Matt Birk set to retire on Friday

[black blood purple passion]

I'll be productive and answer my own question.

His retirement frees up 2.05 million, and with Lewis retiring gives back another 4.35. which puts us at a total of approximately 18millionish under the cap. We're going to have to do some trimming and restructuring if we want to sign Flacco, nvm Boldin and Reed.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='black blood purple passion' timestamp='1361543251' post='1364722']
I'll be productive and answer my own question.

His retirement frees up 2.05 million, and with Lewis retiring gives back another 4.35. which puts us at a total of approximately 18millionish under the cap. We're going to have to do some trimming and restructuring if we want to sign Flacco, nvm Boldin and Reed.
[/quote]if we get Joe signed his cap hit will be no more than eight. 10 mill gives us a good stab at Ellerbe, mckinnie and one of reed or Kruger. A couple guys like Williams and maybe leach may need to go though still.

[SecretAgentMan]

Congrats Mr. Birk. You had a great career, and went out as a champ.

I think with Ray and Ed here we took him for granted. Birk was another locker room leader, and a true class act.

You will be missed, not just on the field, but in the locker room

[black blood purple passion]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1361543950' post='1364726']
if we get Joe signed his cap hit will be no more than eight. 10 mill gives us a good stab at Ellerbe, mckinnie and one of reed or Kruger. A couple guys like Williams and maybe leach may need to go though still.
[/quote]

so wait walk me through that because I'm not too educated on how the Cap works. If we sign Joe to a deal in the ball park 18-20 million/year and we're only under by 12 right now. How would Joe's contract only count as 8 against the cap? Is it because only so much of that 18 to 20 will be guaranteed, and the rest will be incentive based?

[redlobster]

Dude made up for last year but I think he is going to have a very rough post retirement with his knee issues

[baltravens]

[quote name='black blood purple passion' timestamp='1361543251' post='1364722']
I'll be productive and answer my own question.

His retirement frees up 2.05 million, and with Lewis retiring gives back another 4.35. which puts us at a total of approximately 18millionish under the cap. We're going to have to do some trimming and restructuring if we want to sign Flacco, nvm Boldin and Reed.
[/quote]
I'm happy for Birk; he redeemed himself this year and helped lead us to a Super Bowl with a great postseason performance. In reference to the cap, I want to make my case for Jacoby Jones because he had more of an overall impact than Kruger. I hope the organization lets veterans who want to restructure contracts do so to remain with the team (a Super Bowl contender).

[Ravenseconbeast]

Also a Waltor Payton man of the year.

He achieved alot of thing on NFL. Glad to have him retire as a Raven and go out as a SB champ

[Gordo52]

He had a great career, I'm glad we were able to send him out a champ!

Centers don't get much respect, and he doesn't really have the resume, but imo I think over his career he played like a HOF. He'll probably never get in though unfortuantly.

[Gordo52]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1361541743' post='1364707']
Now the only questions I have are:

1.) Who's next to retire?
2.) Who will be the depth behind Gino? I expect us to sign a cut vet or draft a guy or both. We won't get a guy high. Quessenberry could be a target to play all OL positions.
[/quote]
1.) I don't think there's anymore from our team.
2.) I hope someone like Cave or maybe sign Gurode on the cheap?


It's Ginos time! I think he'll be ready. Birk has taught him well.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='black blood purple passion' timestamp='1361546983' post='1364764']


so wait walk me through that because I'm not too educated on how the Cap works. If we sign Joe to a deal in the ball park 18-20 million/year and we're only under by 12 right now. How would Joe's contract only count as 8 against the cap? Is it because only so much of that 18 to 20 will be guaranteed, and the rest will be incentive based?
[/quote]depends on the structure you give him. You could give him a two year deal for 40 mil. 8 mil salary year one 32 mil salary year two. so his cap hit is 8 and 32 in year two. That's it on a basic level. His whole contract will hit the cap eventually if he sees it out but you can reduce the cap hit in the early years and then have cap hits of 25 or more in latter years when the cap hit should be higher and you will have four years of players all on very cheap rookie deals due to the new cba probably taking up around 50 percent of the roster thus leaving more cap for vets.

[Ravenslifer]

[quote name='black blood purple passion' timestamp='1361546983' post='1364764']
so wait walk me through that because I'm not too educated on how the Cap works. If we sign Joe to a deal in the ball park 18-20 million/year and we're only under by 12 right now. How would Joe's contract only count as 8 against the cap? Is it because only so much of that 18 to 20 will be guaranteed, and the rest will be incentive based?
[/quote]

No, it's because they'll spread the amount differently over different years to maximize it's benefit i.e. maybe 8 or 9 million in year 1, maybe 12 in year 2, going higher and lower as time goes on. Ray Rice's contract was actually set up the opposite, his deal was 5 for 40, but 30 million comes in the first 2 years, with his numbers in 2014 being 4 million and 2015-2016 being 3 million each. It still averages 8 million per year (40/5), but each year's amount will be different. They'll do the same with Joe, and probably throw in some incentives as well i.e. Rice has 5 million in incentives based on rushing and receiving stats and our overall offensive ranking. That's why Drew Brees, even though he signed a deal worth 20 million a year, only made 10 million this year against the cap, and will make about 11 million next year. Part of the money Brees got was a 37 million dollar signing bonus, part was workout bonuses, and in 2014-2015 Brees will make closer to 20 million per season against the cap.

[Hjulmann]

Good work Matt, hope you get to read these posts somehow to see how much your fans value your presence. Enjoy retirement man, you earned it.

Next man up!

[black blood purple passion]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1361552681' post='1364842']
depends on the structure you give him. You could give him a two year deal for 40 mil. 8 mil salary year one 32 mil salary year two. so his cap hit is 8 and 32 in year two. That's it on a basic level. His whole contract will hit the cap eventually if he sees it out but you can reduce the cap hit in the early years and then have cap hits of 25 or more in latter years when the cap hit should be higher and you will have four years of players all on very cheap rookie deals due to the new cba probably taking up around 50 percent of the roster thus leaving more cap for vets.
[/quote]

Oh I remember Osi having an issue with a front weight contract. He felt like he was being short changed by getting paid something like 5 million a year but the Giants had front loaded his contract to make it easier to handle years down the road. I suppose that could work, but it would put is in an awful pinch down the road.

[berad]

Seeing players pay respect to Birk is a reminder that leadership can also happen behind the scenes. He's one of those unsung guys that can define the character of a team, like a Cory Redding. Hope other guys step up, I'm confident they will.

[JO_75]

Birk had a great career and I was glad to see that he was able to go out a Champion. Hope Birk enjoys retirement.

[B-more Ravor]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1361543950' post='1364726']
if we get Joe signed his cap hit will be no more than eight. 10 mill gives us a good stab at Ellerbe, mckinnie and one of reed or Kruger. A couple guys like Williams and maybe leach may need to go though still.
[/quote]

They are more like $16M under right now (counting the retirements of Ray and Birk). But, that number does not include the 6 RFAs and 10 ERFAs that have to be tendered. Those tenders are going to take a big bite out of that $16M.

So, if Flacco is signed with a 2013 Cap number of around $8M, they really aren't going to have a lot of space to work with (short of other releases/extensions/restructures).

[503_ravens_fan]

matt birk is all class. his work ethic and strong support of the community is amazing.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='B-more Ravor' timestamp='1361567999' post='1365091']


They are more like $16M under right now (counting the retirements of Ray and Birk). But, that number does not include the 6 RFAs and 10 ERFAs that have to be tendered. Those tenders are going to take a big bite out of that $16M.

So, if Flacco is signed with a 2013 Cap number of around $8M, they really aren't going to have a lot of space to work with (short of other releases/extensions/restructures).
[/quote]crap one. Leach and Williams I think are cut. Boldin should be extended and restricted thats easily enough room for ellerbe. Reed I'm not sure on

[Bltravens]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1361573647' post='1365189']
crap one. Leach and Williams I think are cut. Boldin should be extended and restricted thats easily enough room for ellerbe. Reed I'm not sure on
[/quote]
Bobbie or Cary? Thought both had expiring contracts anyways?

[ravens__]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1361574057' post='1365200']

Bobbie or Cary? Thought both had expiring contracts anyways?
[/quote]

I'm assuming he means Bobbie. He's under contract for next year and he would save us like 1.4 million (number might not be completely accurate) if cut.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Bltravens' timestamp='1361574057' post='1365200']

Bobbie or Cary? Thought both had expiring contracts anyways?
[/quote]bobbie

[Bltravens]

[quote name='ravens__' timestamp='1361574388' post='1365206']
I'm assuming he means Bobbie. He's under contract for next year and he would save us like 1.4 million (number might not be completely accurate) if cut.
[/quote]
[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1361574465' post='1365210']
bobbie
[/quote]
Thanks fellas. Ya thats a forgone conclusion that Bobbie is gone I think. Glad for Williams, he toiled for awhile as an elite LG in Cincy with negligible recognition, he has a ring he deserves now its time to go out on top.

[GrimCoconut]

If you cut both Williams & McClain then you can probably get one Ellerbe.

If you restructure or cut Boldin & Leach then you can get one Reed.

That's about all there is to work with here IMO.

[GrimCoconut]

[quote name='B-more Ravor' timestamp='1361567999' post='1365091']


They are more like $16M under right now (counting the retirements of Ray and Birk). But, that number does not include the 6 RFAs and 10 ERFAs that have to be tendered. Those tenders are going to take a big bite out of that $16M.

So, if Flacco is signed with a 2013 Cap number of around $8M, they really aren't going to have a lot of space to work with (short of other releases/extensions/restructures).
[/quote]
I have a question for you since I know you're really good at this cap stuff. What if the Ravens do this:

1.) Cut Bobbie Williams & Jameel McClain
2.) Brendon Ayanbadejo is cut or retires (I think he could retire, I thought I heard Ellerbe let it slip the other day on Vinny & Rob)
3.) Tender Ed Dickson & Ramon Harewood with original round tenders.
4.) Extend Dennis Pitta to a long-term contract with a one-year salary comparable to a 1st round tender. Do the same with Art Jones with him making a 2nd round tender money in 2013.
5.) Do not tender David Reed or Morgan Cox; re-sign both to vet minimum deals.
6.) Flacco gets a salary of 8M in 2013

Tell me how much we would have leftover from that scenario. We tender all ERFAs as well, of course.

[B-more Ravor]

[quote name='GrimCoconut' timestamp='1361584375' post='1365333']
I have a question for you since I know you're really good at this cap stuff. What if the Ravens do this:

1.) Cut Bobbie Williams & Jameel McClain
2.) Brendon Ayanbadejo is cut or retires (I think he could retire, I thought I heard Ellerbe let it slip the other day on Vinny & Rob)
3.) Tender Ed Dickson & Ramon Harewood with original round tenders.
4.) Extend Dennis Pitta to a long-term contract with a one-year salary comparable to a 1st round tender. Do the same with Art Jones with him making a 2nd round tender money in 2013.
5.) Do not tender David Reed or Morgan Cox; re-sign both to vet minimum deals.
6.) Flacco gets a salary of 8M in 2013

Tell me how much we would have leftover from that scenario. We tender all ERFAs as well, of course.
[/quote]

Around $2M if the Cap is set at $121M (rumors now are that it might be as high as $123M).

[CorvusCorax]

Congratulations Matt Birk on a terrific career! We appreciate all your work and contributions on the team! I hope to see you become a future contributor to the NFL.