We began the offseason with major salary cap concerns. With one week left before the draft, our front office has righted the ship and we are sailing into 2006 in cruise control. In order to get there, obviously we had to make great sacrifices (ie Mawae, Sowell, Abraham...just to name a few). But now, we're are primed to take anyone we want in the draft, regardless of their salary demands (Bush, Leinart, D'Brickshaw, Mario, etc.). The only team picking ahead of us who's in similar Cap Heaven, is New Orleans. And we already know they're not taking a high-profile/high-priced QB b/c of the Brees signing. Tennessee and Houston? They are in CAP HELL. On paper, I still don't see how the Texans CAN take Reggie Bush or the Titans CAN take Matt Leinart. Therefore, the Jets are in control of this year's draft. And we should be confident that Mannenbaum are already proving themselves as being worthy. If we really want Matt Leinart, and I hope we do...we can probably wheel and deal enough to get him. And such a move will not necessarily break our backs in the event he is another Ryan Leaf or Rick Mirer. It would be unfortunate, but not the end of the world by any means. If the Titans take Leinart and he's a bust...they will be in ruins for years to come (regardless of what they do with the McNair situation). Same for the Texans and Bush. As Jets fans, we should all be looking at the BIG PICTURE. A confident, fearless ship approaching the port of the draft is how we appear to the rest of the NFL today. We are in command. For a change. http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/numbers.asp
I like our team approaching a draft this way, its been a while, but i knew it would get here somehow, and tangini is the how.
How are teams in cap hell when everyone got like a $10M boost to the cap this year? I think only the Broncos and Colts have problems now.
Well, if you actually opened up the link The Lantern provided, you would see... 32 Tennessee Titans $462,300 (under the cap). Unless this is a misprint...they don't even have Top 10 money!!! Even if they deep-six McNair, it appears highly unlikely the Titans can sign a full load of draft picks this year. Perhaps they're actually going to trade the pick and everything else we're hearing is a smoke screen.
The reason why the Titans are up against the cap is the Steve McNair situation. I believe his current cap number is around $20 million. If they cut him (which it looks like will happen), they'll be like 10 mil under.
If the Titans cut McNair, won't they take a HUGE cap hit? Especially if he's to earn $20 million this year. I mean, we were looking at a $12 million cap hit if we cut Chad, right?
When you let Pro Bowl players leave and like every other team are given a get out of jail card thanks to the new CBA you should be well under the cap. The FO still throws nickles around like they are man hole covers and lose every signable free agent. The largest signing bonus they have given since Chad Pennington's new contract is Kimo von Oelhoffen's 3.5 million. They sign nothing but cheap downgrades from what they willingly gave up. There's a reason the Jets have been described as having the poorest collection of players in the NFL. The Patriot model includes signing good players, not just the cheapest. Anyone who thinks they are great signings ought to read the ESPN Insider where Manigini was described by NFL sources as '"player evalautions are not his strong suit". A failed season and the new FO has a lot of explaining to do. A failed season and there is no excuse for not getting rid of them and hiring a professional, experienced and credentialed football executive to oversee the football operation.
For those who have been wondering what rock Badway's been hiding under, he's just resurfaced right here on the Gang Green. You've been exposed Terry!!!
how could I forget that Ellis and Coles were signed without any type of signing bonuses. Isn't there a chiefs board for you to post at?
Not if most of that money is for this year in base salary, which it probably is. The reason why Chad would have given us such a big hit is because of various bonuses and his signing bonus. Regardless, looking at the link...most of the league is in good salary cap shape.
I have faith in this new regime. Mike Tannenbaum is the exact opposite of Terry Bradway and that's fine with me.
