Here's an updated look at the players eligible for the 2010 compensatory picks equation. For players who were cut during the season, the date is included, as is the date they re-signed, if applicable. Players on the bubble to qualify for the equation are listed either as "high bubble" or "low bubble." The "high bubble" players typically have a better chance of qualifying, depending on their playing time. "NQ" indicates that the player did not sign for enough money to qualify for the equation.
The list --
ARIZONA
Lost – DE Antonio Smith, CB Eric Green (cut), RB Terrelle Smith, LB Monty Beisel (low bubble, cut 9/29), RB J.J. Arrington (cut)
Signed – CB Bryant McFadden, RB Jason Wright (high bubble)
ATLANTA
Lost – CB Dominique Foxworth, LB Michael Boley, LB Keith Brooking, DT Grady Jackson
Signed – LB Mike Peterson, C Brett Romberg (high bubble)
BALTIMORE
Lost – LB Bart Scott, C Jason Brown, S Jim Leonhard, QB Kyle Boller, CB Corey Ivy (low bubble, cut), FB Lorenzo Neal (low bubble, cut), WR Terrance Copper (NQ)
Signed – CB Dominique Foxworth, C Matt Birk, CB Chris Carr, TE L.J. Smith
BUFFALO
Lost – CB Jabari Greer, LB Angelo Crowell, C Duke Preston (high bubble, cut), DE Tony Hargrove (NQ)
Signed – C Geoff Hangartner, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, RB Dominic Rhodes (cut), G Seth McKinney (NQ), LB Patrick Thomas (NQ, cut)
CAROLINA
Lost – C Geoff Hangartner, T Frank Omiyale, WR Mark Jones (high bubble, cut 9/5, re-signed 9/29), LB Adam Seward (NQ, cut)
Signed – none
CHICAGO
Lost – T John St. Clair, S Brandon McGowan (low bubble)
Signed – T Frank Omiyale, S Josh Bullocks
CINCINNATI
Lost – WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, T Stacy Andrews, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, G Eric Ghiaciuc (NQ, cut)
Signed – WR Laveranues Coles, QB J.T. O’Sullivan, DT Tank Johnson (NQ)
CLEVELAND
Lost – S Sean Jones, RB Jason Wright (high bubble), G Scott Young (cut), TE Darnell Dinkins (low bubble), G Seth McKinney (NQ), CB Travis Daniels (NQ, cut)
Signed – LB Eric Barton, T John St. Clair, DE C.J. Mosley, T Floyd Womack (high bubble), CB Corey Ivy (low bubble, cut), CB Hank Poteat (low bubble)
DALLAS
Lost – DE Chris Canty, LB Kevin Burnett, LB Zach Thomas (cut), G Joe Berger (high bubble), DT Tank Johnson (NQ), S Keith Davis (NQ, cut)
Signed – DT Igor Olshansky, LB Keith Brooking, S Gerald Sensabaugh
DENVER
Lost – CB Karl Paymah, QB Patrick Ramsey (low bubble, cut 10/3)
Signed – CB Andre Goodman, S Brian Dawkins, QB Chris Simms, NT Ronald Fields, WR Jabar Gaffney, CB Renaldo Hill, DT Darrell Reid, RB Correll Buckhalter, RB LaMont Jordan, LS Lonie Paxton, T Brandon Gorin (NQ), RB J.J. Arrington (cut), G Scott Young (cut)
DETROIT
Lost – NT Shaun Cody, QB Dan Orlovsky, RB Moran Norris, TE John Owens (high bubble), LB Paris Lenon (low bubble, cut), WR Shaun McDonald (NQ)
Signed – CB Phillip Buchanon, WR Bryant Johnson, DT Grady Jackson, T Daniel Loper, CB Eric King, RB Maurice Morris, RB Terrelle Smith, LB Cody Spencer (NQ, IR in preseason), TE Will Heller (NQ)
GREEN BAY
Lost – DT Colin Cole
Signed – C Duke Preston (high bubble, cut)
HOUSTON
Lost – S C.C. Brown, CB DeMarcus Faggins (cut), LS Bryan Pittman (NQ, cut)
Signed – DE Antonio Smith, QB Dan Orlovsky, NT Shaun Cody, OL Adrian Jones (NQ, cut)
INDIANAPOLIS
Lost – DT Darrell Reid, RB Dominic Rhodes (cut), P Hunter Smith (low bubble), CB Keiwan Ratliff (NQ)
Signed – LB Adam Seward (NQ, cut)
JACKSONVILLE
Lost – LB Mike Peterson, S Gerald Sensabaugh, T Khalif Barnes, S Pierson Prioleau (low bubble)
Signed – T Tra Thomas, S Sean Considine
KANSAS CITY
Lost – LB Patrick Thomas (NQ, cut), OL Adrian Jones (NQ, cut)
Signed – LB Zach Thomas (cut), G Mike Goff, WR Bobby Engram (cut 11/9), LB Monty Beisel (low bubble, cut 9/29), WR Terrance Copper (NQ), G Eric Ghiaciuc (NQ, cut), CB Travis Daniels (NQ, cut 9/4, re-signed 11/4), TE Sean Ryan (NQ)
MIAMI
Lost – CB Andre Goodman, CB Renaldo Hill, C Al Johnson (high bubble, cut)
Signed – C Jake Grove, CB Eric Green (cut), G Joe Berger (high bubble)
MINNESOTA
Lost – C Matt Birk, S Darren Sharper, T Marcus Johnson (NQ, cut)
Signed – CB Karl Paymah
NEW ENGLAND
Lost – WR Jabar Gaffney, FB Heath Evans, LS Lonie Paxton, RB LaMont Jordan, LB Larry Izzo (low bubble)
Signed – C Al Johnson (high bubble, cut), LB Paris Lenon (low bubble, cut), S Brandon McGowan (low bubble), DT Damane Duckett (cut)
NEW ORLEANS
Lost – S Josh Bullocks
Signed – CB Jabari Greer, S Darren Sharper, FB Heath Evans, TE Darnell Dinkins (low bubble), S Pierson Prioleau (low bubble), DE Tony Hargrove (NQ), C Nick Leckey (NQ)
NEW YORK GIANTS
Lost – RB Derrick Ward, S James Butler, DE Renaldo Wynn (low bubble, cut 10/12, re-signed 10/12, cut 10/18, re-signed 10/19)
Signed – DE Chris Canty, LB Michael Boley, DT Rocky Bernard, S C.C. Brown
NEW YORK JETS
Lost – WR Laveranues Coles, LB Eric Barton, DE C.J. Mosley, K Mike Nugent (cut 10/5), CB Hank Poteat (low bubble), LB Cody Spencer (NQ)
Signed – LB Bart Scott, S Jim Leonhard, CB Donald Strickland, LB Larry Izzo (low bubble), DT Howard Green (NQ, cut 10/17, re-signed 10/20)
OAKLAND
Lost – C Jake Grove, S Rashad Baker (high bubble, cut)
Signed – T Khalif Barnes, QB Jeff Garcia (cut), FB Lorenzo Neal (low bubble, cut), T Marcus Johnson (NQ, cut), DT Ryan Boschetti (NQ, cut), S Keith Davis (NQ, cut)
PHILADELPHIA
Lost – S Brian Dawkins, T Tra Thomas, RB Correll Buckhalter, TE L.J. Smith, S Sean Considine
Signed – T Stacy Andrews, S Sean Jones, RB Leonard Weaver, S Rashad Baker (high bubble, cut)
PITTSBURGH
Lost – CB Bryant McFadden, WR Nate Washington, QB Byron Leftwich, T Marvel Smith (retired)
Signed – WR Shaun McDonald (NQ), CB Keiwan Ratliff (NQ)
SAN DIEGO
Lost – DT Igor Olshansky, G Mike Goff, LB Marques Harris (NQ, cut 10/28)
Signed – LB Kevin Burnett
SAN FRANCISCO
Lost – WR Bryant Johnson, NT Ronald Fields, QB J.T. O’Sullivan, CB Donald Strickland, TE Billy Bajema (low bubble), TE Sean Ryan (NQ), DT Damane Duckett (cut)
Signed – WR Brandon Jones, RB Moran Norris, DE Demetric Evans, T Marvel Smith (retired), LB Marques Harris (NQ, cut 10/28)
SEATTLE
Lost – DT Rocky Bernard, RB Maurice Morris, RB Leonard Weaver, WR Bobby Engram (cut 11/9), T Floyd Womack (high bubble), TE Will Heller (NQ), DT Howard Green (NQ, cut 10/17, re-signed 10/20)
Signed – WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, DT Colin Cole, TE John Owens (high bubble), LS Bryan Pittman (NQ, cut)
ST. LOUIS
Lost – C Brett Romberg (high bubble), C Nick Leckey (NQ), T Brandon Gorin (NQ)
Signed – C Jason Brown, S James Butler, QB Kyle Boller, TE Billy Bajema (low bubble)
TAMPA BAY
Lost – CB Phillip Buchanon, DT Jovan Haye, QB Jeff Garcia (cut)
Signed – RB Derrick Ward, LB Angelo Crowell (IR in preseason), K Mike Nugent (cut 10/5), QB Byron Leftwich
TENNESSEE
Lost – DT Albert Haynesworth, WR Brandon Jones, QB Chris Simms, CB Chris Carr, CB Eric King, T Daniel Loper
Signed – WR Nate Washington, DT Jovan Haye, CB DeMarcus Faggins (cut), WR Mark Jones (high bubble, cut 9/5, re-signed 9/29), QB Patrick Ramsey (low bubble, cut 10/3)
WASHINGTON
Lost – DE Demetric Evans, DT Ryan Boschetti (NQ, cut)
Signed – DT Albert Haynesworth, DE Renaldo Wynn (low bubble, cut 10/10, re-signed 10/12, cut 10/17, resigned 10/19), P Hunter Smith (low bubble)
The curious case of Laveranues Coles
Someone recently asked me whether Laveranues Coles might not be eligible for the compensatory picks equation because he was "cut" by the Jets. Coles was not released by the Jets, although some media reports said he was. The Jets actually renegotiated his contract to make his 2009 season voidable, so his contract voided, and he became a true Unrestricted Free Agent.
Plenty of players have qualified for the comp equation after becoming UFAs because their contract voided, even if the voidable year was put in the contract through renegotiation. However, Coles' situation is a little less clear because of the timing involved. Coles' renegotiation was signed on Feb. 25, and his contract voided on Feb. 27. Normally, a player "earns" a void in his contract by doing something more than simply waiting two days, so it's possible that the NFL will not consider Coles eligible for the comp picks equation. Players who have had contract years simply deleted -- not converted to voidable years -- by renegotiation have never qualified for the equation, and Coles' situation is close to that. However, because a voidable year has never disqualified a player from the equation, I'm currently projecting that Coles will be eligible.
While researching Coles' case, I discovered that Andra Davis had his 2009 and 2010 seasons deleted by renegotiation, so he no longer appears on this list. Because Davis' current team (Denver) and his former team (Cleveland) both signed more players than they lost, he likely wouldn't have affected the comp picks anyway.
As always, corrections and questions are welcomed.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
A quick update
ESPN.com's Mike Sando mentioned this blog again in his June 7 post about the 2010 comp picks, and he provided a helpful piece of information, as well. Sando said he can confirm that, as expected, no teams extended June 1 tenders to any of their remaining Unrestricted Free Agents. As I explained in my most recent post on this blog, that means any additional UFA signings this year won't be included in the equation for the 2010 comp picks.
Sando also asked for my analysis of the Seahawks' outlook for 2010 comp picks. That's a pretty easy one, so I'll oblige. The Seahawks signed four UFAs and lost seven UFAs by June 1. One player they signed (Bryan Pittman) and two players they lost (Will Heller and Howard Green) did not sign for enough money to qualify. That leaves three signed and five lost who might qualify. Of those, one player they signed (John Owens) and one player they lost (Floyd Womack) are on the bubble for qualifying. I labeled both of them as "high bubble" players in my previous post, meaning that their average contract values rank near the upper end of the players on the bubble. The Seahawks also signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Colin Cole, and they lost Rocky Bernard, Maurice Morris, Leonard Weaver and Bobby Engram. As long as none of them get released before a certain point in time (seemingly Week 10 of the regular season), all six of those players should qualify for the comp equation. Whether Owens and Womack qualify might depend on their playing time, although they also might qualify even if they never play a single snap.
Unless Seattle releases and thereby disqualifies Houshmandzadeh and/or Cole, the Seahawks once again won't get a comp pick higher than the seventh round. (They got three seventh-round comp picks this year.) Houshmandzadeh and Cole both signed for more money per season than anyone the Seahawks lost, and they would cancel out the losses of the two highest-valued players the Seahawks lost, Bernard and Morris. The other players Seattle lost, Weaver, Engram and Womack (if he qualifies), would be worth seventh-round comp picks at best, based on their average contract values.
If none of the players involved are released, the Seahawks could receive one, two or three seventh-round comp picks, depending on whether Owens and Womack qualify. If they both qualify, or of neither qualifies, the Seahawks would get two comp picks. If Owens qualifies and Womack does not, Seattle would get one comp pick. And if Womack qualifies but Owens does not, the Seahawks could get three comp picks.
There are two other details that I should mention. The first is that if Owens does qualify, even if just barely, he would cancel out the loss of the Seahawks' highest-valued seventh-round comp player, which almost certainly will be Weaver. That would leave Seattle with a comp pick for Engram and possibly one for Womack, if he qualifies. It's a small detail, but it would mean that the Seahawks' first seventh-round comp pick would be a little lower than it would be if Owens did not qualify. The second detail is that if Womack does qualify and Owens does not, even though the Seahawks' equation would say they should get a comp pick for Womack, it's possible that the maximum of 32 comp picks could be reached before the pick for Womack is awarded. In that case, Seattle would not get a comp pick for him. There's only a slim chance of that happening, but it does need to be mentioned.
As I said, the Seahawks' situation is an easy one to analyze, but that doesn't mean we already know exactly what they'll be getting when the NFL hands out comp picks next year. There still are far too many factors involved in the equation that could change between now and the end of the regular season.
Sando also asked for my analysis of the Seahawks' outlook for 2010 comp picks. That's a pretty easy one, so I'll oblige. The Seahawks signed four UFAs and lost seven UFAs by June 1. One player they signed (Bryan Pittman) and two players they lost (Will Heller and Howard Green) did not sign for enough money to qualify. That leaves three signed and five lost who might qualify. Of those, one player they signed (John Owens) and one player they lost (Floyd Womack) are on the bubble for qualifying. I labeled both of them as "high bubble" players in my previous post, meaning that their average contract values rank near the upper end of the players on the bubble. The Seahawks also signed T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Colin Cole, and they lost Rocky Bernard, Maurice Morris, Leonard Weaver and Bobby Engram. As long as none of them get released before a certain point in time (seemingly Week 10 of the regular season), all six of those players should qualify for the comp equation. Whether Owens and Womack qualify might depend on their playing time, although they also might qualify even if they never play a single snap.
Unless Seattle releases and thereby disqualifies Houshmandzadeh and/or Cole, the Seahawks once again won't get a comp pick higher than the seventh round. (They got three seventh-round comp picks this year.) Houshmandzadeh and Cole both signed for more money per season than anyone the Seahawks lost, and they would cancel out the losses of the two highest-valued players the Seahawks lost, Bernard and Morris. The other players Seattle lost, Weaver, Engram and Womack (if he qualifies), would be worth seventh-round comp picks at best, based on their average contract values.
If none of the players involved are released, the Seahawks could receive one, two or three seventh-round comp picks, depending on whether Owens and Womack qualify. If they both qualify, or of neither qualifies, the Seahawks would get two comp picks. If Owens qualifies and Womack does not, Seattle would get one comp pick. And if Womack qualifies but Owens does not, the Seahawks could get three comp picks.
There are two other details that I should mention. The first is that if Owens does qualify, even if just barely, he would cancel out the loss of the Seahawks' highest-valued seventh-round comp player, which almost certainly will be Weaver. That would leave Seattle with a comp pick for Engram and possibly one for Womack, if he qualifies. It's a small detail, but it would mean that the Seahawks' first seventh-round comp pick would be a little lower than it would be if Owens did not qualify. The second detail is that if Womack does qualify and Owens does not, even though the Seahawks' equation would say they should get a comp pick for Womack, it's possible that the maximum of 32 comp picks could be reached before the pick for Womack is awarded. In that case, Seattle would not get a comp pick for him. There's only a slim chance of that happening, but it does need to be mentioned.
As I said, the Seahawks' situation is an easy one to analyze, but that doesn't mean we already know exactly what they'll be getting when the NFL hands out comp picks next year. There still are far too many factors involved in the equation that could change between now and the end of the regular season.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Qualifying free agents for the 2010 comp picks
The NFL free agency period doesn’t end until July 22, but in regard to the equation for 2010 compensatory picks, the signing deadline essentially passed on June 1. My research indicates that any free agent signed after June 1 will not qualify for the comp picks equation unless his former team gave him a “June 1 tender” – basically an offer of a 10 percent raise (see Article XIX, Section 1, Subsection (b)(i) of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the details of June 1 tender requirements). Because most players worthy of a 10 percent raise are signed in the early stages of free agency, very few (if any) players receive a June 1 tender. Because June 1 tenders for Unrestricted Free Agents don’t count against the salary cap, it’s not known at this time whether any remaining UFAs received a June 1 tender.
Not all UFAs who signed by June 1 will count in the equation for comp picks. Some player will be disqualified by being released by their new team before or during training camp, during the preseason or early in the regular season. Other players didn’t sign for enough money to qualify, no matter what they do.
Below is a preliminary list of all of the UFAs – true UFAs, not players who had been released by their former team – who were lost or signed by each team by June 1. Each group is listed by average contract value per season (counting only the money included in the comp formula), from highest to lowest. I’ve labeled any player with a contract value of $670,000 per season or less as NQ, for non-qualifier. I’ve labeled any player with a contract value between $765,000 and $895,000 per season as a “low bubble” player, meaning that there might be a chance of that player qualifying, depending on his playing time and any “postseason honors.” (No player signed a contract valued at more than $670,000 per season but less than $765,000 per season.) Any player who signed a contract valued between $900,000 and $975,000 per season is listed as a “high bubble” player, meaning that the player might not qualify if he doesn’t play enough this season.
ARIZONA
Lost – DE Antonio Smith, CB Eric Green, RB Terrelle Smith, LB Monty Beisel (low bubble), RB J.J. Arrington (cut)
Signed – CB Bryant McFadden, RB Jason Wright (high bubble)
ATLANTA
Lost – CB Dominique Foxworth, LB Michael Boley, LB Keith Brooking, DT Grady Jackson
Signed – LB Mike Peterson, C Brett Romberg (high bubble)
BALTIMORE
Lost – LB Bart Scott, C Jason Brown, S Jim Leonhard, QB Kyle Boller, CB Corey Ivy (low bubble), FB Lorenzo Neal (low bubble), WR Terrance Copper (NQ)
Signed – CB Dominique Foxworth, C Matt Birk, CB Chris Carr, TE L.J. Smith
BUFFALO
Lost – CB Jabari Greer, LB Angelo Crowell, C Duke Preston (high bubble)
Signed – C Geoff Hangartner, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, RB Dominic Rhodes, G Seth McKinney (NQ), LB Patrick Thomas (NQ), DE Tony Hargrove (NQ)
CAROLINA
Lost – C Geoff Hangartner, T Frank Omiyale, WR Mark Jones (high bubble), LB Adam Seward (NQ)
Signed – none
CHICAGO
Lost – T John St. Clair, S Brandon McGowan (low bubble)
Signed – T Frank Omiyale, S Josh Bullocks
CINCINNATI
Lost – WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, T Stacy Andrews, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, G Eric Ghiaciuc (NQ)
Signed – WR Laveranues Coles, QB J.T. O’Sullivan, DT Tank Johnson (NQ)
CLEVELAND
Lost – S Sean Jones, LB Andra Davis, RB Jason Wright (high bubble), G Scott Young (cut), TE Darnell Dinkins (low bubble), G Seth McKinney (NQ), CB Travis Daniels (NQ)
Signed – LB Eric Barton, T John St. Clair, DE C.J. Mosley, T Floyd Womack (high bubble), CB Corey Ivy (low bubble), CB Hank Poteat (low bubble)
DALLAS
Lost – DE Chris Canty, LB Kevin Burnett, LB Zach Thomas, G Joe Berger (high bubble), DT Tank Johnson (NQ), S Keith Davis (NQ)
Signed – DT Igor Olshansky, LB Keith Brooking, S Gerald Sensabaugh
DENVER
Lost – CB Karl Paymah, QB Patrick Ramsey (low bubble)
Signed – CB Andre Goodman, S Brian Dawkins, QB Chris Simms, CB Renaldo Hill, WR Jabar Gaffney, NT Ronald Fields, DT Darrell Reid, RB Correll Buckhalter, LB Andra Davis, LS Lonie Paxton, RB LaMont Jordan, T Brandon Gorin (NQ), RB J.J. Arrington (cut), G Scott Young (cut)
DETROIT
Lost – NT Shaun Cody, QB Dan Orlovsky, RB Moran Norris, TE John Owens (high bubble), LB Paris Lenon (low bubble), WR Shaun McDonald (NQ)
Signed – CB Phillip Buchanon, WR Bryant Johnson, DT Grady Jackson, CB Eric King, RB Maurice Morris, T Daniel Loper, RB Terrelle Smith, LB Cody Spencer (NQ), TE Will Heller (NQ)
GREEN BAY
Lost – DT Colin Cole
Signed – C Duke Preston (high bubble)
HOUSTON
Lost – S C.C. Brown, CB DeMarcus Faggins, LS Bryan Pittman (NQ)
Signed – DE Antonio Smith, QB Dan Orlovsky, NT Shaun Cody, OL Adrian Jones (NQ)
INDIANAPOLIS
Lost – DT Darrell Reid, RB Dominic Rhodes, P Hunter Smith (low bubble), CB Keiwan Ratliff (NQ)
Signed – LB Adam Seward (NQ)
JACKSONVILLE
Lost – LB Mike Peterson, S Gerald Sensabaugh, T Khalif Barnes, S Pierson Prioleau (low bubble)
Signed – T Tra Thomas, S Sean Considine
KANSAS CITY
Lost – LB Patrick Thomas (NQ), OL Adrian Jones (NQ)
Signed – LB Zach Thomas, G Mike Goff, WR Bobby Engram, LB Monty Beisel (low bubble), WR Terrance Copper (NQ), G Eric Ghiaciuc (NQ), CB Travis Daniels (NQ), TE Sean Ryan (NQ)
MIAMI
Lost – CB Andre Goodman, CB Renaldo Hill, C Al Johnson (high bubble)
Signed – C Jake Grove, CB Eric Green, G Joe Berger (high bubble)
MINNESOTA
Lost – C Matt Birk, S Darren Sharper, T Marcus Johnson (NQ)
Signed – CB Karl Paymah
NEW ENGLAND
Lost – WR Jabar Gaffney, FB Heath Evans, LS Lonie Paxton, RB LaMont Jordan, LB Larry Izzo (low bubble)
Signed – C Al Johnson (high bubble), LB Paris Lenon (low bubble), S Brandon McGowan (low bubble), DT Damane Duckett (cut)
NEW ORLEANS
Lost – S Josh Bullocks
Signed – CB Jabari Greer, S Darren Sharper, FB Heath Evans, TE Darnell Dinkins (low bubble), S Pierson Prioleau (low bubble), C Nick Leckey (NQ), DE Tony Hargrove (NQ)
NEW YORK GIANTS
Lost – RB Derrick Ward, S James Butler, DE Renaldo Wynn (low bubble)
Signed – DE Chris Canty, LB Michael Boley, DT Rocky Bernard, S C.C. Brown
NEW YORK JETS
Lost – WR Laveranues Coles, LB Eric Barton, DE C.J. Mosley, K Mike Nugent, CB Hank Poteat (low bubble), LB Cody Spencer (NQ)
Signed – LB Bart Scott, S Jim Leonhard, CB Donald Strickland, LB Larry Izzo (low bubble), DT Howard Green (NQ)
OAKLAND
Lost – C Jake Grove, S Rashad Baker (high bubble)
Signed – T Khalif Barnes, QB Jeff Garcia, FB Lorenzo Neal (low bubble), T Marcus Johnson (NQ), DT Ryan Boschetti (NQ), S Keith Davis (NQ)
PHILADELPHIA
Lost – S Brian Dawkins, T Tra Thomas, RB Correll Buckhalter, TE L.J. Smith, S Sean Considine
Signed – T Stacy Andrews, S Sean Jones, RB Leonard Weaver, S Rashad Baker (high bubble)
PITTSBURGH
Lost – CB Bryant McFadden, WR Nate Washington, QB Byron Leftwich, T Marvel Smith
Signed – WR Shaun McDonald (NQ), CB Keiwan Ratliff (NQ)
SAN DIEGO
Lost – DT Igor Olshansky, G Mike Goff, LB Marques Harris (NQ)
Signed – LB Kevin Burnett
SAN FRANCISCO
Lost – WR Bryant Johnson, NT Ronald Fields, QB J.T. O’Sullivan, CB Donald Strickland, TE Billy Bajema (low bubble), TE Sean Ryan (NQ), DT Damane Duckett (cut)
Signed – WR Brandon Jones, RB Moran Norris, DE Demetric Evans, T Marvel Smith, LB Marques Harris (NQ)
SEATTLE
Lost – DT Rocky Bernard, RB Maurice Morris, RB Leonard Weaver, WR Bobby Engram, T Floyd Womack (high bubble), TE Will Heller (NQ), DT Howard Green (NQ)
Signed – WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, DT Colin Cole, TE John Owens (high bubble), LS Bryan Pittman (NQ)
ST. LOUIS
Lost – C Brett Romberg (high bubble), C Nick Leckey (NQ), T Brandon Gorin (NQ)
Signed – C Jason Brown, S James Butler, QB Kyle Boller, TE Billy Bajema (low bubble)
TAMPA BAY
Lost – CB Phillip Buchanon, DT Jovan Haye, QB Jeff Garcia
Signed – RB Derrick Ward, LB Angelo Crowell, K Mike Nugent, QB Byron Leftwich
TENNESSEE
Lost – DT Albert Haynesworth, WR Brandon Jones, QB Chris Simms, CB Chris Carr, CB Eric King, T Daniel Loper
Signed – WR Nate Washington, DT Jovan Haye, CB DeMarcus Faggins, WR Mark Jones (high bubble), QB Patrick Ramsey (low bubble)
WASHINGTON
Lost – DE Demetric Evans, DT Ryan Boschetti (NQ)
Signed – DT Albert Haynesworth, DE Renaldo Wynn (low bubble), P Hunter Smith (low bubble)
It’s still far too early to determine which teams will get comp picks in which rounds, because any team’s situation could change if a qualifying player is released, traded, benched, injured, etc. But the list above provides a starting point for determining which teams are more likely to receive comp picks. Pittsburgh, for example, with four players lost who could qualify and no players signed who are likely to qualify, stands to receive up to four comp picks in 2010. On the other hand, teams such as Denver, St. Louis, New Orleans, Kansas City and Washington aren’t likely to receive any comp picks.
Remaining UFAs
Below is a list of the remaining UFAs. If any of them received a June 1 tender, they would be included in the formula if they sign with a new team by July 22.
Arizona – Scott Peters, Jerame Tuman, Wayne Gandy
Atlanta – Lawyer Milloy, Marcus Pollard
Baltimore – Lorenzo Neal, Chad Slaughter, Matt Stover, Daniel Wilcox
Buffalo – Melvin Fowler, Teddy Lehman, J.P. Losman, Jason Whittle
Carolina – Donte Curry, Jason Kyle, Darwin Walker
Chicago – Mike Brown, Rex Grossman
Chicago – Brandon Lloyd, Darrell McClover, Fred Miller, Cameron Worrell
Cincinnati – Jamar Fletcher, John Thornton
Cleveland – Lennie Friedman, Kris Griffin, Daven Holly, Willie McGinest, Shantee Orr
Dallas – Brooks Bollinger, Carlos Polk
Denver – Tatum Bell, Ebenezer Ekuban, Darrell Jackson, Marlon McCree, Tom Nalen, Michael Pittman, Edell Shepherd, Nate Webster
Detroit – Rudi Johnson, Andy McCollum, Langston Moore, Ryan Nece, Corey Smith, Stanley Wilson
Green Bay – Mark Tauscher
Houston – Mark Bruener, Scott Jackson, Cecil Sapp, Jimmy Williams, Jeff Zgonina
Indianapolis – Josh Thomas
Jacksonville – Chris Naeole, Reggie Williams
Kansas City – Jason Babin, Rocky Boiman, Oliver Celestin
Miami – Tab Perry, Derek Smith
Minnesota – Kenderick Allen, Michael Boulware, Napoleon Harris, Dontarrious Thomas, Ellis Wyms
N.Y. Giants – John Carney, Jerome McDougle, R.W. McQuarters, Grey Ruegamer, Rich Scanlon, Amani Toomer, Anthony Wright
N.Y. Jets – Jesse Chatman, Ty Law, J.R. Reed
New England – Rosevelt Colvin, Rodney Harrison, Deltha O’Neal, Lewis Sanders, Junior Seau, Barry Stokes
New Orleans – Mark Campbell, Aaron Glenn, Martin Gramatica, Terrence Holt, Antwan Lake, Michael Lehan, Matt Lehr, James Reed, Aaron Stecker
Oakland – Drew Carter, Ashley Lelie, Marques Tuiasosopo
Philadelphia – Jon Runyan
Pittsburgh – Mitch Berger, Orpheus Roye
San Diego – Jeremy Newberry
San Francisco – DeShaun Foster, Roderick Green, Jamie Martin
Seattle – Charlie Frye, Chris Gray, Wesly Mallard, Steve McKinney, Jeff Robinson, Koren Robinson
St. Louis – Fakhir Brown, Jason Craft, Anthony Davis, La’Roi Glover, Dante Hall, Dane Looker, Ricky Manning, Travis Minor, Rob Petitti, Gary Stills, Cory Withrow
Tampa Bay – Kevin Carter, Patrick Chukwurah
Tennessee – Reynaldo Hill, Justin McCareins, Tyrone Poole
Washington – Khary Campbell, Jason Fabini, Mike Green, Pete Kendall
In an upcoming post (or posts), I’ll take a look at the situation for some teams in regard to the 2010 comp picks. As always, any comments, questions or corrections are welcome.
(EDIT: Updated to include Adrian Jones, Tony Hargrove and Lorenzo Neal signings.)
Not all UFAs who signed by June 1 will count in the equation for comp picks. Some player will be disqualified by being released by their new team before or during training camp, during the preseason or early in the regular season. Other players didn’t sign for enough money to qualify, no matter what they do.
Below is a preliminary list of all of the UFAs – true UFAs, not players who had been released by their former team – who were lost or signed by each team by June 1. Each group is listed by average contract value per season (counting only the money included in the comp formula), from highest to lowest. I’ve labeled any player with a contract value of $670,000 per season or less as NQ, for non-qualifier. I’ve labeled any player with a contract value between $765,000 and $895,000 per season as a “low bubble” player, meaning that there might be a chance of that player qualifying, depending on his playing time and any “postseason honors.” (No player signed a contract valued at more than $670,000 per season but less than $765,000 per season.) Any player who signed a contract valued between $900,000 and $975,000 per season is listed as a “high bubble” player, meaning that the player might not qualify if he doesn’t play enough this season.
ARIZONA
Lost – DE Antonio Smith, CB Eric Green, RB Terrelle Smith, LB Monty Beisel (low bubble), RB J.J. Arrington (cut)
Signed – CB Bryant McFadden, RB Jason Wright (high bubble)
ATLANTA
Lost – CB Dominique Foxworth, LB Michael Boley, LB Keith Brooking, DT Grady Jackson
Signed – LB Mike Peterson, C Brett Romberg (high bubble)
BALTIMORE
Lost – LB Bart Scott, C Jason Brown, S Jim Leonhard, QB Kyle Boller, CB Corey Ivy (low bubble), FB Lorenzo Neal (low bubble), WR Terrance Copper (NQ)
Signed – CB Dominique Foxworth, C Matt Birk, CB Chris Carr, TE L.J. Smith
BUFFALO
Lost – CB Jabari Greer, LB Angelo Crowell, C Duke Preston (high bubble)
Signed – C Geoff Hangartner, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, RB Dominic Rhodes, G Seth McKinney (NQ), LB Patrick Thomas (NQ), DE Tony Hargrove (NQ)
CAROLINA
Lost – C Geoff Hangartner, T Frank Omiyale, WR Mark Jones (high bubble), LB Adam Seward (NQ)
Signed – none
CHICAGO
Lost – T John St. Clair, S Brandon McGowan (low bubble)
Signed – T Frank Omiyale, S Josh Bullocks
CINCINNATI
Lost – WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, T Stacy Andrews, QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, G Eric Ghiaciuc (NQ)
Signed – WR Laveranues Coles, QB J.T. O’Sullivan, DT Tank Johnson (NQ)
CLEVELAND
Lost – S Sean Jones, LB Andra Davis, RB Jason Wright (high bubble), G Scott Young (cut), TE Darnell Dinkins (low bubble), G Seth McKinney (NQ), CB Travis Daniels (NQ)
Signed – LB Eric Barton, T John St. Clair, DE C.J. Mosley, T Floyd Womack (high bubble), CB Corey Ivy (low bubble), CB Hank Poteat (low bubble)
DALLAS
Lost – DE Chris Canty, LB Kevin Burnett, LB Zach Thomas, G Joe Berger (high bubble), DT Tank Johnson (NQ), S Keith Davis (NQ)
Signed – DT Igor Olshansky, LB Keith Brooking, S Gerald Sensabaugh
DENVER
Lost – CB Karl Paymah, QB Patrick Ramsey (low bubble)
Signed – CB Andre Goodman, S Brian Dawkins, QB Chris Simms, CB Renaldo Hill, WR Jabar Gaffney, NT Ronald Fields, DT Darrell Reid, RB Correll Buckhalter, LB Andra Davis, LS Lonie Paxton, RB LaMont Jordan, T Brandon Gorin (NQ), RB J.J. Arrington (cut), G Scott Young (cut)
DETROIT
Lost – NT Shaun Cody, QB Dan Orlovsky, RB Moran Norris, TE John Owens (high bubble), LB Paris Lenon (low bubble), WR Shaun McDonald (NQ)
Signed – CB Phillip Buchanon, WR Bryant Johnson, DT Grady Jackson, CB Eric King, RB Maurice Morris, T Daniel Loper, RB Terrelle Smith, LB Cody Spencer (NQ), TE Will Heller (NQ)
GREEN BAY
Lost – DT Colin Cole
Signed – C Duke Preston (high bubble)
HOUSTON
Lost – S C.C. Brown, CB DeMarcus Faggins, LS Bryan Pittman (NQ)
Signed – DE Antonio Smith, QB Dan Orlovsky, NT Shaun Cody, OL Adrian Jones (NQ)
INDIANAPOLIS
Lost – DT Darrell Reid, RB Dominic Rhodes, P Hunter Smith (low bubble), CB Keiwan Ratliff (NQ)
Signed – LB Adam Seward (NQ)
JACKSONVILLE
Lost – LB Mike Peterson, S Gerald Sensabaugh, T Khalif Barnes, S Pierson Prioleau (low bubble)
Signed – T Tra Thomas, S Sean Considine
KANSAS CITY
Lost – LB Patrick Thomas (NQ), OL Adrian Jones (NQ)
Signed – LB Zach Thomas, G Mike Goff, WR Bobby Engram, LB Monty Beisel (low bubble), WR Terrance Copper (NQ), G Eric Ghiaciuc (NQ), CB Travis Daniels (NQ), TE Sean Ryan (NQ)
MIAMI
Lost – CB Andre Goodman, CB Renaldo Hill, C Al Johnson (high bubble)
Signed – C Jake Grove, CB Eric Green, G Joe Berger (high bubble)
MINNESOTA
Lost – C Matt Birk, S Darren Sharper, T Marcus Johnson (NQ)
Signed – CB Karl Paymah
NEW ENGLAND
Lost – WR Jabar Gaffney, FB Heath Evans, LS Lonie Paxton, RB LaMont Jordan, LB Larry Izzo (low bubble)
Signed – C Al Johnson (high bubble), LB Paris Lenon (low bubble), S Brandon McGowan (low bubble), DT Damane Duckett (cut)
NEW ORLEANS
Lost – S Josh Bullocks
Signed – CB Jabari Greer, S Darren Sharper, FB Heath Evans, TE Darnell Dinkins (low bubble), S Pierson Prioleau (low bubble), C Nick Leckey (NQ), DE Tony Hargrove (NQ)
NEW YORK GIANTS
Lost – RB Derrick Ward, S James Butler, DE Renaldo Wynn (low bubble)
Signed – DE Chris Canty, LB Michael Boley, DT Rocky Bernard, S C.C. Brown
NEW YORK JETS
Lost – WR Laveranues Coles, LB Eric Barton, DE C.J. Mosley, K Mike Nugent, CB Hank Poteat (low bubble), LB Cody Spencer (NQ)
Signed – LB Bart Scott, S Jim Leonhard, CB Donald Strickland, LB Larry Izzo (low bubble), DT Howard Green (NQ)
OAKLAND
Lost – C Jake Grove, S Rashad Baker (high bubble)
Signed – T Khalif Barnes, QB Jeff Garcia, FB Lorenzo Neal (low bubble), T Marcus Johnson (NQ), DT Ryan Boschetti (NQ), S Keith Davis (NQ)
PHILADELPHIA
Lost – S Brian Dawkins, T Tra Thomas, RB Correll Buckhalter, TE L.J. Smith, S Sean Considine
Signed – T Stacy Andrews, S Sean Jones, RB Leonard Weaver, S Rashad Baker (high bubble)
PITTSBURGH
Lost – CB Bryant McFadden, WR Nate Washington, QB Byron Leftwich, T Marvel Smith
Signed – WR Shaun McDonald (NQ), CB Keiwan Ratliff (NQ)
SAN DIEGO
Lost – DT Igor Olshansky, G Mike Goff, LB Marques Harris (NQ)
Signed – LB Kevin Burnett
SAN FRANCISCO
Lost – WR Bryant Johnson, NT Ronald Fields, QB J.T. O’Sullivan, CB Donald Strickland, TE Billy Bajema (low bubble), TE Sean Ryan (NQ), DT Damane Duckett (cut)
Signed – WR Brandon Jones, RB Moran Norris, DE Demetric Evans, T Marvel Smith, LB Marques Harris (NQ)
SEATTLE
Lost – DT Rocky Bernard, RB Maurice Morris, RB Leonard Weaver, WR Bobby Engram, T Floyd Womack (high bubble), TE Will Heller (NQ), DT Howard Green (NQ)
Signed – WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh, DT Colin Cole, TE John Owens (high bubble), LS Bryan Pittman (NQ)
ST. LOUIS
Lost – C Brett Romberg (high bubble), C Nick Leckey (NQ), T Brandon Gorin (NQ)
Signed – C Jason Brown, S James Butler, QB Kyle Boller, TE Billy Bajema (low bubble)
TAMPA BAY
Lost – CB Phillip Buchanon, DT Jovan Haye, QB Jeff Garcia
Signed – RB Derrick Ward, LB Angelo Crowell, K Mike Nugent, QB Byron Leftwich
TENNESSEE
Lost – DT Albert Haynesworth, WR Brandon Jones, QB Chris Simms, CB Chris Carr, CB Eric King, T Daniel Loper
Signed – WR Nate Washington, DT Jovan Haye, CB DeMarcus Faggins, WR Mark Jones (high bubble), QB Patrick Ramsey (low bubble)
WASHINGTON
Lost – DE Demetric Evans, DT Ryan Boschetti (NQ)
Signed – DT Albert Haynesworth, DE Renaldo Wynn (low bubble), P Hunter Smith (low bubble)
It’s still far too early to determine which teams will get comp picks in which rounds, because any team’s situation could change if a qualifying player is released, traded, benched, injured, etc. But the list above provides a starting point for determining which teams are more likely to receive comp picks. Pittsburgh, for example, with four players lost who could qualify and no players signed who are likely to qualify, stands to receive up to four comp picks in 2010. On the other hand, teams such as Denver, St. Louis, New Orleans, Kansas City and Washington aren’t likely to receive any comp picks.
Remaining UFAs
Below is a list of the remaining UFAs. If any of them received a June 1 tender, they would be included in the formula if they sign with a new team by July 22.
Arizona – Scott Peters, Jerame Tuman, Wayne Gandy
Atlanta – Lawyer Milloy, Marcus Pollard
Baltimore – Lorenzo Neal, Chad Slaughter, Matt Stover, Daniel Wilcox
Buffalo – Melvin Fowler, Teddy Lehman, J.P. Losman, Jason Whittle
Carolina – Donte Curry, Jason Kyle, Darwin Walker
Chicago – Mike Brown, Rex Grossman
Chicago – Brandon Lloyd, Darrell McClover, Fred Miller, Cameron Worrell
Cincinnati – Jamar Fletcher, John Thornton
Cleveland – Lennie Friedman, Kris Griffin, Daven Holly, Willie McGinest, Shantee Orr
Dallas – Brooks Bollinger, Carlos Polk
Denver – Tatum Bell, Ebenezer Ekuban, Darrell Jackson, Marlon McCree, Tom Nalen, Michael Pittman, Edell Shepherd, Nate Webster
Detroit – Rudi Johnson, Andy McCollum, Langston Moore, Ryan Nece, Corey Smith, Stanley Wilson
Green Bay – Mark Tauscher
Houston – Mark Bruener, Scott Jackson, Cecil Sapp, Jimmy Williams, Jeff Zgonina
Indianapolis – Josh Thomas
Jacksonville – Chris Naeole, Reggie Williams
Kansas City – Jason Babin, Rocky Boiman, Oliver Celestin
Miami – Tab Perry, Derek Smith
Minnesota – Kenderick Allen, Michael Boulware, Napoleon Harris, Dontarrious Thomas, Ellis Wyms
N.Y. Giants – John Carney, Jerome McDougle, R.W. McQuarters, Grey Ruegamer, Rich Scanlon, Amani Toomer, Anthony Wright
N.Y. Jets – Jesse Chatman, Ty Law, J.R. Reed
New England – Rosevelt Colvin, Rodney Harrison, Deltha O’Neal, Lewis Sanders, Junior Seau, Barry Stokes
New Orleans – Mark Campbell, Aaron Glenn, Martin Gramatica, Terrence Holt, Antwan Lake, Michael Lehan, Matt Lehr, James Reed, Aaron Stecker
Oakland – Drew Carter, Ashley Lelie, Marques Tuiasosopo
Philadelphia – Jon Runyan
Pittsburgh – Mitch Berger, Orpheus Roye
San Diego – Jeremy Newberry
San Francisco – DeShaun Foster, Roderick Green, Jamie Martin
Seattle – Charlie Frye, Chris Gray, Wesly Mallard, Steve McKinney, Jeff Robinson, Koren Robinson
St. Louis – Fakhir Brown, Jason Craft, Anthony Davis, La’Roi Glover, Dante Hall, Dane Looker, Ricky Manning, Travis Minor, Rob Petitti, Gary Stills, Cory Withrow
Tampa Bay – Kevin Carter, Patrick Chukwurah
Tennessee – Reynaldo Hill, Justin McCareins, Tyrone Poole
Washington – Khary Campbell, Jason Fabini, Mike Green, Pete Kendall
In an upcoming post (or posts), I’ll take a look at the situation for some teams in regard to the 2010 comp picks. As always, any comments, questions or corrections are welcome.
(EDIT: Updated to include Adrian Jones, Tony Hargrove and Lorenzo Neal signings.)
Monday, May 11, 2009
Matthew Stafford's contract
No. 1 draft pick Matthew Stafford's contract with the Detroit Lions is an example of how the value of a contract often gets exaggerated when reported by the media. Stafford's contract has been reported as being for six years and $72 million, with $41.7 million guaranteed and an additional $6 million in incentives that could push the total value to $78 million. Those numbers could be correct -- if Stafford plays a certain percentage of the Lions' offensive snaps. However, if Stafford doesn't achieve certain qualifying incentives in his contract, he'll never receive close to that $41.7 million he's supposedly "guaranteed."
The only parts of Stafford's contract that he's fully guaranteed to receive right now are most of his base salaries and the protected value of his option bonus. He did not receive a signing bonus, which isn't unusual for a high draft pick. In 2008, none of the first seven players drafted got a signing bonus. Stafford's base salaries are $3.1 million for 2009, $395,000 for 2010, $1.17 million for 2011, $1.95 million for 2012 and $2.7 million for 2013. In 2010, the Lions will have to decide whether to exercise an option for 2014 by paying Stafford a $17.4 million option bonus. If they exercise the option, the bonus gets prorated from 2010 to 2014, and Stafford gets a base salary of $3.495 million for 2014.
Here are Stafford's salary cap numbers if the Lions exercise the option and Stafford does not achieve any playing-time or performance incentives --
2009 $3.1 million
2010 $3.875 million ($395,000 base salary plus $3.48 million option bonus proration)
2011 $4.65 million ($1.17 million base salary plus $3.48 million option bonus proration)
2012 $5.425 million ($1.945 million base salary plus $3.48 million option bonus proration)
2013 $6.2 million ($2.72 million base salary plus $3.48 million option bonus proration)
2014 $6.975 million ($3.495 million base salary plus $3.48 million option bonus proration)
Those are the basic elements of Stafford's contract, and they illustrate the 25 Percent Rule, which applies to rookies' contracts. The 25 Percent Rule essentially says that certain amounts in a rookie's contract can't increase each year by more than 25 percent of the first-year total of those amounts. Signing bonus prorations and most other amounts treated as signing bonuses aren't included in the calculation of the 25 Percent Rule, but option bonus prorations are included. The only first-year money Stafford gets is his base salary of $3.1 million, 25 percent of which comes to $775,000. So the applicable amounts in his contract -- in his case, those are his base salaries and option bonus prorations -- can't increase by more than $775,000 each year. And not coincidentally, that's exactly how much they increase each year.
The amounts listed in the chart represent the minimum he is scheduled to earn if he's on the Lions' roster through the 2014 season. The total of those amounts is $30.21 million. Not only is that not anywhere close to $41.7 million, Stafford isn't even guaranteed to receive all of that $30.21 million. The actual amount he's absolutely guaranteed to receive under any circumstances is a mere $17.05 million.
Let's take a look at what happens if the Lions decide very early in Stafford's career that they made an egregious mistake, and Stafford is closer to being the next Bobby Garrett than he is to being the next Bobby Layne. Suppose Stafford plays less than 35 percent of the Lions' offensive snaps during the 2009 regular season, and the team decides not to exercise the option in his contract for 2014. Stafford's option bonus is mostly protected, which means that if it's not exercised, a clause in his contract automatically kicks in and assures that he'll get most of the money anyway. If the option isn't exercised, Stafford's base salaries automatically increase to $3.875 million in 2010, $4.65 million in 2011, $5.425 million in 2012 and $6.2 million in 2013, and he becomes a free agent in 2014. You'll notice that those amounts are the same as his cap numbers if the option is exercised, and the total amount is the same. However, there's a catch to that $6.2 million in 2013.
In an NFL contract, base salaries can be guaranteed "for skill" and "for injury" and against cap considerations. A fully guaranteed salary protects a player in all three scenarios. If he can no longer play effectively, suffers a career-ending injury or simply has too high of a cap number, he'll still receive his salary if it's fully guaranteed. And Stafford's base salaries are fully guaranteed through 2012. His 2013 base salary, however, is not fully guaranteed, because of a rule in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that deals with guaranteed salaries. Article XXIV, Section 7, (d)(ii) of the CBA says, "In a Player Contract entered into in a Capped Year, 50% of the Salary fully guaranteed for any League Year beyond three years after the Final Capped Year will be included in Salary and Team Salary during the League Year or Years of the Contract in which the Salary Cap is in effect in a proportion to be determined by the Team." The "Final Capped Year" currently is 2009, which means that half of any salary fully guaranteed beyond 2012 would be charged against the Lions' salary cap in 2009. As a result, Stafford's 2013 base salary (and 2014, if his option is exercised) is not fully guaranteed. It's guaranteed against cap considerations and "for injury," but it's not guaranteed "for skill." So if the Lions decide Stafford simply doesn't have the skill to play for them, they can cut him without paying his salary for 2013. If that happens, and if Stafford never acheives any playing-time or performance incentives, the Lions will have paid him only $17.05 million.
So, why has Stafford's contract been reported as having $41.7 million in guaranteed money? Most likely, it's because Stafford's agent, Tom Condon, wants everyone to think that he got his client that much guaranteed money. In reality, though, that's not the amount that Stafford is guaranteed to receive -- it's the amount that he COULD BE guaranteed to receive, if he achieves certain qualifiers and the Lions exercise his option. If Stafford achieves his qualifiers in 2009, there's a $9.105 million roster bonus in 2010, an additional $7.83 million in fully guaranteed salary for 2011 and an additional $755,000 in fully guaranteed salary for 2012. Along with the $17.4 million option bonus and his standard base salaries for 2009 through 2012, the total comes to $41.7 million, the figure cited by the media. But $24.65 million of that "guaranteed" money is dependent upon Stafford meeting his qualifiers. (The contract also includes built-in ways for Stafford to receive most or all of that money even if it takes him until 2010, 2011 or 2012 to achieve his qualifiers.)
The rest of Stafford's $72 million consists of a potential $7.8 million salary escalator in 2012 and escalated salaries of $11.5 million in 2013 and $11 million in 2014. But again, the only way for him to have those salaries is by reaching his qualifiers in certain seasons. And if those aren't enough, he has additional escalators of up to $1.5 million in certain seasons that could push his total contract value to its maximum of $78 million.
On a related note, I hate to correct ESPN.com's NFC North blogger, Kevin Seifert, considering that he has cited my blog three times. But in his May 8 entry about Stafford's contract, he mistakenly says that the use of the option bonus is "exact strategy" I wrote about in this post that I made on March 21 about a loophole around the 30 Percent Rule (and possibly the 25 Percent Rule for rookies). But it's not the same strategy. Option bonuses aren't a loophole around the rules, because the CBA specifically states that option bonuses count in the calculations for either rule. The loophole involves completion bonuses, which can be guaranteed but do not count in the calculations for the 30 Percent Rule.
The only parts of Stafford's contract that he's fully guaranteed to receive right now are most of his base salaries and the protected value of his option bonus. He did not receive a signing bonus, which isn't unusual for a high draft pick. In 2008, none of the first seven players drafted got a signing bonus. Stafford's base salaries are $3.1 million for 2009, $395,000 for 2010, $1.17 million for 2011, $1.95 million for 2012 and $2.7 million for 2013. In 2010, the Lions will have to decide whether to exercise an option for 2014 by paying Stafford a $17.4 million option bonus. If they exercise the option, the bonus gets prorated from 2010 to 2014, and Stafford gets a base salary of $3.495 million for 2014.
Here are Stafford's salary cap numbers if the Lions exercise the option and Stafford does not achieve any playing-time or performance incentives --
2009 $3.1 million
2010 $3.875 million ($395,000 base salary plus $3.48 million option bonus proration)
2011 $4.65 million ($1.17 million base salary plus $3.48 million option bonus proration)
2012 $5.425 million ($1.945 million base salary plus $3.48 million option bonus proration)
2013 $6.2 million ($2.72 million base salary plus $3.48 million option bonus proration)
2014 $6.975 million ($3.495 million base salary plus $3.48 million option bonus proration)
Those are the basic elements of Stafford's contract, and they illustrate the 25 Percent Rule, which applies to rookies' contracts. The 25 Percent Rule essentially says that certain amounts in a rookie's contract can't increase each year by more than 25 percent of the first-year total of those amounts. Signing bonus prorations and most other amounts treated as signing bonuses aren't included in the calculation of the 25 Percent Rule, but option bonus prorations are included. The only first-year money Stafford gets is his base salary of $3.1 million, 25 percent of which comes to $775,000. So the applicable amounts in his contract -- in his case, those are his base salaries and option bonus prorations -- can't increase by more than $775,000 each year. And not coincidentally, that's exactly how much they increase each year.
The amounts listed in the chart represent the minimum he is scheduled to earn if he's on the Lions' roster through the 2014 season. The total of those amounts is $30.21 million. Not only is that not anywhere close to $41.7 million, Stafford isn't even guaranteed to receive all of that $30.21 million. The actual amount he's absolutely guaranteed to receive under any circumstances is a mere $17.05 million.
Let's take a look at what happens if the Lions decide very early in Stafford's career that they made an egregious mistake, and Stafford is closer to being the next Bobby Garrett than he is to being the next Bobby Layne. Suppose Stafford plays less than 35 percent of the Lions' offensive snaps during the 2009 regular season, and the team decides not to exercise the option in his contract for 2014. Stafford's option bonus is mostly protected, which means that if it's not exercised, a clause in his contract automatically kicks in and assures that he'll get most of the money anyway. If the option isn't exercised, Stafford's base salaries automatically increase to $3.875 million in 2010, $4.65 million in 2011, $5.425 million in 2012 and $6.2 million in 2013, and he becomes a free agent in 2014. You'll notice that those amounts are the same as his cap numbers if the option is exercised, and the total amount is the same. However, there's a catch to that $6.2 million in 2013.
In an NFL contract, base salaries can be guaranteed "for skill" and "for injury" and against cap considerations. A fully guaranteed salary protects a player in all three scenarios. If he can no longer play effectively, suffers a career-ending injury or simply has too high of a cap number, he'll still receive his salary if it's fully guaranteed. And Stafford's base salaries are fully guaranteed through 2012. His 2013 base salary, however, is not fully guaranteed, because of a rule in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that deals with guaranteed salaries. Article XXIV, Section 7, (d)(ii) of the CBA says, "In a Player Contract entered into in a Capped Year, 50% of the Salary fully guaranteed for any League Year beyond three years after the Final Capped Year will be included in Salary and Team Salary during the League Year or Years of the Contract in which the Salary Cap is in effect in a proportion to be determined by the Team." The "Final Capped Year" currently is 2009, which means that half of any salary fully guaranteed beyond 2012 would be charged against the Lions' salary cap in 2009. As a result, Stafford's 2013 base salary (and 2014, if his option is exercised) is not fully guaranteed. It's guaranteed against cap considerations and "for injury," but it's not guaranteed "for skill." So if the Lions decide Stafford simply doesn't have the skill to play for them, they can cut him without paying his salary for 2013. If that happens, and if Stafford never acheives any playing-time or performance incentives, the Lions will have paid him only $17.05 million.
So, why has Stafford's contract been reported as having $41.7 million in guaranteed money? Most likely, it's because Stafford's agent, Tom Condon, wants everyone to think that he got his client that much guaranteed money. In reality, though, that's not the amount that Stafford is guaranteed to receive -- it's the amount that he COULD BE guaranteed to receive, if he achieves certain qualifiers and the Lions exercise his option. If Stafford achieves his qualifiers in 2009, there's a $9.105 million roster bonus in 2010, an additional $7.83 million in fully guaranteed salary for 2011 and an additional $755,000 in fully guaranteed salary for 2012. Along with the $17.4 million option bonus and his standard base salaries for 2009 through 2012, the total comes to $41.7 million, the figure cited by the media. But $24.65 million of that "guaranteed" money is dependent upon Stafford meeting his qualifiers. (The contract also includes built-in ways for Stafford to receive most or all of that money even if it takes him until 2010, 2011 or 2012 to achieve his qualifiers.)
The rest of Stafford's $72 million consists of a potential $7.8 million salary escalator in 2012 and escalated salaries of $11.5 million in 2013 and $11 million in 2014. But again, the only way for him to have those salaries is by reaching his qualifiers in certain seasons. And if those aren't enough, he has additional escalators of up to $1.5 million in certain seasons that could push his total contract value to its maximum of $78 million.
On a related note, I hate to correct ESPN.com's NFC North blogger, Kevin Seifert, considering that he has cited my blog three times. But in his May 8 entry about Stafford's contract, he mistakenly says that the use of the option bonus is "exact strategy" I wrote about in this post that I made on March 21 about a loophole around the 30 Percent Rule (and possibly the 25 Percent Rule for rookies). But it's not the same strategy. Option bonuses aren't a loophole around the rules, because the CBA specifically states that option bonuses count in the calculations for either rule. The loophole involves completion bonuses, which can be guaranteed but do not count in the calculations for the 30 Percent Rule.
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