pick your free agent

[cubzzzfanincali]

If you are under the 133 million, you dont get that money back to spend next year.

Yes, actually, under the CBA, unused cap money does roll over. This year, among teams that chose to do so, the average amount was $6.1 million.

 

[NCChiFan]

No, really, it isn't. They already signed Cutler to a 7-year deal, which by any account includes years that are basically "fantasy" years. The teams get those fantasy years - at the expense of what the player wants - by paying guaranteed money. That's NFL contracting 101. So, yeah, in theory, the team could extend the money in Cutler's contract until the year 2100, but the only way on Earth Cutler would agree to that would be in exchange for more guaranteed money, which the Bears obviously did not want to give up in the first place or they would have simply done so.

Extension contracts with bonus money up front are virtually never re-negotiated the same year they get signed. The only reason they usually get negotiated in the same year is when a legitimate reason develops in which the player may get cut. That case does not apply to Jay Cutler.

He already has agreed, my understanding is, all of the Bears contracts contain a clause allowing the Bears to make any adjustment like that, the Bears deem as needed. Jay would not have to agree.

 

[NCChiFan]

Oh and btw, Orakpo was franchised today.

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

my understanding is, all of the Bears contracts contain a clause allowing the Bears to make any adjustment like that, the Bears deem as needed. Jay would not have to agree.

they do? Since when? Has the team ever used that provision before?

 

[leomaz]

The Bears also have the option to convert a portion of Cutler's base salary into a signing bonus, thereby freeing up cap space early in the deal and prorating the bonus over the full seven years.

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, this "automatic conversion" clause was specifically included in the language of Cutler's deal to ensure that the Bears would have flexibility during the early stages of the contract.

For now, Cutler will enter 2014 with a cap hit of $22.5 million. That high number could certainly be restrictive in terms of adding free agents this offseason.

As Biggs mentions, however, if the Bears discover a player they like, Cutler can convert a part of his base salary in 2013 into a signing bonus that would lower his overall cap number. That would then provide Emery with the freedom to make a splash move this offseason, such as adding a big-name defensive player.

Chicago will have that as an option in any of the next three years.

Doing so would force the Bears to pay Cutler longer than the original three years of guaranteed money, but the option does provide flexibility that many big deals simply don't.

Cutler doesn't have to worry about losing any cash either. He'll be paid the same regardless of whether the original cap number is honored or the base salary is converted into a signing bonus.

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

ok, so I am wrong. Sounds odd though. But OK, the team has the option.

 

[leomaz]

go easy on yourself

ok, so I am wrong. Sounds odd though. But OK, the team has the option.

Maybe you justread it wrong......nonetheless.....does this change anything?

 

[cubzzzfanincali]

does it change anything? of course it does. If the Bears have basically line item change of their expensive contracts, they can free up an extra $2 or $3 million on Cutler's contract cap hit in 2014, which in case you haven't noticed, is a large fraction of what we are currently dealing with.

 

[NCChiFan]

What Leo posted is what I've been reading/hearing on other boards, but it isn't just Jay's contract, every recent contract is made up with this clause including Gould's and Slauson's.


But like you said, when has any team done this? Well, I'm not sure, but the Bear situation is looking a bit dire. We have no starting quality D linemen on the left side of the line at the moment and are missing at least 1 CB and one Safety. And that is if they don't cut Peppers. If they Cut Peppers, then we need to find two starting quality DE's. Which is why I don't see the Bears cutting Peppers. Sure you could save the money, but where are you going to find a replacement of quality.


Emery never sleeps though... No telling what is up his sleeve.

 

[wood20ks]

Oh and btw, Orakpo was franchised today.

Damn........

Thats too rich for us.......not sure how this salary cap thing works with the team changing the contracts all the time,but it would have been nice to see him in a Bear uni..............

 

[63bears40]

Damn........

Thats too rich for us.......not sure how this salary cap thing works with the team changing the contracts all the time,but it would have been nice to see him in a Bear uni..............

Cincy said today, they will not franchise Johnson. Interesting.

 

[leomaz]

cause he isnt worth it

Cincy said today, they will not franchise Johnson. Interesting.

Nor are they going to offer him what he made last year......he simple has proven he isnt worth the money he was paid....

 

[leomaz]

lol

does it change anything? of course it does. If the Bears have basically line item change of their expensive contracts, they can free up an extra $2 or $3 million on Cutler's contract cap hit in 2014, which in case you haven't noticed, is a large fraction of what we are currently dealing with.

I was referring to your cap number in the original post..........

 

[63bears40]

Nor are they going to offer him what he made last year......he simple has proven he isnt worth the money he was paid....

We'll see.

 

[richig07]

Sure it is, I believe that the Bears set up all of the recent contracts with a flexibility to change the CAP hit on all of them, whenever the organization deems it important enough to do so. The Bears have the ability at their discretion to create $15 - 18 million of cap space whenever they want by simply converting Jay's contracted 22.5 million base salary into a signing bonus. This is true for all of the contracts they've recently entered in to.


Now I'm not saying they will, but the Bears do have this flexibility if they choose to use it.

Sure, they HAVE that ability. However, it's just not a very realistic hope to have that they'll restructure a contract almost immediately after it's handed out and signed.

 

[63bears40]

Sure, they HAVE that ability. However, it's just not a very realistic hope to have that they'll restructure a contract almost immediately after it's handed out and signed.

Why would they make contracts in a particular way if they didn't have plans for them?

 

[leomaz]

Damn.......c'mon man

Why would they make contracts in a particular way if they didn't have plans for them?

You always want to have options. .....why the hell wouldn't you ?

 

[richig07]

Why would they make contracts in a particular way if they didn't have plans for them?

The door was left open, sure. However, these things just don't really happen. Don't expect it, that's all.

 

[anotheridiot]

You also need to realize, when they do this restructuring of the guaranteed money, the player gets a check. It gets pushed on to the following years salary cap, but its immediately money in the players hands, so players have no problems with the restructuring stuff, it finds their bank account quicker than if they waited for it.

 

[63bears40]

The door was left open, sure. However, these things just don't really happen. Don't expect it, that's all.

If you say so.