jarntt
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Articles are written by people that know no more than you or I (and I do know contract Law). They know no more about who are great players or who are great scouts or who are great cap gurus. We all see the same thing and they just regurgitate the same thing they hear from other writers. It's like mock drafts; once one guy rates someone high they all do.
I keep saying it but cap hits are just Math. What you described does not circumvent the cap. The strike year thing is an interesting topic, but the NFL is not going to allow this. They already hit teams with penalties that tried to abuse the "uncapped" year last time. This time they have experience on their side, the precedence of penalties and time to prepare for how to handle it and I'm sure will send specifics to each team beforehand on how they plan to handle it. It just won't happen. There may be some wiggle room but teams won't be allowed to clear huge amounts of cap space. What he may be thinking is with a new CBA the cap will go up and help with those huge salaries he has kicked out into outer years.
Here is what Howie has been great at and probably the best in the league IMO. Trading/getting rid of players. The value he has gotten back for players has been great. He gets rid of them when it benefits the team and while they still have value instead of waiting too long and he passes those contracts on to other teams. He understands that loyalty and continuity isn't that important (or at least not as important as talent) and that structuring a roster is a business. He moves a Bennett and then brings in Malik Jackson because he thinks it's better for his team and gets a pick as well. It has been amazing how much value he as received for certain players and unloading some of these contracts has been good for the cap as well. How the Fuck did he con an NFL team to give him a 2nd round pick for Sam Bradford I'll never understand. But here is the rub. Contrary to what you said they have not been doing this for years. Their contracts were never as backloaded as they are now. Maybe some, but not every single contract like now. Guys like Jackson, Jackson and Graham will be untradeable because of the way they structured their contracts. The cap hit will come due immediately upon trading (or over 2 years if post 6/1). If these guys are good players and still have value he will simply spread the 2021 huge cap hits over the next few years by restructuring exactly how Dallas did. BUT, this just creates a bigger and bigger mountain down the road. Eventually it becomes unsustainable. It's smart with a Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, but not for a team with a Carson Wentz or Pat Mahomes that is looking to be set up as a contender for 10 years, not 3.
