Salary Cap Will Not Increase in 2012

by PanthersRoar on Dec 19, 2011 4:31 AM EST

According to Charley Casserly, on Sunday's CBS pre-game show, the NFL sent a Grinch like message to all NFL teams last week, that the 2012 salary cap will not increase, or at best only increase very, very slightly. He adds that around 1/4 of all NFL players will be UFA's (Un-Restricted Free Agents) in 2012. This will make for a buyers market for teams that have cap room, driving down players prices, because of less money to go around. Many players may be forced to settle for low price, 1 years contracts, and hope to try again in 2013, when the new TV money kicks in.

This is bad news for the Panthers, because they have the 3rd highest total amount already committed to 2012 salaries ($124 million). This will likely put the Panthers very close to salary cap maximum in 2012. The Panthers will have to work very hard to manage the 2012 salary cap, re-working downward the contracts of their 15 veteran players not on their rookie contracts, or free agents. Some veterans like WLB-Thomas Davis, LG-Trevelle Wharton, and DT Ron Edwards may even be cut, if they don't re-work their contracts, or we may not be able re-work them low enough.

Overlooked by many is that the minimum salary increases around $80-100,000 each year, as do the veteran minimum salaries (until they hit around $910,000 around their 9th year). Also, most veteran players contracts salaries increase each year. So, even if the Panthers sign no free agents, extend no players contracts, and only add the contracts of their draft picks, they may still need a little cap room to keep the ones they want to keep. Add to that, the Panthers have 16 of their own free agents to either re-sign, or let leave. Here they are:

Panther Un-Restricted Free Agents (UFA's):

QB-Derek Anderson - They probably want him back, but maybe at a reduced price.

TE-Jeremy Shockey - They need him back, or someone like him, but may need him to cut his $3 million salary.

WR-Legedu Naanee - His production (40 catches) may have moved him out of the Panthers price range.

RG/C-Geoff Hangartner - The Panthers need him back, but can they afford him?

OG-Mackenzy Bernadeau - I think it's unlikely he'll return, because of his current $1.2 million salary.

MLB-Dan Connor - They will want him back (insurance against Beason's injury), but can they afford him?

DE/OLB-Antwan Applewhite - They will want him back, but the may be outbid for him, 49ers gave him a good deal.

LB-Omar Gaither - The DC may want him back, but a rookie is 1/2 his price.

LB-Jordan Seen (undisclosed contract) - He's played well, and they will want to keep him, but may be ooutbid.

DB-Cletis Gordon - Not needed.

Restricted Free Agents (RFA's):

RG-Geoff Schwartz - They need him back, and his time on IR should keep his price down.

LB-Jason Phillips - They may want him back, and even more if Connor leaves.

LB-Thomas Williams - They probably want him back, if he's fully recovered (neck injury I think).

Exclusive Rights Free Agents (ERFA's):

CB-R. J. Sanford - They should keep him, he runs a 4.44-40, at least for camp, or trade.

DT-Frank Kearse - They will likely want him back, at least through camp.

TE/FB-Richie Brockel - They probably want to keep him, unless they draft a TE or FB.

Until the final roster cuts before the season starts, only the 53 highest salaries count against the salary cap, not all 80 players on the roster.

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Comments

MacBurn gets a $1.2 million salary?

Holy shit…

by aceofsween on Dec 19, 2011 3:03 PM EST reply actions

We don’t know about the bonus situation, and won’t until after the season ends. If they paid everyone’s in full at the beginning then we will be well under the cap.

With a name like Lesbian I have to be awesome!

by Lesbian Montgomery on Dec 19, 2011 3:09 PM EST reply actions

Didn't someone say

They have until the end of this season to pay as much of those bonuses as they’d like and it not count towards next years cap? I figured Hurney did it that way so we could be flexible. Regardless, I’d imagine we’ll see four or five of our guys resigned, a couple solid FA acquisitions & then the rookie contracts and that’d be it.

That cap/bonus thing also kind of confuses me. So, right now the bonuses count against next years cap. If we pay off all of a bonus then it doesn’t count against the cap. So, are bonuses a really easy way around salary caps, or does each bonus paid off count against this years cap? Basically, do the bonuses have to be accounted for somewhere, or are they just accounted for if they are not paid off up front?

"One step at a time"

by mcdonaldwr on Dec 19, 2011 5:02 PM EST up reply actions

Bonuses are the flexible part of the contract

Bonuses can be split up any number of ways. like you daid, usually a team will pay as much bonus as they can right before the year ends so that that part of the bonus wont count towards the next year. Teams can move bonuses around to fit numbers. Bonuses can be paid at any time but they have to be paid. But when a player is cut they get ALL of their bonus money that year.

by pcroadrage on Dec 19, 2011 6:04 PM EST up reply actions

This.

What they have left over on this years cap can be paid to relieve some of next year’s cap. Bonuses are part of the cap but can be divided as the team sees fit. That is my understanding of it when it was announced. What I don’t understand is how can the NFL tell teams the cap won’t be raised next year, I would have thought all of that was already in the new CBA contract.

STICK THE KNIFE IN AND TURN IT!!!!!

by MrBernz on Dec 19, 2011 7:06 PM EST up reply actions

i thought it was supposed to increase a few million a year, basically to match inflation (usually 3-5% per year)

by pcroadrage on Dec 19, 2011 8:40 PM EST up reply actions

The Salary Cap For Each Season Is Only Based On A Percentage Of The Previous Years Total League Income

by PanthersRoar on Dec 19, 2011 11:22 PM EST up reply actions

The Last Report Is Saw (1 Or 2 months Back) Only Had The Panthers Around $1.5 Million Under This Years Salary Cap

Since then some new players have been signed to replace players who have gone on IR (their salaries still count against the salary cap while on IR).

Signing bonuses are paid in full up front, but are equally divided over each season of the contract for salary cap purposes, while performance based bonuses are paid after the end of the season (I’m not sure if they are counted against the present salary cap, or if the contract wording allows then to be paid under the next seasons salary cap), and others like workout bonuses are paid when earned.

Any cap room the Panthers have left this season, will be needed to extend the contracts of their own 2012 free agents, before they actually become free agents when the new league year starts in March, and the 2012 salary cap starts.

That 2011 salary cap room would also be needed to sign any CFL players, who become available on January 2nd. OT Jovan Olafioye (6-6, 325-350, age 24), from NC Central, has started at LT and RT for the Gray Cup Champion BC Lions for 2 seasons, allowed 0 sacks, and was a finalist for the CFL O-Lineman of the Year. He is the hotest CFL prospect since Dolphins pass rushing OLB Cameron Wake a few years back, has already had workouts for the Vikings and Dolphins, and has workouts this week with the Browns, Steelers, and Jets.

by PanthersRoar on Dec 19, 2011 11:49 PM EST up reply actions

I Just Checked & That 2011 Cap Room Story Was Only A Little Over A Month Old & The Panthers Were $1.8 Million Under The Cap

The story list all the teams current amounts under the salary cap, and here’s a link.

profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/11/20/salary-cap-space-as-november-20/related/

by PanthersRoar on Dec 20, 2011 6:09 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, I was afraid of something like this.

We will probably not go and sign anyone relevant in FA (let alone V-Jax or Dwayne Bowe). We might have troubles resigning our own guys i.e. Shockey, Hangartner, Applewhite, etc…

Cam Newton, when a reporter asks him who will win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday: "I'll tell you Sunday."

by Son of a Newton on Dec 19, 2011 4:00 PM EST reply actions