Restructuring Contracts

[Ravenseconbeast]

Steelers are restructing the hell out of their salary cap and it seems like majority of their veterans are all accepting the terms their FO is giving them.

[url="http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/02/report-steelers-restructure-contract-of-lawrence-timmons/"]http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/02/report-steelers-restructure-contract-of-lawrence-timmons/[/url]

Is there any chance we can do the same? Can few players like Ed Reed/Evans/Cundiff/Foxworth(possibly IR?) and few others can do this for us?

[BloodRaven]

I'm all for them keeping their creaky old players.

[SideStep77]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1328806646' post='990306']
Steelers are restructing the hell out of their salary cap and it seems like majority of their veterans are all accepting the terms their FO is giving them.

[url="http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/02/report-steelers-restructure-contract-of-lawrence-timmons/"]http://www.steelersd...wrence-timmons/[/url]

Is there any chance we can do the same? Can few players like Ed Reed/Evans/Cundiff/Foxworth(possibly IR?) and few others can do this for us?
[/quote]

Evans should have his redone, Cundiff maybe, Foxworth is gone though. Ed Reed is fine how he is. Yeah Pitt has their old players now, but it only puts of the inevitable when they all have to be replaced.

[Corvus]

I think most of our guys would be open to restructuring, but in a lot of the examples you listed I don't think it will be relevant. I would be fine with keeping Evans and Foxworth as depth guys if they were to sign new, lesser deals but they'll most likely just be cut. Ed I think in normal circumstances would do so for us, but when you consider he has either 1 or 2 years left on his current contract (I think) and the whole uncertainty of how much longer he is even gonna be able to play with all of his injury concerns, I don't see him volunteering for it, and I don't blame him one bit for cashing in all he is due now.

[BirdWatcher]

To restructure a contract, you basically have to convert 'salary' to signing bonus and then add a year or years to the contract so as to spread out the cap hit. If the Steelers are doing that with their older players, good for us. Players that are only going to play another year or two are not good candidates for this. Evans is a possible, but that means extending him.

[chesapeakeaviator]

We're in better shape than they are. The notion that they were going to pay Timmons and Woodley those kinds of salaries for the production they're currently offering is absolutely insane.

Ed's 7-mil-plus is a bit heavy on the cap, but I think, even in his old age, he's offering that kind of service. No one in their right mind throws deep on us, and when they do (a la T.J. Yates), Ed still puts the game away. Guys like Ray Lewis and Co. are paid about what they should be.

Timmons had a 2012 cap charge of over NINE MILLION according to that article?!?!?! THAT'S how you end up 20 mil over your cap limitations... and I think it clearly shows how much better Ozzie is at this than Kevin Colbert. Not just at finding players, but working out contracts and salaries, too.

[berad]

You have to pay them all at some point, the Steelers reduced Woodley's cap hit for the 2012 season but increased it for every year after that - same with Timmons. You can only do it so much before you run into a brick wall of salary cap.

They've already released a few guys, albeit overpaid scrubs, but they're going to have to do some more.

[gabefergy]

Restructuring is a great way to screw future cap room. It also doesnt work for players at the end of their contracts like Ed, Lee, and Foxy. They could be asked to take less money or maybe extend Ed another year or two. In reality Foxy will likely be released and Lee is 50/50 chance imo.

[GrimCoconut]

Let Fox go. Please. I hope he retires with Ricky Williams. He would save us a lot of money. Let him go work for the NFLPA full-time. He is a shutdown corner there. He won't be a shutdown corner here.

I really like Lee Evans and I believe he will produce well next year. I hope we release him and he signs back with the team for less money.

I hope we actually extend Reed's contract. I don't want that man playing on any other team, and there is a possibility he will be back to win the Super Bowl if we don't win next year. I think Ray & Ed have at least 2 more years in them. I'm sure some will disagree with me, but I firmly believe they do.

[JO_75]

[quote name='berad' timestamp='1328821789' post='990551']
You have to pay them all at some point, the Steelers reduced Woodley's cap hit for the 2012 season but increased it for every year after that - same with Timmons. You can only do it so much before you run into a brick wall of salary cap.

They've already released a few guys, albeit overpaid scrubs, but they're going to have to do some more.
[/quote]

Yeah but don't the Salary Cap go up in 2013?

[Ravens4Real]

[quote name='BloodRaven' timestamp='1328807046' post='990312']
I'm all for them keeping their creaky old players.
[/quote]

Timmons is 25 and Woodley is, I believe, 27-28. I wouldn't call that old.

[JO_75]

Looking at Rotoworld and looking at the salarys for next season, the candidates for restructuring contracts:

- Anquan Boldin: $6 Million
- Dominique Foxworth: $5.6 Million
- Ray Lewis: $4.95 Million
- Ed Reed: $7.2 Million

Foxworth I can see being cut, Ray most likely would agree to restructure his contract and I would love to get Reed's salary down from $7.2 Million even though this is Reed's final year on the deal so maybe we re-sign him to a new contract so we can lower his salary and open up cap room.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1328827067' post='990679']
Looking at Rotoworld and looking at the salarys for next season, the candidates for restructuring contracts:

- Anquan Boldin: $6 Million
- Dominique Foxworth: $5.6 Million
- Ray Lewis: $4.95 Million
- Ed Reed: $7.2 Million

Foxworth I can see being cut, Ray most likely would agree to restructure his contract and I would love to get Reed's salary down from $7.2 Million even though this is Reed's final year on the deal so maybe we re-sign him to a new contract so we can lower his salary and open up cap room.
[/quote]
Not sure Ray restructures but it would be great if he did. He would save us quite a bit of money.

As for Ed, I would really like us to give him a new contract for 2-3yrs. It wouldn't be with a guarantee beyond this year because he's close to retirement, but I see no reason to not keep him if he wants to come back. I really hope we get the man locked up.

[Sizzlebshu]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1328827067' post='990679']
Looking at Rotoworld and looking at the salarys for next season, the candidates for restructuring contracts:

- Anquan Boldin: $6 Million [b](hi i'm the best receiver on the team, not happening)[/b]
- Dominique Foxworth: $5.6 Million[b] (bye bye foxy)[/b]
- Ray Lewis: $4.95 Million [b](ray keeps his pay)[/b]
- Ed Reed: $7.2 Million [b](hes gettin paid so long as he dont retire)[/b]

Foxworth I can see being cut, Ray most likely would agree to restructure his contract and I would love to get Reed's salary down from $7.2 Million even though this is Reed's final year on the deal so maybe we re-sign him to a new contract so we can lower his salary and open up cap room.
[/quote]

The reason the Steelers restructured is because they are about 20 million over the cap. The Ravens FO is pretty good about not mortgaging away its future, so that it doesn't have to worry about restructuring contracts to sign its players.

[CapoRocky]

Scheme and dream. I don't think that restructuring is the answer. We need to cut a few bodies and replace them with younger talent.

[The Raven]

[quote name='Ravens4Real' timestamp='1328826701' post='990674']

Timmons is 25 and Woodley is, I believe, 27-28. I wouldn't call that old.
[/quote]

Thats two of eleven under 30, maybe Cam Heyward would make three if he starts. I would call three starters under 30 old.

[berad]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1328826589' post='990669']

Yeah but don't the Salary Cap go up in 2013?
[/quote]

Yes, indeed, it's even supposed to get raised a little for 2012. But if every contract becomes back-loaded, they'll all come to a head at some point. Re-structuring can work in the short term but, long-term, some fat needs to be cut.

[Ravens4Real]

[quote name='The Raven' timestamp='1328832498' post='990775']

Thats two of eleven under 30, maybe Cam Heyward would make three if he starts. I would call three starters under 30 old.
[/quote]

Ziggy Hood??? William Gay??? Heyward on top of them?? They are probably replacing Casey Hampton and Farrior. But even before Hampton and Farrior they have 4 of 11 under 30. And those four are real young. This upcoming season, sorry fellas, we really can't use the age thing because they are going to be pretty young.

I am not defending them. All I am saying is that they aren't just going to fall off the face of the earth. They have just as much young talent as us on D and probably more on O.

[BloodRaven]

[quote name='Ravens4Real' timestamp='1328826701' post='990674']

Timmons is 25 and Woodley is, I believe, 27-28. I wouldn't call that old.
[/quote]

This helps to prevent them from cutting the older players to stay under the cap.

[B-more Ravor]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1328806646' post='990306']
Steelers are restructing the hell out of their salary cap and it seems like majority of their veterans are all accepting the terms their FO is giving them.

[url="http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/02/report-steelers-restructure-contract-of-lawrence-timmons/"]http://www.steelersd...wrence-timmons/[/url]

Is there any chance we can do the same? Can few players like Ed Reed/Evans/Cundiff/Foxworth(possibly IR?) and few others can do this for us?
[/quote]

Restructing does not often mean "paycut". In most cases, it's just a way of exchanging base salary or a roster bonus - which counts all this year - for a signing bonus - which is prorated over the length of the contract. The player isn't giving up any money, it's just a bookkeeping mechanism that creates cap space for this year, but it comes at the expense of cap space in the future.

There's nothing magnanimous or altruistic about it.

[B-more Ravor]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1328828929' post='990714']
Not sure Ray restructures but it would be great if he did. He would save us quite a bit of money.
[/quote]

Unless you are talking about a straight paycut, restructing Ray is not a very good idea. Yes, they could reduce his base salary and cap number for this year, but it would only raise the amount of dead money they will have to account for in the future when he retires.

[Alexir]

We already don't know if Ed is going to come back so hopefully we don't go up to him asking him to take less. That might be the straw to break the Camel's back.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='B-more Ravor' timestamp='1328844873' post='990893']

Unless you are talking about a straight paycut, restructing Ray is not a very good idea. Yes, they could reduce his base salary and cap number for this year, but it would only raise the amount of dead money they will have to account for in the future when he retires.
[/quote]
That's what I meant. Pay cut. My bad. I doubt he does it, though. I just don't see us asking him to do it. It would have to be voluntary on his part, and I don't see that happening.

[JO_75]

Steelers have cleared $11.7 Million in cap space with the restructuring of Woodley's and Timmons' contracts. Woodley dropped his cap number from $11.5 Million to $4.94 Million freeing up $6.56 Million. Timmons' dropped his from $9.1 to $3.9 Million freeing up $5.14 Million in cap space.

[url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/10/steelers-clear-117-million-with-timmons-woodley-restructurings/"]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/02/10/steelers-clear-117-million-with-timmons-woodley-restructurings/[/url]

[gabefergy]

[quote name='Ravens4Real' timestamp='1328835707' post='990793']

Ziggy Hood??? William Gay??? Heyward on top of them?? They are probably replacing Casey Hampton and Farrior. But even before Hampton and Farrior they have 4 of 11 under 30. And those four are real young. This upcoming season, sorry fellas, we really can't use the age thing because they are going to be pretty young.

I am not defending them. All I am saying is that they aren't just going to fall off the face of the earth. They have just as much young talent as us on D and probably more on O.
[/quote]
So they are replacing their NT and ILB with two DEs and a CB? They have several holes on their defense without legitimate players to fill them currently on their roster. They will have to draft for immediate help this year in their front 7 and their O line is still a mess.

[scrock]

[quote name='Ravenseconbeast' timestamp='1328806646' post='990306']
Steelers are restructing the hell out of their salary cap and it seems like majority of their veterans are all accepting the terms their FO is giving them.

[url="http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/02/report-steelers-restructure-contract-of-lawrence-timmons/"]http://www.steelersd...wrence-timmons/[/url]

Is there any chance we can do the same? Can few players like Ed Reed/Evans/Cundiff/Foxworth(possibly IR?) and few others can do this for us?
[/quote]

Of course, the Ravens are a top organization in this league...the Steelers are asking their players to restructure their deals, that doesn't necessarily mean they are taking pay cuts, the Ravens could rework deals and have the money more on the backend, they could extend a players deal and spread money out over more years, we could ask some veterans who want to stick around to take a pay cut

Ozzie has a plan to get under the cap even more than we already are....

I'd look for Foxworth and Lee Evans to be released and that alone would put us around 15 million under the cap i think...there will probably be some unexpected cuts too...I think we're in pretty good shape

The Steelers HAVE to restructure deals, they were 25 million OVER the cap....with the moves they have made they are still 10 million over

[Bazooka Joe]

The only reason to ask our guys to restructure is if we plan to make a big splash in free agency.

Otherwise there is no need.

[BmoreRavens732]

Am I the only one who thinks casey hampton looks like a fatter version of hines ward? I know im way off topic but just wanted to know

[Ravens4Real]

[url="http://rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5329/mike-wallace"]http://rotoworld.com/player/nfl/5329/mike-wallace[/url]

In three days the Steelers have shaved almost $20 Mill in cap space.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='Bazooka Joe' timestamp='1328903288' post='991470']
The only reason to ask our guys to restructure is if we plan to make a big splash in free agency.

Otherwise there is no need.
[/quote]
Or maybe we want to re-sign our own Free Agents.