Cap Space insanity

[irabowman]

I am going insane trying to figure out cap space. I started a new game and have just finished the 3rd year. I been wanting to try and resign some players at end of season before playoffs begin. I read somewhere that it is wise, so you don't lose a stud QB for example. This is 3rd year in row my game has had me in brackets like (520,000) or (560,000). I have lost almost all my best players end of year 2. Also end of year 1 I showed like 29th with only 12Mill left. Year 2 end I was in 1st with 35K Cap left. Now year 3, 2nd with 29 Mill left. Why am I not being able to sign people and it shows the (520,000) next to the guys I want to sign? Any help appricated.

[wustin]

It means you're over the cap.

[irabowman]

How can a person be over cap when they show 29-35 Million free cap space lol.

[corbes]

Originally Posted by irabowman

I am going insane trying to figure out cap space . . . at end of season before playoffs begin.

As a first impression, that's a confusing time of year to try to deal with cap space.

Originally Posted by irabowman

Why am I not being able to sign people and it shows the (520,000) next to the guys I want to sign?

My suspicion is that this information is telling you something else. The information you need to resign a player is given on the screen where you renegotiate the contract.

[anotheroutlaw]

I think the (520,000) is showing you what you would save if you release the player during the regular season. You can ignore that figure. During the regular season open your roster and click on a player you want to resign. In the bottom left corner will be a button that says "negotiate salary." Click the button to negotiate a new contract for that player. In my limited experience it seems that players will not negotiate new salaries if they signed with your team that season. Rookies and first year free agents have to be renegotiated in the second season or later. So, if you sign a player to a one year contract, you will not be able to resign them before they hit the market.

[garion333]

Originally Posted by anotheroutlaw

If you sign a player to a one year contract, you will not be able to resign them before they hit the market.

Bear with me because this can be confusing.

Rookies through players in their third season who hit free agency the next season will be Restricted Free Agents*. They will have a black icon next to their name in the offseason. This means you have the sole rights to re-sign them in the early Free Agency period (FA1). After the draft they become a true Free Agent with a white icon next to their name and anyone can sign them in late Free Agency (FA2).

Here's what the player guide from FOF2k7 said:

• White Block on color field: Unrestricted free agent. Other teams
may sign this player.
• Black Block on color field: Unsigned, but not enough service to
become a free agent. You still have rights to this player, but he
remains unsigned. At the beginning of training camp, he will
become a free agent if unsigned.

So, if you sign a player who is in their 3rd year in 2015 to a one year deal, they will be a Restricted Free Agent in 2016. You will be the only one who can sign him in FA1.

If you sign a player who is in their 4th year in 2015 to a one year deal, they will be an Unrestricted Free Agent in 2016 and everyone will be able to snag him in free agency.

*Restricted Free Agents are players with four years of experience or less. Meaning they are restricted to your roster the next season as long as their experience years are less than five.