The Pats, A.H. and the cap

[Midnightangel]

Even though the Pats cut Hernandez (and shockingly no one picked him up off waivers), are they still on the hook this year and next for hits against the cap?

 

[Golden Spur]

Even though the Pats cut Hernandez (and shockingly no one picked him up off waivers), are they still on the hook this year and next for hits against the cap?

I believe they take the hit for his signing bonus, and have to do so this year. But there's some type of clause that allows them to appeal that, in special circumstances like this.

 

[JDM]

Supposedly the timing of the release may make that slightly more challenging, but I'm not convinced given the circumstances they can't win the appeal. We'll see. Either way, the immediate release was the best decision.

 

[Midnightangel]

Supposedly the timing of the release may make that slightly more challenging, but I'm not convinced given the circumstances they can't win the appeal. We'll see. Either way, the immediate release was the best decision.

No doubt.

I was reading on NFL.com where they'll still be on the hook for 2M this year and 7M next year and wondered if that was correct.

 

[#1BostonFan]

No doubt.

I was reading on NFL.com where they'll still be on the hook for 2M this year and 7M next year and wondered if that was correct.

I'm hearing something along those lines.

 

[Midnightangel]

I'm hearing something along those lines.

Aaron Hernandez's contract guarantees voided by Patriots - NFL.com

The Boston Globe, which first reported this news, says the Patriots will have a salary-cap hit of $2.55 million for Hernandez next year and $7.5 million in 2014.

So maybe I'm not understanding this....how can they take a hit against the cap if they're not paying him money?

Am I missing something?

 

[JDM]

I think we're just going to have to wait and see what happens. The final outcome of how much they owe him and all that most likely happens after the trial. What is being reported isn't useless, but as this likely will go through an extended appeals process I wouldn't put a massive amount of weight in it just yet.

 

[Golden Spur]

Aaron Hernandez's contract guarantees voided by Patriots - NFL.com

The Boston Globe, which first reported this news, says the Patriots will have a salary-cap hit of $2.55 million for Hernandez next year and $7.5 million in 2014.

So maybe I'm not understanding this....how can they take a hit against the cap if they're not paying him money?

Am I missing something?

NFL Salary Cap Guru

If the team releases the player, the remaining money of the bonus that has not been counted against the team Salary Cap will immediately count against the Cap for that League Year in which the player was released. For example if the player in our example is released after year 2, then the remaining $2 million from the signing bonus, the prorated money for years 3 and 4, counts against the Salary Cap in year 3. This amount is in addition to a player’s negotiated base salary, which is paid by the team and counts against the Cap in a given year.

Bold: that is the signing bonus, generally, though I think there are other incentives which can contribute to the tally. Like I said in my original post, I thought that the whole amount was supposed to go against the team in the year he was released, but it may have something to do with the timing (after June 1, for example).

 

[Midnightangel]

Next question: Does the NFLPA have to represent him? I know he's not in the NFL anymore but the money in dispute was signed for while he was.

 

[JDM]

I would assume they do. The resolution of these types of disputes is most likely very specific in the CBA, and the players union being a part of it is almost definitely included.

There may be a way for them to get out of it, but I'm not sure they do even if they can. It looks worse on them than defending a murderer.

 

[HammerDown]