How is the cap affected by Ray's retirement this offseason?

[gabefergy]

[quote name='wayne' timestamp='1357239086' post='1288274']
Wayne

No one is the same at 30+ as they were in there 20's unless you juicing like Barry Bonds. Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzgy, Jerry Rice........ list goes on and on. Even with his drop off, he's still better than most if not all of the other FS's in the league. Just look at other teams and how they are getting gashed in the secondary. Ed prevents a lot of that from happening to us and he keeps the secondary in check as far as assignments and stuff. With the secondary we have minus Webb, you actually believe that they are performing this good on their on talent? We have a bunch of rejects from other teams that's making up our secondary and while they are performing pretty damn good I won't be foolish enough to believe they are performing at the level that they are un-assisted. I believe Ed has a lot to do with how they are performing.
[/quote]

I agree he is still a very impactful player. He is far from washed up, but he isnt the hands down best safety in football anymore. Younger players like Jairus Byrd, Eric Weddle, Dashon Goldson, Earl Thomas, Reshad Jones, Kam Chancellor etc. Ed Reed isnt the only player playing safety at a high level anymore, in fact many players have surpassed him in terms of all around play.

[B-more Ravor]

[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1357180598' post='1287612']
I looked up the numbers for my first mock off-season, I'll find them again for you.

EDIT:

Got it. Ray Lewis is scheduled to make $7.3 million on that horrible contract Ozzie made for him. His retirement frees up $5.4 million in cap space, with the $1.9 million in guaranteed money still counting against the cap. If nothing else changes, not factoring in Flacco's contract, that puts us at a roughly $101 million cap number while not having enough for a full roster. I'll do some more math for your scenarios, hopefully it will distract me from this Florida debacle.
[/quote]
[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1357181038' post='1287626']
Your numbers are incorrect. I just checked mine with a different source (rotoworld). $5.4 is the correct number that is freed up.
[/quote]

$5.4M is the "cash" that they'll save, but the Cap savings they'll receive is only $4.35M.

What you failed to consider is the bonus prorations that would have counted in 2014 and 2015. Those also count because the accelerate and count in the year the player retires (or is released). That's why the dead money is $2.95M. It's the bonus prorations from 2013 ($1.9M), 2014 ($650K) and 2015 ($400K).

[B-more Ravor]

[quote name='JO_75' timestamp='1357183028' post='1287664']
Like someone said, I think the cap space we save should be enough to go get Jake Long to secure the LT position.
[/quote]

First off, they're not going to have enough Cap space to sign a player of that caliber - at least, without riping the team apart to get there.

Secondly, and more importantly, there's no way that Miami isn't going to re-sign or franchise Long. Teams don't let players of his caliber get away or hit the FA market as a UFA.

[B-more Ravor]

[quote name='T3hRaven' timestamp='1357185342' post='1287711']
I didn't say it was, I said it might have been.

Trading Rice in the off-season is still a good way to address our needs and free up some cap space.
[/quote]

Rice is set to have a Cap number of $5.75M next year.

If he's traded, he'll count $12M because of the bonus acceleration from the $15M signing bonus he received last July.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='B-more Ravor' timestamp='1357240455' post='1288289']
$5.4M is the "cash" that they'll save, but the Cap savings they'll receive is only $4.35M.

What you failed to consider is the bonus prorations that would have counted in 2014 and 2015. Those also count because the accelerate and count in the year the player retires (or is released). That's why the dead money is $2.95M. It's the bonus prorations from 2013 ($1.9M), 2014 ($650K) and 2015 ($400K).
[/quote]
[quote name='B-more Ravor' timestamp='1357241095' post='1288304']
Rice is set to have a Cap number of $5.75M next year.

If he's traded, he'll count $12M because of the bonus acceleration from the $15M signing bonus he received last July.
[/quote]

Thanks for putting the actual numbers out there. I tried to tell people but I dont have the numbers in front of me and am too lazy to look them up

[bauer77]

[quote name='Mr. Irrelevant' timestamp='1357233929' post='1288166']
Swallow
Reat
Now Wallow
[/quote]

Reat! i forgot all about Reat lol

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1357228476' post='1288083']
I agree. Boldin's probably gone; traded, retired, or cut.
[/quote]

You don't think they'd look to maybe extend him and decrease his cap hit that way? He's still only 32, and I think he's got a few more decent years left in him.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1357426011' post='1290570']


You don't think they'd look to maybe extend him and decrease his cap hit that way? He's still only 32, and I think he's got a few more decent years left in him.
[/quote]
No, I don't. First of all, I love Boldin. One of my favorite players. With that said, I want us to pull a BB and sell a player right before he declines. We have Smith, Jones (PR/KR/WR), Williams, Doss, Streeter, Thompson, and we can always draft another one. If we can get a 4th for Boldin then I would trade him. Try a team like Miami or the Bears.

Then again, I won't be mad if Boldin stays. I don't want this to seem like I am bashing Boldin because I am not but some people here can get fiesty when you talk about getting rid of their favorite player. I am not saying Boldin sucks. He's good, adds leadership, and is important. With that said, we won't be able to pay Smith & Boldin and I want to get a look at our other guys. Doss looks pretty good.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1357426891' post='1290596']
No, I don't. First of all, I love Boldin. One of my favorite players. With that said, I want us to pull a BB and sell a player right before he declines. We have Smith, Jones (PR/KR/WR), Williams, Doss, Streeter, Thompson, and we can always draft another one. If we can get a 4th for Boldin then I would trade him. Try a team like Miami or the Bears.

Then again, I won't be mad if Boldin stays. I don't want this to seem like I am bashing Boldin because I am not but some people here can get fiesty when you talk about getting rid of their favorite player. I am not saying Boldin sucks. He's good, adds leadership, and is important. With that said, we won't be able to pay Smith & Boldin and I want to get a look at our other guys. Doss looks pretty good.
[/quote]

I agree on all the points, the only thing I would be concerned about if I was the front office is the experience of the other players on the roster, and would they rather have a crafty veteran like Boldin instead of a young player like Doss or LaQuan starting? The only reason I bring that up is because it seems like that's been their M.O. in the past - Mase, Qadry, Q, Housh, etc.

[gabefergy]

[quote name='Ravenslifer' timestamp='1357427919' post='1290623']
I agree on all the points, the only thing I would be concerned about if I was the front office is the experience of the other players on the roster, and would they rather have a crafty veteran like Boldin instead of a young player like Doss or LaQuan starting? The only reason I bring that up is because it seems like that's been their M.O. in the past - Mase, Qadry, Q, Housh, etc.
[/quote]

I'm sure they would like to have Boldin, but he is due a lot of money for the production he brings. Remember the FO also cut Mase and Heap because the salary cap was tight.

[Kwothdaraven]

Too bad we have no shot at manti te'o to replace ray

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='Kwothdaraven' timestamp='1357434389' post='1290927']
Too bad we have no shot at manti te'o to replace ray
[/quote]
Te'o is a great player and looks like a real replacement for Ray. Unfortunately, you're right. Then again, we have Minter & Brown who can fall to us and they may be able to replace Ray.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='gabefergy' timestamp='1357430580' post='1290736']
I'm sure they would like to have Boldin, but he is due a lot of money for the production he brings. Remember the FO also cut Mase and Heap because the salary cap was tight.
[/quote]

True. If he is cut, then WR has to be much, much higher on our priority list come draft day. I like the guys we have as WRs 3-5, but aside from Torrey there's nobody that's proven they can be a legitimate starter in this league, including Jones.

[flaccopoe]

Assuming Reed retires too, BAL will have a good deal more wiggle room for snatching FAs. Bowe, Jennings and Amendola come to mind...

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='flaccopoe' timestamp='1357447299' post='1291333']
Assuming Reed retires too, BAL will have a good deal more wiggle room for snatching FAs. Bowe, Jennings and Amendola come to mind...
[/quote]
First of all, Reed is an unrestricted free agent and can sign anywhere, meaning he is not currently counting against the cap. Second, the Ravens NEVER go after big-name free agents. In the history of our franchise we haven't gone any after. The only one that comes to mind is Sharpe. I could be wrong, maybe there's another but I mean we just don't make moves like that. Ozzie doesn't do business that way. That's why the people who think we will make a play for Jake Long make me laugh. Of course we will make a play, but he won't take the deal we offer.

We have a more realistic shot at Bushrod than Long, and even Albert is a stretch but is more of a move we would make.

The biggest big-name player we acquired through free agency is Leach. And he plays full back.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1357448736' post='1291348']

First of all, Reed is an unrestricted free agent and can sign anywhere, meaning he is not currently counting against the cap. Second, the Ravens NEVER go after big-name free agents. In the history of our franchise we haven't gone any after. The only one that comes to mind is Sharpe. I could be wrong, maybe there's another but I mean we just don't make moves like that. Ozzie doesn't do business that way. That's why the people who think we will make a play for Jake Long make me laugh. Of course we will make a play, but he won't take the deal we offer.

We have a more realistic shot at Bushrod than Long, and even Albert is a stretch but is more of a move we would make.

The biggest big-name player we acquired through free agency is Leach. And he plays full back.
[/quote]Well Boldin was a pretty big name acquisition... Good ol Bushrod I hope to see him in a ravens uni soon

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='flaccopoe' timestamp='1357447299' post='1291333']
Assuming Reed retires too, BAL will have a good deal more wiggle room for snatching FAs. Bowe, Jennings and Amendola come to mind...
[/quote]no, no we can't. He doesn't count against the cap next year. Hes a free agent.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='Miami Hurricane' timestamp='1357455374' post='1291428']
Well Boldin was a pretty big name acquisition... Good ol Bushrod I hope to see him in a ravens uni soon
[/quote]
Well, Boldin wasn't a free agent. We traded for him.

[The Oakland Cathedral]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1357481728' post='1291519']

Well, Boldin wasn't a free agent. We traded for him.
[/quote]Regardless its still a big name move was the point

[tctony]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1357448736' post='1291348']
First of all, Reed is an unrestricted free agent and can sign anywhere, meaning he is not currently counting against the cap. Second, the Ravens NEVER go after big-name free agents. In the history of our franchise we haven't gone any after. The only one that comes to mind is Sharpe. I could be wrong, maybe there's another but I mean we just don't make moves like that. Ozzie doesn't do business that way. That's why the people who think we will make a play for Jake Long make me laugh. Of course we will make a play, but he won't take the deal we offer.

We have a more realistic shot at Bushrod than Long, and even Albert is a stretch but is more of a move we would make.

The biggest big-name player we acquired through free agency is Leach. And he plays full back.
[/quote]

So we can't ever go out in free agency? Isn't it possible they just didn't like the players available? If Jennings is available and in our price range, we should grab him.

[B-more Ravor]

[quote name='flaccopoe' timestamp='1357447299' post='1291333']
Assuming Reed retires too, BAL will have a good deal more wiggle room for snatching FAs. Bowe, Jennings and Amendola come to mind...
[/quote]

Assuming just a slight increase in the Cap from last year (as reported), whether they have much or any Cap space depends on 2 factors:

1. Will they have to franchise Flacco? If so, they'll have to release a decent amount of guys and/or restructure some deals. If so, they won't have much Cap space to do much else, since the Tag for Flacco is over $14.5M.

2. If they don't have to franchise Flacco, it will depend on how much they want to release players (or restructure) to create Cap space that will be necessary to go out and sign FAs.

As others have said, they usually aren't tremendously active with FAs - other than re-signing their own - so, it's probably unlikely that they will need a lot of Cap space, other than to retain Flacco (and, perhaps, Ellerbe and Kruger).