Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Westbrook, Sharper, & the Upgraded Tender

Why would the Eagles announce the termination of Brian Westbrook over a week before actually terminating him?

On Tuesday, the Philadelphia Eagles announced that they will be parting ways with running back Brian Westbrook; it subsequently was reported that Westbrook’s termination would not be official until March 5th, the first day of the 2010 league year. My first thought when hearing this peculiar piece of information was that perhaps the Eagles were trying to avoid a Joey Porter situation.

As you may remember, the Miami Dolphins tried to release Porter, but the transaction was reversed by the NFL Management Council. The Dolphins have $4.1 million in 2009 cap room; the Porter termination would have been considered a 2009 league year transaction. Accordingly, by virtue of being terminated in February, the Dolphins would have had to take on an additional $4.8 million in signing bonus acceleration in 2009. Given their $4.1 million cap room, the February Porter termination would not fit under the cap.

With Joey Porter in mind, I thought that perhaps the Eagles did not have enough cap room to take on the acceleration associated with terminating Westbrook in 2009. However, as I found out, the Eagles currently have $4.2 million in cap room, and by terminating Westbrook, would have incurred $1.5 million in acceleration. So the Eagles clearly could have made the termination effective on Tuesday, but it would appear that the Eagles are potentially looking to use that $4.2 million in cap room for other purposes. Perhaps the Eagles are looking to use that cap space to release other players in 2009 or quite simply would prefer to take on Westbrook’s dead money in 2010 rather than 2009.

Why would the Saints hope that Darren Sharper gets a lucrative contract elsewhere?

It appears Saints safety Darren Sharper will hit the free agent market and will not be precluded by the $6.5 million safety franchise tag. Last offseason, 35-year old Denver safety Brian Dawkins signed a five year contract with $5.8 million in guaranteed money and an average per year of $3.4 million. Just as Dawkins, the 33-year old Sharper has remained a productive and impactful player as he approaches his mid-thirties, so it would be reasonable for him to expect at a minimum a Dawkins-like contract. Not to mention, the Super Bowl premium a team may be willing to pay to rile up the fan base by signing one of the key members of the previous season’s Super Bowl champs.

If Sharper were to leave, then one would expect the “Who Dat” nation to question the prudence of such a departure. However, keep in mind that the Saints, Vikings, Colts, and Jets are the most restricted teams in free agency by virtue of the Final Eight Plan (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/under-cap/2009/under-cap-final-eight-plan ). As part of the Final Eight Plan, the Saints cannot sign a UFA until they lose a UFA, and the first year value of the acquired UFA by the Saints cannot exceed the first year value of Sharper’s contract with his new team. That said, absent a new deal with the Saints, the thought could be that the Saints are hoping a team over-pays for Sharper and in turn the Saints then have a lucrative one-for-one UFA match at their disposal. The newly acquired UFA to replace Sharper does not have to be a safety; it could be a linebacker to possibly replace Scott Fujita or if you’re looking for Malcolm Jenkins to replace Sharper at safety, then the UFA could be used on a UFA such as cornerback Dunta Robinson or Leigh Bodden.

Clarifying the “Upgraded Tender”

We recently discussed the upgraded tender’s impact on restricted free agency (http://www.footballoutsiders.com/under-cap/2010/under-cap-front-office-decisions ). One question that came up regarding the upgraded tender was whether or not all former first and second round restricted free agents of a club must receive at least their respective draft round’s tender if one player on their club receives the upgraded tender. The answer is that, if for example the Redskins tender former sixth-round pick defensive tackle Kedric Golston at the first round level, then the Redskins must tender quarterback Jason Campbell and cornerback Carlos Rogers at a minimum of the first round level if they hope to receive a first round pick in return for a Campbell or Rogers departure via restricted free agency. Under the same scenario in which Golston gets tendered at the first round level, despite the upgraded tender, former second round pick linebacker Rocky McIntosh could be tendered at the original round level and the Redskins could still receive a second round pick for McIntosh. Golston’s upgraded tender of a first round pick only impacts the tendering of the club’s former first round picks. If the Redskins were to extend a second round upgraded tender to another one of their RFAs, then McIntosh would have to be tendered at the second round level.

Regarding undrafted players who are restricted free agents and who receive a tender higher than the low level right of first refusal only tender, the CBA is not clear as to whether or not an undrafted player who receives a second round tender equates to an upgraded tender. The language of the CBA in defining the upgraded tender refers to “Restricted Free Agents originally selected in a draft round lower than the first round.” For example, if the Colts tender undrafted safety Melvin Bullitt at the second round level, then the letter of the CBA says that the club could tender former first round pick Marlin Jackson at the original round level and still receive a first round pick in the event of his departure. The interpretation of this scenario will have to be determined by the league, but the spirit of the rule would seem to indicate that, despite the actual language, the Bullitt tender should be considered an upgraded tender and accordingly Jackson should be tendered at a minimum of the first round tender.

Follow J.I. Halsell on Twitter: @SalaryCap101

Monday, February 15, 2010

Upcoming Front Office Decisions

With the Super Bowl now behind us, everyone in the NFL is 0-0 and it’s that time of year for teams’ front offices to earn their keep. As a former front office guy, this may be my favorite time of the year because this is when you truly build your roster. It’s during this time of the year that you get to implement all the research you did during the course of the year and put into action the plans you made in how you envisioned your team to look as you go into the next season.

In the month of February, you’ve got decisions to make on members of your current team. As we saw with the recent terminations of Antonio Pierce, Torry Holt, and Tra Thomas, it’s during this time of year that you decide to cut bait with veterans who you feel aren’t worth their upcoming salaries. In the case of Antonio Pierce as an example, the Giants did not feel comfortable paying Pierce’s $4.75 million 2010 salary. By keeping him on the roster any longer, you run the risk of Pierce incurring a season ending injury in offseason workouts, at which point you’re stuck paying a $4.75 million salary on a player who may or may not have figured significantly into your plans. Also, by releasing him at this point, you’re allowing him to find work at a time when teams are turning over their rosters, thereby helping him find his next opportunity. In the next few weeks, you’ll see LaDainian Tomlinson more than likely meet the same fate.

In addition to veterans with high salaries, front offices have to decide whether or not to pay players with significant roster bonuses that are set to be earned at the beginning of the 2010 league year (March 5th). Some veterans with interesting roster bonuses due in the early part of the league year are:

UPCOMING 2010 ROSTER BONUSES

Player

Position

Club

Bonus

Date Earned

Lofa Tatupu

LB

SEA

$4,000,000

7th day of league year

Kerry Rhodes

S

NYJ

$2,000,000

7th day of league year

Antrel Rolle

S

ARZ

$4,000,000

Beginning of league year

Jeff Backus

OL

DET

$1,000,000

2nd day of league year

Brian Waters

OL

KC

$1,500,000

10th day of league year

Kareem McKenzie

OL

NYG

$1,000,000

10th day of league year

Thomas Jones

RB

NYJ

$3,000,000

5th day of league year

Lito Sheppard

CB

NYJ

$10,000,000

5th day of league year

Stacy Andrews

OL

PHI

$5,000,000

30th day of league year

Darren Howard

DE

PHI

$1,000,000

15th day of league year

Michael Vick

QB

PHI

$1,500,000

5th day of league year

Jamal Williams

DT

SD

$1,000,000

1st day of league year

Of the above list, the name I find most intriguing is Jets running back Thomas Jones. A lot has been made of the impending departure of safety Kerry Rhodes, but given the playoff productivity of Shonn Greene, I would find it very hard to believe that the Jets will be willing to pay a $3 million roster bonus to Thomas Jones. Jones has been clamoring for a new deal, so I wouldn’t think that Jones would be willing to renegotiate his looming roster bonus and instead would rather be released so that he can try his luck in free agency. Another interesting name on the above list is Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle. Rolle will be 27 years old at the beginning of the 2010 season, and because his free agency would result from the Cardinals terminating his contract instead of it expiring, Rolle would be one of the few unrestricted free agents younger than age 30. Rolle could find himself in a position to earn a lucrative contract that could make him one of the top ten highest paid safeties.

In the month of February, front offices also have to decide at what level to tender their restricted free agents, and as we’ve discussed in previous columns, the tendering of restricted free agents in 2010 takes on even more significance because of the quality of players that are restricted free agents as a result of the uncapped year. For those restricted free agents who are former first round or second round picks, clubs, in deciding what level to tender the player, must keep in mind the rules of the “Upgraded Tender.”

The Upgraded Tender is when a player is tendered at a level higher than the round they were originally drafted. For example, Redskins defensive tackle Kedric Golston is a former sixth round pick and is a restricted free agent. If the Redskins were to tender Golston at the second round level, then Golston has received an Upgraded Tender. This Upgraded Tender then affects the tendering of Redskins linebacker Rocky McIntosh, a former second round pick who is also a restricted free agent. Without the Upgraded Tender, the Redskins could tender McIntosh at the Original Round level and receive a second round pick in return if he were to depart via restricted free agency. However, because of the Upgraded Tender to Golston, the Redskins must tender McIntosh at a minimum of the Second Round level if they want to get a second round pick in return, otherwise, if the Redskins tender McIntosh at the Original Round level, then they would only receive a third round pick in return. The same mechanics apply to former first round picks. Under the same scenario, if they are not tendered at the first round level or higher, then the team will receive a second round pick in return. That said, expect the vast majority of former first and second round draft picks to be tendered at a minimum level of their respective selection round.

In addition to restricted free agent tenders, clubs have until February 25th to decide on placing the franchise tag and/or transition tag on any looming unrestricted free agents. Remember that in the uncapped year clubs may designate a franchise player and a transition player.

So it’s officially front office season, in addition to the items discussed above you’ve got negotiations on extensions with players you’d like to keep long-term and on top of that you’ve got the Scouting Combine at the end of the month. It’s definitely a busy time for front offices, but if you’re fan of roster building, then there’s no better time of year than right now.

Follow J.I. Halsell on Twitter: @SalaryCap101

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Appearance on Washington Post Live, 02.09.10

See the attached link for my appearance on Washington Post Live this past Tuesday; also on the show is former Redskins & Texans GM Charley Casserly. On the show we discuss the Super Bowl, the Saints offseason, Redskins offseason, and the coming uncapped year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzmsKEQc8wA
Video is courtesy of Comcast SportsNet