Would a Ray Rice signing free up additional cap space?

[KillaBirdTJ]

Just as Ngata's signing freed up much needed cap space, if a team signs Rice to a deal (likely after the draft?) how much cap, if any would that free up?

[52520Andrew]

None, we cut him so the dead money counts regardless of what happens with him

[KillaBirdTJ]

None, we cut him so the dead money counts regardless of what happens with him

Got it. I just know some team will take a chance on him before the season starts.  He's a top 5 (easily top 10) rb who was unfairly cut and alienated. He was very quick and explosive last training camp... leading up to the infamous "video tape".

 

Just doesn't seem right that if he signs with say... the Cowboys for example, we still eat his contract?

[Tru11]

yeah even if rice gets a new contract somewhere else our situation wont change.

[salamander]

I am also curious...IF the Ravens wanted Ray Rice back to play this year due to running out of $ filling in all the position needs, we lose Forsett, don't draft a viable rookie starter etc, could or would Rice play under the terms of his contract? Not saying that the Ravens could or should consider this option, just whether it is even possible to have Rice play and honor that contract after letting go of him.

[salamander]

Has anyone heard whether any team has shown interest in or spoken to Ray yet? Also, I heard that there may be some benefit to the Ravens if someone signs Ray which seems to differ from what I read here. I personally have no idea either way but it could be very important to the Ravens if there is some financial impact

[RavensFanMania]

I am also curious...IF the Ravens wanted Ray Rice back to play this year due to running out of $ filling in all the position needs, we lose Forsett, don't draft a viable rookie starter etc, could or would Rice play under the terms of his contract? Not saying that the Ravens could or should consider this option, just whether it is even possible to have Rice play and honor that contract after letting go of him.

no, once a player is cut or traded any dead cap is permanent.  If they resign the player, that player will need a new contract.

[ellicottraven]

Ray Rice has been cut, offered a settlement and his entire salary is entire salary and prorated bonus are all accounted for under this year's cap if I am not mistaken, which is why we have over 20M in dead money.

[salamander]

no, once a player is cut or traded any dead cap is permanent.  If they resign the player, that player will need a new contract.

Makes sense. Thanks

[GrimCoconut]

If only we could've kept Rice for one more year.

[salamander]

Ray Rice has been cut, offered a settlement and his entire salary is entire salary and prorated bonus are all accounted for under this year's cap if I am not mistaken, which is why we have over 20M in dead money.

I would guess that the settlement tied up any loose ends or removed gray areas regarding the initial contract. Dead money is big time bucks. Ow

[redrum52]

Ray Rice has been cut, offered a settlement and his entire salary is entire salary and prorated bonus are all accounted for under this year's cap if I am not mistaken, which is why we have over 20M in dead money.

Ngata accounts for 7.5 I think.

[The Mom Gene]

I always thought that if the player signed another contract with another team, the existing team got relief... BUT in this situation, I'm not sure, because of the wrongful termination thing.

[The Mom Gene]

Ngata accounts for 7.5 I think.

I thought $8.5M. 

 

Edit...  Checked

http://horseshoeheroes.com/2015/02/25/haloti-ngata-reportedly-hit-free-agency-colts-delight/

 

It was $8.5

[redrum52]

I thought $8.5M.

Maybe. I thought he saved us 8.5 on the cap and 7.5 was for the bonuses which we were stuck with.

[52520Andrew]

Maybe. I thought he saved us 8.5 on the cap and 7.5 was for the bonuses which we were stuck with.

 

This is correct

[GrimCoconut]

Ngata is still owed 7.5M in guaranteed money, which is his dead money. He saved us 8.5 on the cap, which was his base as his total salary was 16M.

Rice will not give us any relief here because he was cut.

[Mt. Crushmore]

Nope

[Tiz]

I always thought that if the player signed another contract with another team, the existing team got relief... BUT in this situation, I'm not sure, because of the wrongful termination thing.

Nope guaranteed money always stayed on the books.

[redrum52]

I always thought that if the player signed another contract with another team, the existing team got relief... BUT in this situation, I'm not sure, because of the wrongful termination thing.

Guaranteed money stays with the initial team. Sometimes workouts and some other bonuses are paid by other teams, but depends on the terms of the deal.

[KillaBirdTJ]

I guess that's that. No extra cap relief for us... Rice WILL find a new team this year. He's just too good.

Next year after all of that dead money is resolved, we will the resources to get the right pieces that'll put us over the top.

 

Side note: With 10-12 picks in this years draft, plus we have enough cap space to grab a few key vets in f.a. (FS, TE, WR, DT), not to mention a few moves that could create more room post June 1.

[ellicottraven]

Ngata accounts for 7.5 I think.

Yes. Ngata accounts for 7.5 M of the 20M and Pitta isn't part of it.

[ravensfan520]

Why not sign Rice for a vet minimum 1 year deal since we already are paying him a big chunk and have him teach some rookies. He was a good presence in the locker room until he had a drunken fight with his then fiance. We can draft a good running back like Duke who we can also use as a returner to fill the role lost by Jones... just a thought. Give him a chance and if he plays well he could leave and we get a comp pick for him.

[ellicottraven]

I thought $8.5M. 

 

Edit...  Checked

http://horseshoeheroes.com/2015/02/25/haloti-ngata-reportedly-hit-free-agency-colts-delight/

 

It was $8.5

Dead money was 7.5M and his salary was 8.5M for a total cap hit of 16M. Now we only have the 7.5M dead money for Ngata.

[Mad Puppy]

NO RAY RICE HERE!

 

He is dead to me.

[Mad Puppy]

Trent Richardson released by the Colts. I'd love to bring him in, he will come cheap. I feel there is still something there and a fit in the right offense could turn him around. 

 

 

Me too. I thought I was the only one.

 

 

No freaking way....Richardson is a joke of a RB. He looked scared at times running the ball. Dancing around in the backfield, wincing before the hit, A rookie is better at this point.

[ravenz2752]

I hate dead moneyy

[JoeyFlex5]

I am also curious...IF the Ravens wanted Ray Rice back to play this year due to running out of $ filling in all the position needs, we lose Forsett, don't draft a viable rookie starter etc, could or would Rice play under the terms of his contract? Not saying that the Ravens could or should consider this option, just whether it is even possible to have Rice play and honor that contract after letting go of him.

we already released him so the contract is void. 

 

and the dead money/cap hit he currently brings is the guaranteed money he got when he signed, the cap hits from that guaranteed money was heavy hitting in the final years, but it was guaranteed so it has to be paid.

[salamander]

we already released him so the contract is void. 

 

and the dead money/cap hit he currently brings is the guaranteed money he got when he signed, the cap hits from that guaranteed money was heavy hitting in the final years, but it was guaranteed so it has to be paid.

I couldn't imagine how the contract could still be valid in part or in full since we let him go. Thanks for clearing that up.

[Guest]

Why not sign Rice for a vet minimum 1 year deal since we already are paying him a big chunk and have him teach some rookies. He was a good presence in the locker room until he had a drunken fight with his then fiance. We can draft a good running back like Duke who we can also use as a returner to fill the role lost by Jones... just a thought. Give him a chance and if he plays well he could leave and we get a comp pick for him.

 

I tend to agree with you, but if the team was going to support Ray Rice in that manner they would have done so early on.  There was more reason to retain him than the Cap Dead Money considerations, he'd been a stellar team and community influence for the Ravens.  There's all manner of things they could have done. Counseling, Community Service, including donation of money to education and awareness.

 

When the video broke, my personal belief is that the Ravens felt they could escape Ray's contract based upon a moral turpitude clause, in part because his performance slipped substantially in 2013.  I believe that is likely what occurred because Ray had to sue for the salary he would have earned in 2014.  That lawsuit was settled.

 

The problem is the egos in this thing are massive and they can't turn back even if it's to offset the Dead Money. 

 

Is Ray done?  I'm not so sure about that, but we are fortunate that Forsett seems to have

about filled his shoes.