Franchise - Releasing vs Pre-Season Cut

[haleyjr]

Anybody know if there is any difference between releasing a player and cutting him in the preseason? Specifically, do you avoid the salary cap hit by cutting? When you go to release a player, you get a warning about the salary cap penalty in the next off-season, but you get no such message on preseason cut days. Can you avoid the cap hit of getting rid of an overpaid veteran with a big signing bonus by cutting him in the preseason?

[jackntorres]

Good question I am wondering this too

[Calipup]

I think I saw in a post before that cutting the player still brings the penalty, but I'm not sure.

[football5680]

I just tested it.
Control test-Had Giants, released Eli manually without player cut during the preseason then Jason Pierre-Paul during the regular season. End of the year had around a 30mil cap penalty.
Started new one-Released Eli and Pierre Paul during preseason with player cut and the penalty was the same in the offseason. Player cut has no affect on the penalty

[leftshoe18]

I was wondering the same thing. Thanks for the information.

[mercalnd]

That's how it should be. Whether you release, trade or cut a player you still need to get the cap hit for the remaining unamortized portion of that player's guaranteed money.