Calling Patler

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any clue on how much cap space we're looking at for next year?

i know you have this number somewhere

[Brando19]

I don't know, but it better be enough to sign Jennings to that big long term deal and to go out and get a big player for the DLine.

[Joemailman]

Packers are reportedly 7.4 million under the cap right now. http://packerchatters.com/team_info/salary_cap/

Don't know how they sit for next year. Tauscher is the one high-priced veteran whose contract is up after this year.

[Patler]

any clue on how much cap space we're looking at for next year?

i know you have this number somewhere

I really don't have a good idea at this point. I think it will be quite a bit, because I don't know of anyone with a big escalator next year. Rodgers is taking a big chunk this year, but not nearly as much next year. KGB's salary will be gone, but will have about a $1.5 million bonus hit, I think. Still his cost will be a lot less than in the 2008 cap. Grant will be less. Tauscher's $6 million will be gone. I think Hawk will be down, too, if I remember correctly. They have $7 million to carry forward, or spend on a signing before the end of the season.

I would not be surprised if they will enter the off season with $20+ million in space, but that is just a guess on my part right now.

[imscott72]

When is the potential cap free year? Is that 2010?

[cpk1994]

When is the potential cap free year? Is that 2010?You are correct.

[Patler]

OK, I did a little research. I see the following for the 2009 salary cap:

The following 2008 cap $ (millions) come off the books:
7.7 - KGB
6.3 - Tauscher
2.0 - Franks
1.5 - Cole
1.4 - Favre
0.9 - Manual
2.0 - Misc. dead money from numerous players, (Wynn, Swain, White, Clowney, etc.)
3.5 - - expiring contracts of players like Bush, Bigby, Martin, etc.

$25 million or so from those sources.

Beyond that, Rodgers cap value in 2009 is reported to be $9.6 million, down from $13.9 million in 2008, so that will increase the available cap room by $4.3 million or so.

Looks like Grant will earn the low incentive in his contract for sure (1000 yards) and could get the big one for 1250 yards. He needs 270 yards in his last three games for that. His cap cost in 2009 will be maybe only a little less, and maybe a little more than in 2008.

The Packers probably have about $7 million left in 2008 (after signing Malone, Havner, Porter, etc.) that could get pushed into 2009 if they don't sign anyone between now and the end of the season.

On the "negative" side, they already have about $2 million in dead money against the 2009 cap:
1.6 - KGB
0.2 - Hodge
0.2 - miscellaneous others

Without considering any change in the cap itself, any increases or decreases in the cap hits for other players, and without the tenders required for any RFAs they may have, and without any signings of the players whose contracts expire, it looks like the Packers could easily have $30-35 million in cap space at the start of 2009.

They have a few expiring contracts to deal with after 2008, but 2009 will be more critical in that regard. This year they seem to have Tauscher, Cole, Bigby, Montgomery, Hunter, Martin, Bush, Humphrey and a couple others.

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:)

i knew you would come through