NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

[rdub78]

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/17751262/report-nfl-takes-cap-space-from-cowboys-redskins-for-front-loading-deals

The Cowboys are docked 10 million while the Skins are docked a whopping 36 million in cap space.

They can split those figures through 2012 and 2013 though anyway they want.

[N51_rob]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

So long $50 million in cap space and dreams of signing both Carl Nicks and Vincent Jackson. Redskins take one step forward and 4 backwards. Obviously they will split the penalty over 2 years, but why would they be so GD stupid.

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

2010 was an uncapped year, as a result of the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement expiring. The Redskins and Cowboys, despite warnings from the NFL not to do so, front-loaded contracts to create more salary cap room going forward.

CBSSports.com's Mike Freeman has confirmed an earlier report that the NFL has punished them for it, taking away $36 million in cap space from the Redskins and $10 million from the Cowboys because they front-loaded contracts in 2010.

According to Freeman, the NFL warned both teams multiple times about front-loading deals. The news of the cap hits was first reported by ESPN's Adam Schefter.

That money will be spread around to 28 other teams in the NFL, with each team receiving an additional $1.6 million in cap space. The Saints and the Raiders, according to Schefter, do not receive any cap relief, but will not be docked any cap space.

Andrew Brandt of the National Football Post believes that it was the contracts of defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth and cornerback DeAngelo Hall that caused the NFL to punish the Redskins. (Ouch.) Haynesworth got $21 million in 2010, while Hall got $15 million in the uncapped year.

Miles Austin's heavy cap number -- he received a $17 million base salary in 2010 -- resulted in the Cowboys being punished, according to Brandt.

The Redskins had more than $30 million in cap space prior to the punishments, while the Cowboys only had a little less than $5 million in cap space.

As a result of the punishments, it's going to be substantially more difficult for the teams to address their respective needs.

Well that answered my question in the other thread.

Lesson to be learned here(Hope your listening, Saints)when the NFL warns you not to do something, it's in your best interest not to ignore those warnings.

[areobee401]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

This is exactly why I didn't want RG3 to end up in Washington. The franchise is no different than Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus. Always something with the Redskins.

[Hooe]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

Either there was a salary cap or there wasn't. The NFL shouldn't be able to have it both ways.

Are teams who also didn't spend enough to reach the previously-existing salary floor (not a thing in 2010) also going to be punished?

EDIT: Further, wouldn't the NFL not having spending rules, but under-the-table telling teams not to spend much, open them up to a lawsuit for collusion?

[N51_rob]

Either there was a salary cap or there wasn't. The NFL shouldn't be able to have it both ways.

Are teams who also didn't spend enough to reach the previously-existing salary floor (not a thing in 2010) also going to be punished?

EDIT: Further, wouldn't the NFL not having spending rules, but under-the-table telling teams not to spend much, open them up to a lawsuit for collusion?

I feel the same way, but just to lazy to argue. Leave it to Roger Goodell to bring skins and cowboy fans together.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

[kingkilla56]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

This is absurd. How can the NFL have a fantasy salary cap and punish the teams SO heavily afterwards. I understand the warnings and ignoring those warning but this punishment is rough.

Sorry Skins fans, not only did yall lose high draft picks to help RG3 for two years, the NFL decided to make your resurgence that much harder ruining you're significant cap advantage.

And Cowboys fans...tough cookies. Franchising Anthony SPencer makes your team deserve these punishments lol jk.

[p_rushing]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

At first I couldn't think of any way this made since, but after reading it, I see what the league was doing. They told teams to not front load the contract to the uncapped year. Normally teams back load the deal and the NFL wanted to make sure that teams didn't sign guys to deals where the biggest cap hit would be in the uncapped year. That way teams couldn't evade the coming salary cap. The teams could have still gotten around this by signing 1 year deals and then resigning them later for a small amount because they payed up front, but the player and team would both take risks.

[wwharton]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

At first I couldn't think of any way this made since, but after reading it, I see what the league was doing. They told teams to not front load the contract to the uncapped year. Normally teams back load the deal and the NFL wanted to make sure that teams didn't sign guys to deals where the biggest cap hit would be in the uncapped year. That way teams couldn't evade the coming salary cap. The teams could have still gotten around this by signing 1 year deals and then resigning them later for a small amount because they payed up front, but the player and team would both take risks.

My problem with it is that it's like a verbal warning. There were rules to the uncapped year... why not write something in the rules that specifically outlines what can and can't be done, and what the penalties will be? Either way, this isn't a battle either team will win so might as well take it on the chin.

I don't think this changes much for the Skins for this year though. If you can split it "however you want" between the two years then why wouldn't they spend however they want this year and worry about it next year (like they've done so many times in the past anyway)?

[mestevo]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

All over Twitter and other forums Cowboys and Redskins fans revealed they were lawyers today, with claims of collusion and anti-trust, it's amazing and hilarious.

[rdub78]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

I think PackMan said it best. If the NFL warns you about something, your best bet is to listen.

[coogrfan]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

http://sportsblogs.star-telegram.com/cowboys/2012/03/in-an-official-team-statement-defiant-cowboys-say-they-complied-by-league-rules-in-2010.html#storylink=cpy

In an official team statement, defiant Cowboys say they complied by league rules in 2010

Here is a statement from the Cowboys spokesman Rich Dalrymple on the $10 million cap hit imposed by the league for taking advantage of the uncapped year:


"The Dallas Cowboys were in compliance with all league salary cap rules during the uncapped year. We look forward to the start of the free agency period where our commitment to improving our team remains unchanged."

The Cowboys clearly have no regrets and believe they did nothing wrong.
-- Clarence Hill

[loganone]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys



Nope, no cap shenanigans here! Just one big coincidence he gets 41% of his contract in the uncapped year.

[N51_rob]

Nope, no cap shenanigans here! Just one big coincidence he gets 41% of his contract in the uncapped year.

How is/was that any different that what Washington and Dallas did?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

[ProfessaPackMan]

Re: NFL takes cap space from Redskins and Cowboys

The NFL has not yet announced that the Cowboys will lose $10 million in cap space or that the Redskins will lose $36 million in cap space. Or that the money will be reallocated to all other teams except the Raiders and Saints.
But the league has acknowledged generally that an issue in the uncapped year of 2010 has caused the league to do, well, something.
“The Management Council Executive Committee determined that the contract practices of a small number of clubs during the 2010 league year created an unacceptable risk to future competitive balance, particularly in light of the relatively modest salary cap growth projected for the new agreement’s early years,” the league said in a statement forwarded to PFT by spokesman Greg Aiello. “To remedy these effects and preserve competitive balance throughout the league, the parties to the CBA agreed to adjustments to team salary for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. These agreed-upon adjustments were structured in a manner that will not affect the salary cap or player spending on a league-wide basis.”
As previously explained, the NFLPA agreed with the approach, because (according to multiple league sources) the NFL agreed in return to bump up the salary cap from the range of $116 million for 2012 to $120.6 million.
The Cowboys and Redskins contend that they have complied with the cap.
Though a fairly convoluted topic, the matter has generated significant interest because it directly impacts the ability of the Cowboys and Redskins to utilize cap space in 2012 and/or 2013. For the Redskins, who have given up three first-round picks and a second-round pick for the rights to Robert Griffin III (or, possibly, Andrew Luck) need the cap space to sign free agents.
It necessarily will impact the Redskins’ ability to be competitive. And to the extent that the activities in 2010 gave the Cowboys or Redskins a competitive advantage, keep in mind that neither team qualified for the playoffs in 2010 or 2011.

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