NFC North Cap Thread

[Fritz]

After TT did all his cutting a couple weeks ago, it appears that the Pack is in a pretty good place, cap-wise. There was an article in the JSO that claimed TT has the money to re-sign some upcoming free agents - that it's not a sure thing that Finley will be gone, or Sitton.

So I started wondering how our NFC North Brethren are doing in that regard when I came across this article in the Detroit News:

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110817/SPORTS0101/108170409/Report--Stafford-restructures-contract-to-give-Lions-cap-relief

I'm a bit sketchy on cap matters, but this would seem to me that the Lions are going to have to make a decision about Stafford, like, this year. They've moved some money ahead to gain relief this year, but this seems to make Stafford's contract prohibitive in two years' time. If you look at the numbers, Stafford's restructure means the Lions gain about six mil this year, push some of Stafford's guaranteed money to next year, then have ridiculously high cap numbers for '13, '14 and '15.

I wonder how Da Bears and Vikes are, cap-wise?

[HarveyWallbangers]

The Vikings have little cap room this year. Last I read, they were like $400K under the cap. Not sure about the Bears. Long-term, I can't help you.

[Patler]

I wonder how Da Bears and Vikes are, cap-wise?

See:

http://blogs.greenbaypressgazette.com/blogs/gpg/insider/2011/08/16/packers-have-13-1-million-in-cap-room/

The Packers have about $13.1 million
Chicago has $19.3 million
Detroit has $1.1 million
Minnesota has $390,000

[MadScientist]

As of a few days ago the Bears were 19M under the cap
http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/127500523.html
They can re-sign whoever they want. Wanting whoever the re-sign is another matter.

edit: Patler beat me to it.

[Patler]

See:

http://blogs.greenbaypressgazette.com/blogs/gpg/insider/2011/08/16/packers-have-13-1-million-in-cap-room/

The Packers have about $13.1 million
Chicago has $19.3 million
Detroit has $1.1 million
Minnesota has $390,000

As of a few days ago the Bears were 19M under the cap

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/127500523.html

They can re-sign whoever they want. Wanting whoever the re-sign is another matter.

edit: Patler beat me to it.

Interesting that the numbers for the Packers don't jive between JSO & GBPG. From the JSO article:

Packers $10.757 million
Chicago $19.224 million
Detroit $1.262 million
Minnesota $451,354

[Fritz]

From the big-picture perspective, while the Lions appear to be a much-improved team, they seem a bit tight against the cap and re-structuring Stafford's contract suggests that they will be on a high-wire in the next few years. This does not bode well for them in terms of a long-term strategy of building.

To me, the Vikes are a mess right now, both talent-wise and cap-wise. Unless they gain significant relief with expiring contracts at the end of this year, and have a lot of young players that they're grooming and can pan out, then it looks like Leslie Frazier is just going to be another in a line of coaches who haven't got the upper management skill above them to lead the way.

The Bears have great cap situation this year and probably moving forward, but Jerry D'Angelo has shown that he's not a skilled talent evaluator. To me, Lovie Smith is a magician, making that team as good as it is. But I still think Mike Martz is a mistake for them as an OC - it's a weird mish-mash of players on offense, and ditching Greg Olsen still makes me scratch my head in wonder.

[Guiness]

[snip]
and ditching Greg Olsen still makes me scratch my head in wonder.

I wonder about that as well. He was at least a serviceable player, even if he didn't turn out to be a superstar. I don't see a better TE on the roster.

[Fritz]

Turns out Kyle Vandenbosch restructured his contract, too, so the Leos could sign a couple FA's.

I wonder if this will put them in a hole in a couple years. I hope so!

[pbmax]

PFT is looking at the same list GBPG is.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2011/08/16/updated-cap-space-as-of-august-15/

Updated cap space as of August 15
Posted by Mike Florio on August 16, 2011, 1:12 PM EDT

We unveiled them during today’s PFT Live. We could withhold them so that you’ll watch PFT Live via the on-demand function, but if the fact that the guests included Al Michael, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and the guy who is trying to get Terrelle Pryor into the supplemental draft, which by the way is set for tomorrow, then teasing you with the cap numbers won’t get it done, either.

So here’s the updated cap space, as of Monday, August 15:

Chiefs: $33 million.
Buccaneers: $29 million.
Jaguars: $28.3 million.
Bengals: $25.9 million.
Bills: $24.6 million.
Browns: $24.5 million.
Broncos: $24.4 million.
Bears: $19.3 million.
49ers: $15.6 million.
Seahawks: $15.5 million
Cardinals: $14.6 million.
Packers: $13.1 million.
Redskins: $10.9 million.
Dolphins: $9.6 million.
Jets: $9.4 million.
Patriots: $9.2 million.
Colts: $7.1 million.
Titans: $6.9 million.
Cowboys: $6.6 million.
Giants: $5.5 million.
Raiders: $5.1 million.
Steelers: $4.4 million.
Ravens: $2.8 million.
Chargers: $2.7 million.
Saints: $2.6 million.
Texans: $2.2 million.
Eagles: $2 million
Panthers: $1.7 million.
Lions: $1.1 million.
Falcons: $1.1 million.
Vikings: $380,000.
Rams: $270,000.

[woodbuck27]

He came into the NFL so highly touted and I thought he was gaining some momentum as a develping threat for the Bears and especially so at the beginnng of last season. I was surprized to see him on the Carolina Panthers Roster. I did a double WT heck take on that one Guiness. Then I looked at his numbers:

http://www.nfl.com/player/gregolsen/2495700/profile

He started two less games fr. 2009, last season; and his total yards declined 50%. Overall his numbers declined to 2007-8 status. Somehow he regressed in terms of the development the Bears would have likely expected fr. a player with such star potential.

He 's now with a team that has nowhere to go but up. They may rise together.

GO PACKERS!

[Bossman641]

Not calling you out specifically Fritz, but more than once I've seen Lovie referred to as a great coach/genius/etc. Don't get me wrong, I think he is a fantastic defensive coach. But living near Chicago, watching Bear games, and talking to my friends - he would drive Packers fans nuts. For all the complaints about MM not staying aggressive, Lovie is 1,000 times worse. He is ridiculously stubborn and his clock management is awful.

Bears are talking extension to Forte. He should eat into their cap number some. But honestly, I'm not sure what other young players they have that would command a big cap number.

[Guiness]

So here’s the updated cap space, as of Monday, August 15:

Rams: $270,000.

That number makes me laugh, and further shows why the rookie cap was so badly needed. The were right with Bradford, and he still put them in cap hell. I'm sure there are other problems there, but if he didn't have that $80million+ contract, they'd be in better shape.

Sportsline has a fluff story on how they have the pieces falling into place.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/15447913/rams-have-pieces-in-place-to-build-consistent-winner

Some truth there, but they're certainly not going to do it going into the season with a quarter mil in cap room, not even enough for a vet minimum contract.