Fitz restructures contract

[MadCardDisease]

It's kind of a matter of labeling.

Yep. The label "Tearing up his old Contract" sounds more dramatic than "renegotiated".

If you truly "tore up a contract" that player would become a free agent.

 

[kerouac9]

Yep. The label "Tearing up his old Contract" sounds more dramatic than "renegotiated".

If you truly "tore up a contract" that player would become a free agent.

And there are some extensions that truly are extensions. A scheduled salary gets turned into a bonus and then the cap hit is spread out over some additional years.

But for the most part, any time an old-CBA rookie got "extended", it really means that they trashed his current contract and rolled some money, plus often some more, into the new deal and spread it out.

What can't change is that signing bonus money can only be spread over the first five years of the deal, and that a roster bonus has to be accounted for in the year that the roster bonus is paid. Everything else is more or less accounting that matters in the current year while the player is under contract, or in the year the player is released and (sometimes) in the following year.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Does anyone have any examples where an organization and a player just tore up the old contract and began with a new fresh one?

Also unless Fitz's production goes way the hell up he won't be with the value of the new contract you're suggesting either.

didn't Brady do this a few seasons ago to keep his receiver only to have it bite him in the arse? Maybe it was a pay cut?

 

[john h]

Just another day in the life of Larry Fitzgerald...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I really never expected anything less from Fitz. He may go down as our all around best player ever. Not just his play but as a team player.

 

[GuernseyCard]

didn't Brady do this a few seasons ago to keep his receiver only to have it bite him in the arse? Maybe it was a pay cut?

If I recall Brady got more guaranteeed money, rather than new money.

 

[WildBB]

from day 1 Larry's contracts have always been about keeping Larry in control of his career...how many players have we ever given no trade clauses too?
IMO next off season we will see this deal torn up and Fitz will get something in the neighborhood of five years, 30 million or so,...with 10 million up front...Larry seams to like cashing fat checks...

Ding ding ding! The only way out of this mess is to write a new contract and tear up the old one. No amount of restructuring is going to improve the status quo. Larry didn't lose a penny with the present restructuring. It just pushed money around to other years. It has not changed the amount owed Larry. A new contract is the only way to get relief from what the Cardinals would owe Larry in future years.

Therefore, it is entirely possible that the Cardinals will entertain trade offers for Fitz---from teams who think they will be able to pay Fitz $8.6M this year and then entice him to sign a new contract with them for 2015 and beyond.

The question is if he wouldn't tear up the deal for the Cardinals (which is pretty much assured) why would he do it for someone else?? To be charitable with an org. that has not furnished him a penny in his career??

The best they can hope for is if someone knocks their socks off this year with a deal, or they can restructure the 8M bonus due next offseason down to the rest of the deal and then deal with CAP Armageddon in 2016 after he's dealt for next to nothing or released then.

I'd say we have him ONE more year. Make it count.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Cap people - is there any reasonable way we can keep Fitz for less than a 15 mil cap hit moving forward?

Can anyone make a reasoned argument for Fitz being worth a 15 mil cap hit moving forward?

 

[WildBB]

Cap people - is there any reasonable way we can keep Fitz for less than a 15 mil cap hit moving forward?

Can anyone make a reasoned argument for Fitz being worth a 15 mil cap hit moving forward?

The 15M dollar question.

 

[BigRedRage]

Cap people - is there any reasonable way we can keep Fitz for less than a 15 mil cap hit moving forward?

Can anyone make a reasoned argument for Fitz being worth a 15 mil cap hit moving forward?

So we dont have to change the site banner?

 

[ASUCHRIS]

So we dont have to change the site banner?

Are you ready?

 

[Brian in Mesa]

So we dont have to change the site banner?

Good enough for me.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Does anyone have any examples where an organization and a player just tore up the old contract and began with a new fresh one?

Also unless Fitz's production goes way the hell up he won't be with the value of the new contract you're suggesting either.

Levi Brown.

Cut and resigned in the same offseason.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

The Cards did that (essentially) with Levi Brown, although the timeline was a little different.

Beat me to it.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Maybe someone should contact Keim and tell him what an idiot he was for doing this and that Fitz's cap number is going to be $24 million next year, i'm sure the people on this board are the only ones who know!! Man I cant believe he wouldnt have known that before doing this, what a jerk!!

Of course he knew it. That's why I'm saying the Cards are "all in" for 2014 and wouldn't be surprised to see them gut the roster, for 2015, of most high priced players - Fitz, Palmer, Dock, Calais( if not restructured like Fitz), etc and tank to rid themselves of dead money. Micheal has shown he'll take the hit if it means the long term vision is supported.

I dunno. I'd have to open up a spreadsheet and really noodle out what the cap ramifications of doing that would be. I think that the Cards would have to absorb all of the "old" contract immediately in that case, and then have to additionally account for the $2M+ of "new money" that Fitz would create.

That $8M roster bonus due sometime in 2015 is just a poison pill. That and his base salary creates a $16M cap hold by themselves.

Bingo! And that was even before the restructure.

Here is OTC's initial guesstimate on the restructure. Look at the dead money vs being cut.

You must be registered for see images attach

Even with the old structure 2015 was going to be Fitz's last year unless he wants to tear it up after 2015 and miss out on $52mil. Remember salaries are not guaranteed. Hence the signing bonus.

 

[TJ]

I don't think he (Q) is better. Im saying that you blaming the QB's for Fitz lack of production is just an excuse. He just isn't the same player he was. And the bottom line for his level of production come 2015 with a 24 million dollar cap hit he won't be playing in AZ anymore. JMO!

1) $24 million, for any player, is excessive. Fitz's contract will need to be reassessed once again next season. It will come in one of the following four ways: a) another restructure b) pay cut c) trade d) outright release

2) the QB statement is not an excuse; it's a reality. Anyone who's watched this team the past four seasons knows how many passes thrown his way were high and wide. Literally uncatchable. In Q's case, at least Flacco and Kaep can put the ball in a place where the receiver can catch it. Can you honestly say the same about Lindley, Skelton, etc? Were they capable of doing that consistently?

3) are Fitz's skills diminishing? Perhaps. But since we agree that Fitz > Q, then there are variables not being considered that are hindering his production. I can think of two: the hammy and running short routes and screens. There are others, but I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses; just want to present enough facts so the naysayers can process before making knee jerk reactions

4) Fitz's contributions and overall importance to the franchise are well chronicled and don't need to be reintroduced.

 

[Totally_Red]

1) $24 million, for any player, is excessive. Fitz's contract will need to be reassessed once again next season. It will come in one of the following four ways: a) another restructure b) pay cut c) trade d) outright release

2) the QB statement is not an excuse; it's a reality. Anyone who's watched this team the past four seasons knows how many passes thrown his way were high and wide. Literally uncatchable. In Q's case, at least Flacco and Kaep can put the ball in a place where the receiver can catch it. Can you honestly say the same about Lindley, Skelton, etc. were capable of doing that consistently?

3) are Fitz's skills diminishing? Perhaps. But since we agree that Fitz > Q, then there are variables not being considered that are hindering his production. I can think of two: the hammy and running short routes and screens. There are others, but I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses; just want to present enough facts so the naysayers can process before making knee jerk reactions

4) Fitz's contributions and overall importance to the franchise are well chronicled and don't need to be reintroduced.

 

[WildBB]

Of course he knew it. That's why I'm saying the Cards are "all in" for 2014 and wouldn't be surprised to see them gut the roster, for 2015, of most high priced players - Fitz, Palmer, Dock, Calais( if not restructured like Fitz), etc and tank to rid themselves of dead money. Micheal has shown he'll take the hit if it means the long term vision is supported.


Bingo! And that was even before the restructure.

Here is OTC's initial guesstimate on the restructure. Look at the dead money vs being cut.

You must be registered for see images attach

Even with the old structure 2015 was going to be Fitz's last year unless he wants to tear it up after 2015 and miss out on $52mil. Remember salaries are not guaranteed. Hence the signing bonus.

They're likely to restructure again next year with the 8M roster bonus prorated into the rest of the deal. That can be done can't it? I'd imagine it could, or they'd just cut him otherwise before the roster bonus.

The M dollar question is; Is Larry still worth 17.659M in 2015 After yet another restructure?

19.659M in 2016! Of which 9.2+M is guaranteed.

 

[Shane]

1) $24 million, for any player, is excessive. Fitz's contract will need to be reassessed once again next season. It will come in one of the following four ways: a) another restructure b) pay cut c) trade d) outright release

2) the QB statement is not an excuse; it's a reality. Anyone who's watched this team the past four seasons knows how many passes thrown his way were high and wide. Literally uncatchable. In Q's case, at least Flacco and Kaep can put the ball in a place where the receiver can catch it. Can you honestly say the same about Lindley, Skelton, etc. were capable of doing that consistently?

3) are Fitz's skills diminishing? Perhaps. But since we agree that Fitz > Q, then there are variables not being considered that are hindering his production. I can think of two: the hammy and running short routes and screens. There are others, but I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses; just want to present enough facts so the naysayers can process before making knee jerk reactions

4) Fitz's contributions and overall importance to the franchise are well chronicled and don't need to be reintroduced.

Fitz's contributions as much as I love the guy don't equal a 24 million dollar cap hit. Hell the 18 was excessive as it was. Something after this season needs to be done and it it will. Likely something none of us want to see.

 

[Shane]

They're likely to restructure again next year with the 8M roster bonus prorated into the rest of the deal. That can be done can't it? I'd imagine it could, or they'd just cut him otherwise before the roster bonus.

The M dollar question is; Is Larry still worth 17.659M in 2015 After yet another restructure?

19.659M in 2016! Of which 9.2+M is guaranteed.

Hes not worth it now much less 2 seasons from now.

 

[BillsCarnage]

Fitz's contributions as much as I love the guy don't equal a 24 million dollar cap hit. Hell the 18 was excessive as it was. Something after this season needs to be done and it it will. Likely something none of us want to see.

Fitz has the ability and work ethic to play until he's 40 and he can stay/retire a cardinal if he extends and restructures the contract to bring his cap #'s down to match his output.

That will be the big question between now and next off season.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

1) $24 million, for any player, is excessive. Fitz's contract will need to be reassessed once again next season. It will come in one of the following four ways: a) another restructure b) pay cut c) trade d) outright release

2) the QB statement is not an excuse; it's a reality. Anyone who's watched this team the past four seasons knows how many passes thrown his way were high and wide. Literally uncatchable. In Q's case, at least Flacco and Kaep can put the ball in a place where the receiver can catch it. Can you honestly say the same about Lindley, Skelton, etc. were capable of doing that consistently?

3) are Fitz's skills diminishing? Perhaps. But since we agree that Fitz > Q, then there are variables not being considered that are hindering his production. I can think of two: the hammy and running short routes and screens. There are others, but I don't want to sound like I'm making excuses; just want to present enough facts so the naysayers can process before making knee jerk reactions

4) Fitz's contributions and overall importance to the franchise are well chronicled and don't need to be reintroduced.

Blah blah blah, excuses after excuses. TJ - if you had to choose between Fitz at 20 million and Q at under 10, who would you take?

You'd do what any smart football person would, take nearly the same production at half the cost.

 

[TJ]

Blah blah blah, excuses after excuses. TJ - if you had to choose between Fitz at 20 million and Q at under 10, who would you take?



You'd do what any smart football person would, take nearly the same production at half the cost.

Fitz at 20. All day, everyday.

 

[ASUCHRIS]

Fitz at 20. All day, everyday.

Regular season

Career games: Fitzgerald 156, Boldin 156

Receptions: Fitzgerald 846, Boldin 857

Receiving Yards: Fitzgerald 11,367, Boldin 11,344

TD’s: Fitzgerald 87, Boldin 67

Postseason

Games: Boldin 14, Fitzgerald 6

Receptions: Boldin 63, Fitzgerald 42

Receiving Yards: Boldin 980, Fitzgerald 705

TD’s: Boldin 7, Fitzgerald 9

Yeah, pretty smart to pay double for ostensibly the same production!

 

[Cheesebeef]

Fitz at 20. All day, everyday.

this ignores all reality of what Fitz is and has been for the last two seasons and how much 20 million effects our cap.

and before you go back to the trope of "Fitz had terrible QBs"...he had terrible QBs in 2011 and put up 1300 yards, had a terrible QB in 2012 and put up woeful stats and then had a QB who put up over 4000 yards...and still put mediocre stats.

Josh Gordon had an awful QB this year and put 1600 yards. Vincent Jackson has played with supbar QBs the last two years and put up big numbers. Andre Johnson has had 5th rounders and Matt Schaub as his QB for the last two years and put up 1600 yards back to back. Megatron has had awful QBs whenever Stafford's injured and still put monster numbers.

And even if you want to say none of that matters, well you know what, Fitz has played with AWFUL QBs in the past and still put up big numbers. But he's now looking at back to back years where he just didn't look like himself. Trying to argue in any way shape or form that he's worth 20 million dollars is incredibly tough at this point.

 

[BigRedRage]

Regular season

Career games: Fitzgerald 156, Boldin 156

Receptions: Fitzgerald 846, Boldin 857

Receiving Yards: Fitzgerald 11,367, Boldin 11,344

TD’s: Fitzgerald 87, Boldin 67

Postseason

Games: Boldin 14, Fitzgerald 6

Receptions: Boldin 63, Fitzgerald 42

Receiving Yards: Boldin 980, Fitzgerald 705

TD’s: Boldin 7, Fitzgerald 9

Yeah, pretty smart to pay double for ostensibly the same production!

Amazing that fitz's 6 games are almost as good as Boldins 14 games. Didnt expect that