must find a way to extend / resolve issues with (I don't agree with comments that we will be fine without Boldin... we need both Larry and Q to keep the offense potent.)

Anquan Boldin
Adrian Wilson
Edgerin James


And we need to find

A good pass rusher in FA or draft to replace Chike
#2 CB n draft or FA to move Hood to nickle


We absolutely must let go

Eric Green
Alan Branch


We have to keep as many playmakers as possible if we need to have some consistency in record and want to keep division lead.

We will have plenty of time to discuss who is in or out... but, I'll venture the chances of Branch not being in camp with an opportunity to make the team are slim and none.

Take the time to review tape of the Miami game before his got a high ankle strain, and his last start and you'll see why there is reason to believe he can be a more than adequate NT.

He's caught in a numbers game right now given Pendy's design of the "D", but.. I don't think coaches would have any reservation putting him in if Watson, for example - was unable to go.

This is a guy who came out a year early and, like most who do, take a bit of time to adjust.... Remember: Adrian Wilson.

As for Green, I agree.

 

[Twist18]

I think the Cards have great promise for the offseason but will not be huge players in the FA market. More building the belly depth-wise. I think the biggest impact the Cards could make if they make one signing in the offseason is P Shane Lechler. How huge would it be for the D to have a future HOF P sticking the opposing offenses close to the goal line.

Just my opinion.

 

[SeattleCard]

Funny... Eric Green has fallen so far. He had a few good games last year, if my memory serves me correct.

 

[joeshmo]

I think the Cards have great promise for the offseason but will not be huge players in the FA market. More building the belly depth-wise. I think the biggest impact the Cards could make if they make one signing in the offseason is P Shane Lechler. How huge would it be for the D to have a future HOF P sticking the opposing offenses close to the goal line.

Just my opinion.

If Lechler was are one big free agent signing I would be down with that, as long as Dansby and Warner are re-signed.

 

[joeshmo]

Bump

 

[DoTheDew]

So what is an estimate for our rookie cap assuming we keep our picks the same?

 

[joeshmo]

So what is an estimate for our rookie cap assuming we keep our picks the same?

Less then 2 mill.

 

[joeshmo]

5 EFA's already tendered and signed at a cost of 310k. Giving us 41 players, 10 more away from getting to the rule of 51.

Dykes, Keilen DT
Fontenot, Wilrey CB
Jones, Onrea WR
Keyes, Dennis S
Long, Lance WR

Wont update spreadsheet though until mid next week when some of the bonuses and incentives not yet known should be accounted for.

 

[DoTheDew]

So if/when we trade Q it will save us 1.75 mill? Is this correct?

 

[82CardsGrad]

So if/when we trade Q it will save us 1.75 mill? Is this correct?

Well - if we trade Q, it all depends upon what we get in that trade...

 

[Savage58]

This may be a stupid question, but were the contract numbers ever given out for Nathan Hodel, not sure if it would be in the top 51 salaries or not, but just wanted to know?

Anyone?

 

[MadCardDisease]

So if/when we trade Q it will save us 1.75 mill? Is this correct?

I think he still has 2 Million left on his signing bonus. So it would only save us 0.75 Mil this year. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[MadCardDisease]

UFA:
Must Resign: Kurt Warner 2 years $20 Million

Go after strong but have backup plans in place: Karlos Dansby 5 years $40 Million(Or Bart Scott), Antonio Smith 5 years $30 Million (Or Chris Canty)

Try to Sign "Cap Friendly": JJ Arington, Elton Brown, Clark Haggans, Ralph Brown, Brian St. Pierre, Monty Beisel, Terrelle Smith, Ben Graham

Don't Attempt to Sign: Eric Green, Jerame Tuman, Scott Peters


CUT/Trade the following:
Edge (Cut)- Saves $5 mil

Boldin (Trade)- Saves $1,750,000 (At least a mid 1st and a (late 2nd/early 3rd) )

Free Agent Signings:
RB - Brandon Jacobs NYG - Becomes the Cardinals version of Jerome Bettis (Splits carries with Arrington and Hightower) Will be known as "Thunder, Lightning, and Haboob."
TE - Bo Scaife TEN - Solid all around TE becomes instant starter
CB - Andre Goodman MIA - competes with Hood for the #2 spot