SALARY CAP dept. ~ ~ ~

[kelly]

It's time for one of our periodic salary-cap updates. With their draft choices under contract, and after an offseason of aggressive spending, the New York Jets have $6.244 million in cap room.They're in a good place, cap-wise, because this gives them flexibility as they approach the season. Bill Parcells used to call this his "fudge" money; it means having enough cap room to handle injuries and sign players -- your own as well as free agents who might unexpectedly become available. Back in 1998, Parcells signed a guy named Vinny Testaverde in the middle of June. Worked out pretty well, I'd say.

 

Currently, the most pressing issue is Muhammad Wilkerson and a potential contract extension. General manager Mike Maccagnan said last week that money has been allocated for Wilkerson. That's a vague statement, but there's no doubt they can fit a new deal under this year's cap. Wilkerson already has a $6.97 million cap charge, and it probably can be reduced by structuring the contract a certain way. The real question is whether the two sides can agree to the main components of an extension, namely the amount of guaranteed money.

 

For those who like looking into the future, here's a sobering thought: The Jets already are $3 million over next year's projected cap. That could impact the decision on whether to use the franchise tag on Wilkerson. The 2015 amount for a defensive end was $14.8 million.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51457/new-york-jets-still-have-6-million-in-cap-space-but-problem-looms

[Sperm Edwards]

Except Parcells didn't sign Testaverde with fudge money. He signed Testaverde with the money he'd just cleared up by cutting O'Donnell 5 minutes earlier. Cimini ought to know this.

[KRL]

To announce the team is over the cap next year is stupid because we have a ton of

players that have no guaranteed $$$ left on their deals.  So being over the cap next

year is irrelevant, for instance if Cro or Brick slip in their games they'll be cut and HUGE

amounts of cap space will open up.  Tell both sides of the story Cimini

[Sperm Edwards]

Jets don't have cap issues in 2016. If they tagged or extended Wilkerson they could cut ties with Coples. I think the option the Jets exercised isn't guaranteed until the option season begins. Plenty of others who are on the roster bubble because of non-guaranteed compensation due.

 

I think some of the extension talks may be over structure more than total. I'd think Maccagnan might be ok with higher guarantees as long as it isn't in the form of signing bonus. This way every year, if we decide Mo is still expendable, he can be traded with zero accelerated dead cap hit. Like the way Revis is now. He's not cuttable next year, due to the guarantees, but (if so desired) he is tradeable, whereby the new team merely assumes all remaining guarantees. Ditto David Harris.

 

This way we can see how things go with Williams (which, given the reports on him, just means make sure he doesn't suffer a life-altering injury), and for Richardson's negotiations when that time comes. If needed, we can (then) still keep Mo, who is happy with tens of millions in guarantees; if not, we can move him and recoup value without suffering a giant hole in that year's cap.

[kelly]

Just win now, baby.

 

Even though new general manager Mike Maccagnan says he wants to achieve long-term success by building through the draft, a sound philosophy, it behooves the New York Jets to win immediately, based on their salary structure.

 

Check it out : The six highest salary-cap charges for 2015 belong to players in the 30-and-over age category. (Darrelle Revis turns 30 in July.) This means close to 40 percent of this year's cap is devoted to players near the end of their prime years or beginning the downside of their careers. It's not alarming because, as you will notice in the list below, no player is older than 31, so we're not talking about the Jurassic Jets. Nevertheless, the list illustrates this team is ripe ... now.

 

In two or three years, many of these players will be gone. That's why it's imperative for Maccagnan to draft well and to secure his top young players (Muhammad Wilkerson, Damon Harrison and Sheldon Richardson) with second contracts. If he fails to build a strong foundation, the Jets will be in big trouble in 2017, when some of the current big-money guys (the ones still around) no longer will be worth their contracts.

 

Here's a look at the top 10 cap charges (opening-day age included) :

 

1. Darrelle Revis (30) -- $16 million

2. D'Brickashaw Ferguson (31) -- $11.7 million

3. Nick Mangold (31) -- $10.4 million

4. Brandon Marshall (31) -- $7.7 million

5. David Harris (31) -- $7.5 million

6. Antonio Cromartie (31) -- $7 million

7. Muhammad Wilkerson (25) -- $7 million

8. Eric Decker (28) -- $6.5 million

9. Breno Giacomini (29) -- $5.1 million

10. Dee Milliner (23) -- $3.5 million

 

Note : In case you're wondering about Leonard Williams, the sixth pick in this year's draft, he's 11th at $3.1 million.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51509/analysis-of-new-york-jets-cap-situation-old-money-at-the-top

[joewilly12]

Breno Giacomini is over paid so is D-Brick 

[kelly]

Breno Giacomini is over paid so is D-Brick 

 

based on their most recent play..yes, they are paid too much.

 i'm hopin' they improve their play this season     

[kelly]

The New York Jets' busy offseason continues as the team recently retooled the contract of veteran wide receiver Brandon Marshall, acquired in a trade this offseason, per a league source. The maximum value of his amended pact is $26 million over the next three seasons, up from $24.3 million, including an additional $1.3 million in full guarantees.Brandon Marshall has 9,771 receiving yards and 63 touchdown catches in nine NFL seasons. 

 

Marshall was scheduled to earn up to $7.7 million this season in the form of a $7.5 million base salary and a $200,000 workout bonus, but his new deal includes a fully guaranteed base salary of $9 million for 2015, though his workout bonus has been eliminated.Marshall's 2016 base salary compensation rose from $7.9 million to $9.5 million, which is guaranteed for injury only. Marshall's 2017 base salary was narrowed from $8.3 million (plus $200,000 more in the form of a workout bonus) to $7.5 million, with a $700,000 de-escalator clause for any Super Bowl victory during the years of the contract.

 

In sum, Marshall's new deal gives him the chance to earn $2.7 million more during the next two years, though he can earn $1 million less in 2017 than previously scheduled.At the time of the trade, March 6, the Jets promised Marshall they’d sweeten his contract, a league source said, but they had to wait until at least May 22 to satisfy a league rule that prohibits re-working a player’s contract twice in a 12-month span. Marshall finalized an extension with the Chicago Bears on May 22, 2014. You may recall he actually signed the documents on live television, while appearing as a guest on “The View.”

 

That explains the timing. As for the rationale, the Jets believed they had to give him a raise because they were in a competitive situation. The Bears gave Marshall permission to talk to other teams, and there were multiple suitors. Therefore, he had some degree of leverage. It’s an unusual tactic, but not unheard of. For instance, the Jets gave new contracts to Thomas Jones and Kris Jenkins after trading for them in 2007 and 2008, respectively.

 

It's the latest in a string of transactions for the Jets, who also acquired quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick and running back Zac Stacy in trades and signed cornerbacks Darrelle Revis, Antonio Cromartie and Buster Skrine in free agency, amid other moves.Marshall, 31, is coming off of a 61-catch season with the Bears in 2014.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51601/jets-retool-contract-of-wide-receiver-brandon-marshall

[32EBoozer]

surprised they didn't free up more cap space with a SB so they could go get Mo signed.... not sure what the strategy is here on MacDaddy's part. 

[JohnnyLV]

surprised they didn't free up more cap space with a SB so they could go get Mo signed.... not sure what the strategy is here on MacDaddy's part. 

 

I just don't think they are resigning Mo this year unless they get a favorable deal. Mac so far has been a pay as you go guy as well. The Marshall deal is insignificant more of a show of good faith to get him than anything. 

[David Harris]

There's money in 2016 to be had in order to pay Mo and Sheldon but it will be about prioritizing. I predict:

Cro get cut- $7mill free, either Dex or Dee steps in as a starter.

Brick gets restructured- a stupid Tanny escalator bumps him up to $14 mill, get him down to $10

And here comes the boom...nick mangold gets cut. You heard it here first, he has no more guaranteed money and I'd much rather pay Mo or Sheldon than a center on the downside. It's a very Cheatriots move but it's the right one.

[32EBoozer]

There's money in 2016 to be had in order to pay Mo and Sheldon but it will be about prioritizing. I predict:

Cro get cut- $7mill free, either Dex or Dee steps in as a starter.

Brick gets restructured- a stupid Tanny escalator bumps him up to $14 mill, get him down to $10

And here comes the boom...nick mangold gets cut. You heard it here first, he has no more guaranteed money and I'd much rather pay Mo or Sheldon than a center on the downside. It's a very Cheatriots move but it's the right one.

I'd much rather cut Brick over Mangold. Brick's talent is waning and Mangold is still playing at an All-Pro level.

Don't forget Gilchrist being cut along with Pace, Cumberland, Breno.

 

We nned the Cap to reach $160 mil

[kelly]

 -- New York Jets defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson, who skipped the voluntary portion of the offseason in the midst of a contract dispute, is poised to return to the team for its mandatory minicamp next week.

 

Wilkerson, addressing his contract situation for the first time since December, said Friday night that he will make a decision over the weekend on whether to attend the minicamp. Nevertheless, there are strong indications he will be there."It's a business; I guess it takes a long time," Wilkerson said of a long-term contract extension. "This is new to me. But, hopefully, something will get done soon."

"I just thought, you work hard on the field and do what you have to do on and off the field, and that's how you're supposed to get rewarded," Muhammad Wilkerson said. 

 

Talks are moving slowly.

 

The Jets say they want to lock up Wilkerson, but the two sides have talked only sporadically. Wilkerson, entering the final year of his contract, is due to make $6.97 million -- the amount of his fifth-year option."I just thought, you work hard on the field and do what you have to do on and off the field, and that's how you're supposed to get rewarded," said Wilkerson, who spoke to reporters at his charity bowling event in his hometown.Wilkerson declined to explain why he has been a no-show for two months. He took a matter-of-fact tone, refusing to acknowledge he's upset. At the same time, he didn't seem particularly optimistic about a new deal.

 

The Jets gained leverage by drafting defensive end Leonard Williams with the sixth overall pick. Wilkerson said he has nothing against Williams, adding, "He was the best available pick. I definitely look forward to working with him and playing with him in the trenches."Wilkerson said he was aware of the trade rumors before and during the draft. He said the prospect of getting trade -- albeit unlikely -- doesn't faze him."Not at all," he said. "If I was to get traded ... of course, I'm a New Jersey guy, I want to be here. But if that's the case, if I were to get traded, there's nothing I can do about it."

 

Wilkerson has been working out with personal trainers in Atlanta and Maryland. He has kept in touch with teammates, going over play and defensive schemes with them. The Jets are installing a new system under coach Todd Bowles.

 

> http://espn.go.com/new-york/nfl/story/_/id/13021847/muhammad-wilkerson-new-york-jets-talks-contract-skipping-part-offseason

[kelly]

Organized team activities (OTAs) are over, but our organized mailbag activity continues. Your New York Jets' questions :

 

@RichCimini: Right now, there's not much reason for optimism. The Jets have the leverage, especially after drafting Leonard Williams, and they're slow-playing their hand -- irking Wilkerson in the process. But let's not forget, he's under contract for 2015, so it's not like he's going anywhere. Could he stage a training-camp holdout? I doubt it. He's one of the two or three best players on the team, but the Jets can simply plug Williams into his spot. There would be a drop-off, but Williams isn't some slappy; he was the sixth overall pick. Plus, there's a $30,000-a-day fine for holding out. Clearly, the two sides will have to compromise to get a deal done by opening day. I'm guessing the Jets would sign up for the Cameron Jordan deal (five years, $55 million), but I think Wilkerson is looking for more. Jordan's contract includes $23 million in fully guaranteed money; Wilkerson can get that over the next two years by not signing anything. His 2015 salary ($7 million) is guaranteed, and he'd get another $15 million or so next year with the franchise tag.

 

@RichCimini: Six? Wow, you're really thinking long term. The bottom line is, they can't afford them all. Damon Harrison could be the first to go because he will be an unrestricted free agent and the going rate for a quality nose tackle is about $4 million a year. It'll be tough to keep him. You can keep Wilkerson in 2016 by using the franchise tag, which probably will be about $15 million. Sheldon Richardson is signed through 2016 -- really 2017, when you add on the fifth-year option. It will be very difficult, but not impossible to give second contracts to Richardson and Wilkerson. Under a salary cap, it's hard to pour that much money into one position. The silver lining, if you could call it that, is they don't have a franchise quarterback to pay -- although I'm sure Mike Maccagnan wishes he did.

 

@RichCimini: Let's start with the Geno Smith situation. It can be perplexing because we're dealing with some semantics. In Todd Bowles' view, Smith is the first-team quarterback, but he's not the starter -- yet. Got that? Bowles' company line is that it's Smith's job to lose and Ryan Fitzpatrick's job to take. I'm calling Smith the presumptive starter because, let's be real, it's highly unlikely he will lose the job in the preseason. At running back, Chris Ivory is the starter ... er, first-team back, to quote a Bowles-ism. In the end, I think it will be a backfield-by-committee because the Jets don't have a true No. 1 at the position. I can see them carrying four backs, with Zac Stacy and Stevan Ridley (when healthy) backing up Ivory and Bilal Powell handling third-down duties.

 

@RichCimini: I don't see that happening because, first of all, I'm not sure Lorenzo Mauldin and Quinton Coples will play the same position. Under Rex Ryan, Coples was the "rush" linebacker, often lining up as a down lineman. I think the plan is to use him in the same role, but that doesn't mean Mauldin will be used in that position. Bowles hasn't specified his plan, but I could see Mauldin playing the "Sam" position -- the strong-outside slot. Currently, that job belongs to Calvin Pace, but we all know he's on his last legs. If I were the Jets, I'd groom Mauldin to take Pace's spot. So, to answer the question, no, I don't see Coples switching to the defensive line.

 

@RichCimini: I don't think the new regime gives a hoot about what happened last year, and it will evaluate Smith based only on what it sees. That said, if the Jets are 1-3 at the bye week, it'll give them a prime opportunity to make a change, starting Fitzpatrick in Week 6 against the Washington Redskins at home. Offensive coordinator Chan Gailey has a lot of confidence in Fitzpatrick, who already knows his system, so I don't think they'd hesitate to make the switch. I think Bowles & Co. want Smith to succeed because they recognize he has a higher ceiling than Fitzpatrick, but if there comes a point where they feel Fitzpatrick can do the job better ... adios, Geno. This isn't a rebuilding year. The team spent too much money in the offseason to kiss off 2015. It'll be interesting to see how Bowles manages his quarterbacks because, as we all know, it wasn't one of Rex Ryan's strong suits.

 

> http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york-jets/post/_/id/51721/jets-mailbag-mo-wilkersons-contract-geno-smiths-job-security-and-rbs-galore