Last updated on December 19, 2003 9:15 AM EDT
I would like to thank Pats39, Peachhead, Jim S, Chris Matthews "CJ", Ian Logue, Andrew Brecher, Jocelyn Robichaud, Naren99, Ickster, AdamJT13, and Paul Dalrymple. Each of them have in their own way provided invaluable assistance and guidance. Please note that NONE of them are responsible for errors on this page.
NTLBE/LTBE Credit/Debit System Explained - On DenverBroncos.Com there was an interview with Coordinator of Football Administration Mike Bluem. Here's part of the interview
"What is the cap for 2002?
The cap for 2002 is $71,101,000. But for us, it's actually a little bit
more. We got a credit because we were charged more for incentives than were
actually earned. When that happens, the league will net out the difference
and credit the amount to the team for the next season. If a team spends more
than it was charged then the league deducts that amount from the cap the
next year. In our case, the Broncos were charged more in incentives than the
players earned, so we got about a $3.3 million adjustment on our cap this
year. Thus, our salary cap figure for this year is $74, 466,876, which is
the second highest in the league only to Indianapolis.
Explain the credit and debit system against the cap?
Basically there are two types of incentives built into player contracts -
likely to be earned and non-likely to be earned. Likely incentives are based
upon whether or not a player accomplished a feat the previous year. If a
player makes 50 catches one season and he has an incentive that requires him
to make 49 receptions the next season, it is a likely incentive because he
accomplished that the previous season. Likely incentives are charged against
the cap immediately. Non-likely incentives are charged against the cap only
if the player achieves them. If a guy had 50 catches last year and in his
contract this year he has an incentive clause that kicks in if he makes 51
catches, it's a non-likely incentive because he didn't do it the previous
year. At the end of the season you take the likelys that were actually
earned and add to it the non-likelys that were earned. That figure is
subtracted from what you were charged on the cap for the likely incentives.
In our case, we were charged about $3.3 million more than what we actually
had to pay the players and that's why we get a credit on the cap this year."
While the above two paragraphs talked about the Broncos, the Patriots' cap was charged $399,963 in 2003. Is there any wonder why Scott Pioli is a rising star in the NFL??
Joe Andruzzi - From Patriots.Com "As they have in the past, the Patriots rewarded a player for solid production by giving guard Joe Andruzzi a three-year contract extension. According to Tom Curran of the MetroWest Daily News, Andruzzi's extension is worth $3.55 million and includes a $550,000 signing bonus."
Chris Akins - Akins' $530,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Baxter's salary is going to take up only $450,000 of cap space.
Tully Banta-Cain - The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported on 7/21 that "Banta-Cain, a defensive end/ linebacker from Cal, agreed to a four-year deal, but he has an undisclosed injury that may delay his Patriots debut."
July 22 updateFrom ESPN.Com: "Signing bonus: $30,750. Base salaries: $225,000 (2003); $305,000 (2004); $380,000 (2005); $460,000 (2006, includes escalator). Total: four years, $1,400,750. Cap charge: $232,687."
Brooks Barnard -I am presumimg that the the Patriots had signed Wilbert Brown to a minimum salary deal ($225,000/17*14=$52,941) Fred Baxter - Baxter's $655,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Baxter's salary is going to take up only $450,000 of cap space.
Tom Brady - From CBS Sportsline's Signing status of AFC 2000 draft picks. Signing bonus: $110,000. Base salaries: $193,000 (2000); $275,000 (2001); $358,000 (2002). Total: three years, $864,400. While CBS Sportsline lists Brady's signing bonus as $110,000, ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli listed Brady's 2002 cap figure as $399,833, which would mean that his prorated signing bonus is $12,833 since it would be mean that his signing bonus was $38,400, which seems to be the more reasonable number for a 6th-round pick. I remembered recently in a Boston Globe article that Brady had earned about $70,000 in playing-time incentives this year.
May 9, 2002 update - AdamJT13 in a post to the Patriots NG wrote:"Brady's cap number is $432,873. He has a $375,000 base salary, a $12,833 prorated signing bonus, a $5,040 workout bonus and $40,000 in LTBE incentives (which formerly were NLTBE)."
August 29 update - From the Boston Globe - "Brady received $4 million of the bonus when he signed the contract, and that will be added to his $375,000 salary for the season. On the first day of the 2003 season, the Patriots have the right to exercise a $6 million option for the rest of the bonus. The contract runs through the 2006 season, and is structured similarly to Richard Seymour's. He signed a two-tiered bonus last year."
September 2 update - From the Boston Herald - "As part of his five-year, $30.52 million deal, Brady will earn $250,000 for every AFC championship and an additional $250,000 for every Super Bowl win he is the quarterback for.
He won't receive any bonus money for making his second Pro Bowl, but every Pro Bowl selection thereafter will earn him $500,000. An NFL MVP award is also good for $500,000, while an NFL Offensive MVP award will net him $250,000.
Brady received a two-tiered signing bonus worth a total of $9.5 million ($3.5 million this year and $6 million next March). He will keep his $375,000 base salary this year before his salary jumps to $3.1 million in 2003, $5.5 million in 2004, $5.5 million in 2005 and $6 million in 2006.
Brady's cap number is only $1.075 million this season. His cap charge jumps to $5.3 million in 2003, $7.7 million in 2004, $7.7 million in 2005 and $8.7 million in 2006. The high cap numbers later in the deal will likely force a restructuring in a few years."
September 4, 2003 update From ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli - "The contract extension signed by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady last week is worth more than $30 million in so-called "new money" and keeps his salary cap number more than palatable for this season before escalating dramatically in cap value in its later years. According to NFL Players Association documents obtained by ESPN.com, the third-year veteran received a signing bonus of $3.5 million but kept his 2002 base salary at $375,000, the amount negotiated in his initial rookie contract in 2000. His salary cap value for 2002 is just $1.091 million. But after this year the value of Brady's contract, and the cap charges, spiral upward. Brady is due a $6 million option payment next March (March, 2003) to trigger the remainder of the contract. The base salaries for the four-year extension portion of the deal then become $3.125 million (2003), $5.5 million (2004), $5.5 million (2005) and $6 million (2006). The final season also includes $500,000 in incentives. There are workout bonuses of $5,600 each for 2003 and '04 and $6,160 each for '05 and '06. The total "new money" is $30.148 million. ...The future salary cap charges: $5.33 million ('03); $7.705 million ('04); $7.706 million ('05); and $8.706 million ('06). The term "new money" refers to the total value of the contract, minus what Brady was due under his original deal. The per-year average for the extension is a whopping $7.537 million."
March 26, 2003 update It appears that Brady restructured his contract sometime during late March. The Ickster posted on the KFFL forum that "the NFLPA website is now listing his (Brady) base salary at $450K, where it previously was listed at $3.125M. The $2.675M was probably guaranteed and treated as signing bonus, spread at $668.75K per season over the remaining 4 years of his deal. In short, the move clears $2,006,250 of room on the
2003 cap." I would like to thank the Ickster for pointing out Brady's restructure to the rest of the Patriots fan community.
March 27, 2003 update ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "the maneuver further increases Brady's already lofty cap values for the 2004-2006 seasons by about $670,000 each year. The new cap values for those years become roughly $8.374 million each for 2004-05 and $9.374 for 2006".
December 1, 2003 update Brady's 2003 cap number is $3,323,450 ($450,000 base salary,
$2,868,750 signing bonus proration, $4,700 workout bonus) with an additional $500,000 in NLTBE incentives. Brady's 2004 cap number currently is $8,374,350 ($5.5 million base salary, $2,868,750 signing bonus proration and $5,600 workout bonus) with an additional $500,000 in NLTBE incentives. His cap numbers are $8,374,910 for 2005 and $9,374,910 for 2006.
Deion Branch Tom Curran of the Providence Journal provided some details of Branch's contract while quoting Alan Herman, Branch's agent - "We finally worked out the five-year deal with $3 million worth of incentives, which will kick in during the fifth year if he meets the performance levels in his first four seasons."
The incentives are based on receiving yards. Herman wouldn't be specific, but he did say that 900 yards is one of the first plateaus for Branch to hit. With Troy Brown, David Patten and Donald Hayes in the mix at wide receiver and fellow rookie Daniel Graham at tight end, it'll likely be a while before Branch gets enough balls to get 900 yards.
Branch's deal includes $1,025,000 in signing bonus. His salaries are the second-round minimums -- $225,000, $300,000, $380,000, $455,000 and $545,000."
Troy Brown July 28 update - From the Boston Globe "The Patriots and wide receiver Troy Brown have agreed on a restructuring of the 10-year veteran's five-year, $12.5 million deal. Though terms were not available, Brown will get a signing bonus that will put his earnings for this season more in line with the top receivers in the game, while the Patriots get some cap relief.". July 30 update - "Troy Brown's new deal pays him $750,000, with a signing bonus of more than $2 million. Brown is now paid like a No. 1 receiver, after 10 seasons. Some of his incentives have been turned into guaranteed money."
August 13 update - ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli - "It was hardly a blockbuster deal, but ESPN.com has confirmed that the New England Patriots recently tweaked the contract of Troy Brown to get the Pro Bowl wide receiver roughly $800,000 more in compensation for 2002 and to create $567,000 in additional salary cap funds for this season. The club gave Brown, who caught 101 passes in 2001, a signing bonus of $1.9 million but also reduced his base salary from $1.15 million to $650,000, which is now guaranteed. There was some minor bookkeeping done for the 2003 and 2004 seasons, which raised the salary-cap charges for those years by $533,000 and $1.23 million, respectively, but the contract was not extended. Depending on their cap situation, the Patriots might attempt to extend the deal beyond 2004 at some point during the season." My take on what happened - The Pats by guaranteeing Brown's salary are now able to prorate it over 3 years. The Pats also converted $400,000 in roster bonuses and/or incentives into guaranteed money thereby obtaining the ability to prorate that over 3 years.
| Before Restructure | ||
| Salary | 1,150,000 | |
| Prorated Original Signing Bonus | 510,000 | |
| Roster Bonus/LTBE incentives | 600,000 | |
| Offseason Workout Bonus | 55,040 | |
| Total | 2,315,040 | |
| After Restructure | ||
| Salary | 216,667 | (650,000/3) |
| Prorated Original Signing Bonus | 510,000 | |
| Prorated New Bonus | 633,333 | (1,900,000/3) |
| LTBE incentives | 200,000 | |
| Guaranteed Roster/Reporting Bonus | 133,333 | (400,000/3) |
| Offseason Workout Bonus | 55,040 | |
| Total | 1,748,373 | |
The above scenario fits what was written about the restructure by both Len P. and Cafardo.
3/17/03 update - The NFLPA site used to report Troy Brown's salary as $1,750,000. It now reports it as $755,000 so it appears that the Patriots converted $955,000 of Brown's old salary into a signing bonus in order to save $497,500 on the cap.
http://www.nflpa.org/members/playerProfile.asp?ID=19859
December 1, 2003 update Troy's 2003's cap number is $2,451,433 ($755,000 base
salary, $1,640,833 signing bonus proration and $55,600 workout bonus). Troy's 2004's cap number currently is $5,146,434 ($2.25 million base salary, $1,640,833 signing bonus proration, $55,600 workout bonus, $500,000 roster bonus and $700,000 in incentives).
Wilbert Brown -I am presumimg that the the Patriots had signed Wilbert Brown to a minimum salary deal ($375,000/17*14=$308,824)
Ted Bruschi - Details of Bruschi's contract were found on Patriots.Com - "New England reportedly has taken care of one of its potential unrestricted free agents, inking linebacker Tedy Bruschi to a three-year extension worth a reported $4.6 million, according to CBS.sportsline.com....The deal reportedly included a $2 million signing bonus." I'm GUESSING that the deal was actually consummated before the end of the 2001 regular season, which would allow the Pats to prorate the bonus over 4 years.
3/3 update - "Bruschi got a $2 million signing bonus for his three-year extension last January. His cap number this year is $1,522,266 ($850,000 base salary,$666,666 prorated signing bonus and a $5,600 workout bonus).Next year, he has an escalator clause that will raise his base
salary from $1.1 million to $1.75 million if he participated in 58 percent of the snaps in 2002 or
does so in 2003.
Dyshon Carter I found Carter's $300,000 salary on the NFLPA site. NFL Europe players can only make $1,600 in offseason workout money.
Larry Centers - Centers' $755,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Center's salary is going to take up only $450,000 of cap space. Centers was released after the 7th week of the season. He was given an injury settlement. It was reported a couple of times in the Boston Globe that Centers received two more weeks of pay as part of his injury settlement. 450,000/17*9=263,235.
December 9, 2003 update Centers was signed with 3 games left in the season so my present calculation for his cap hit is 450,000/17*12=342,647
Matt Chatham -I am presumimg that the the Patriots had tendered Chatham the lowest RFA tender which provides the Patriots the right to match an offer and, if they don't, they will not receive any compensation as Matt Chatham was not drafted.
April 14th update - The Ickster posted on the Patriots KFFL forum -
"According to the NFLPA site Chatham has signed a 3-Yr contract with base salaries of $450K (2003), $535K (2004) and $540K (2005). Those are all minimum salaries, so Chatham likely received a small signing bonus as well. By signing the 3-Yr extension, Chatham's cap number will likely go down since any bonus will be spread over the contract. He had previously counted for $605K on the Patriot's cap, which was the RFA tender amount. If he received a signing bonus of around $150K (Just a guess) on his 3-Yr deal, his new cap number would only be $500K, a savings of $105K on the cap in 2003. I would like to thank the Ickster for pointing out Chatham's deal to the rest of the Patriots fan community.
August 25, 2003 Further research on this issue has convinced me that Chatham received a $192,000 signing bonus.
Je'rod Cherry - Cherry's $655,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Cherry's salary is going to take up only $450,000 of cap space. According to Pro Football Weekly, $100,000 of Cherry's salary is guaranteed.
Mike Cloud - Cloud's $530,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Cloud's salary is going to take up only $450,000 of cap space. I am pretty sure that Mike Cloud's salary during his four-game suspension will NOT count against the cap (See Julius Peppers and Bretson Buckner in 2002) but I do not know if he counts $450,000 against the cap NOW and the Patriots receive a $26,471 per-game credit as he misses a game or if he counts $344,118 against the cap now. $344,118 is 13 games' worth of salary. If the latter scenario is true, then Cloud's net cap hit would be zero as I suspect that he did not receive a signing bonus. For now, I am going with the first scenario. Please note that I am presuming that Cloud signed a 1-year deal that was eligible for the veteran-exemption treatment. Please note that since Cloud is no longer among the Top 51 list his salary does not count against the salary cap.
Rosevelt Colvin - ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "Although most reports had the Colvin contract as a seven-year, $30 million deal, NFLPA salary documents show it at six years, $25.85 million. Essentially, for a veteran some people felt was the premier player in the unrestricted pool, the Patriots paid only the going rate for a linebacker, a little over $4 million annually. There is a $6 million signing bonus and base salaries of $550,000 (for 2003), $2.1 million (2004), $2.6 million (2005), $3.6 million (2006), $4.6 million (2007) and $5.5 million (2008). There are additional incentives of $300,000 each for the final three years."
Bill Conaty - Conaty's $530,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. On August 26 Bill Conaty was placed on the Injured Reserve List. On August 31 he and the Patriots reached an injury settlement. The amount of the injury settlement counts against the cap. Nick Facardo reported on 9/5 as part of his must-read Ask Nick column
"Q: What exactly does it mean when they say they have reached an injury settlement with a player? -- Bill Wharington, Millis, MA
A: It means they've negotiated how many weeks pay the player should receive based on the extent of his injury. If it's hamstring pull like Bill Conaty, he got two weeks pay." So I am figuring Conaty's cap hit as $52,941 ($450,000/17*2).
Don Davis - From ESPN.Com's John Clayton - "The Patriots reached agreement Friday with Rams linebacker Don Davis on a one-year, $680,000 contract that included a $25,000 signing bonus. Davis started in all three linebacker spots with the Rams and will be used as a backup linebacker and special teams player for the Patriots. Aside from the $25,000 signing bonus, Davis will have some of his base salary guaranteed, signifying that the Patriots believe he will make the roster."
Mike Compton - Details of Compton's contract were found on RealTeam.Com - He got a 3 year deal totaling $3.14 million with a $623,000 signing bonus. I can't recall where I read that he would get a $105,000 workout bonus this year.
September 2 update - From the Boston Herald -"To help create room, the Pats restructured the contract of Compton, guaranteeing a portion of his $1 million base salary. Compton was set to count $1.3 million against the cap; now his charge will be less than $1 million." I am GUESSING that the Pats converted $350,000 of Compton's salary.
September 6 update - From the Boston Globe - "The team has recently tweaked the contracts of Mike Compton, Richard Seymour, and Antowain Smith to guarantee small portions of their base salaries (which prorates the portion of the contract affected and spreads it out over the length of the deal), but those adjustments haven't created major cap space." According to the NFLPA's web site, Compton's salary is now $650,000 so it appears that the Pats did indeed convert $350,000 into a signing bonus, saving $175,000 on Compton's 2002 cap figure while increasing Compton's 2003 cap figure by $175,000.
Rohan Davey ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports the New England Patriots have signed rookie QB Rohan Davey to a four-year, $1.69 million deal that includes a $330,000 signing bonus. He'll have base salaries of $225,000 (2002), $300,000 (2003), $380,000 (2004) and $455,000 (2005)
Travis Dorsch Practice Squad Players make $4,350 a week. Dorsch was on the Patriots practice squad for one week.
Players with Dead Money Cap Hits of less than $10,000Ben Kelly;Ken Kocher - $5,600;Mike Clare, Scott McCready, Shane Stafford, T.C. Taylor - $3,200; Justin Kurpeikis - $8,700;Chad Lee - $500;Travis Dorsch - $4350
Jamin Elliott Practice Squad Players make $4,350 a week. Elliott was on the practice squad for 8 weeks and is scheduled to be on the PS for the last 5 weeks of the season. 4,350*13=56,550. Elliott was on the 53-man roster for 2 weeks of the season. 225000/17*2=26,471. 56,550 + 26,471 = 83,021
Kevin Faulk - Salary cap figures comes from 1999 complete NFL rookie contract details (from CBS Sportsline). "Signing bonus: $1,000,000. Salaries: $280,000 (1999); $250,000 (2000, plus $100,000 roster bonus); $325,000 (2001, plus $95,000 roster bonus); $350,000 (2002, plus $140,000 roster bonus); $375,000 (2003, plus $185,000 roster bonus). Total: five years, $3,100,000."
Chas Gessner Practice Squad Players make $4,350 a week. Gessner was on the PUP list/active roster for 10 weeks. 225,000/17*10=132,252. Gessnert is scheduled to be on the practice squad for the last 7 weeks of the season. 4350*7=30,450. 132,252 + 30,450=162,802.
David Givens Signing bonus: $18,000. Base salaries: $225,000 (2002); and $300,000 (2003). Total: two years, $543,000. Cap value: $234,000.
Brandon Gorin I found Gorin's $375,000 salary on the NFLPA site.
Daniel Graham - Signing bonus: $1,425,000. Base salaries: $800,000 (2002); $1,000,000 (2003); $1,200,000 (2004); $1,400,000 (2005); and $545,000 (2006). Notes: Team can exercise option of $2,775,000 next spring on '06 season. If team exercises option then base salaries are reduced to $300,000 (2003); $450,000 (2004); and $530,000 (2005). Total: five years, $6,825,000. Cap value: $1,085,000.
Jarvis Green I emailed Jarvis' agent, Albert Elias, asking for details on his client's contract. I would like to THANK Albert for responding so quickly and more importantly providing an excellent breakdown of his client's deal. Jarvis received the following deal:"Signing bonus: $245,000. Base salaries: $225,000 (2002); $300,000 (2003); $380,000 (2004) Total: three years, $1,150,000. Jarvis can earn up to $110,000 in incentives. NLTBE incentives - $30,000 (2002);$35,000 (2003);$40,000 (2004). According to Albert, Jarvis "can earn either:
30, 35, or 40 over three years or earn a lump sum of 110,000 w/ 70% playtime over 2 years;it is capped at 110,000. For example, if Jarvis earns his 2002 playtime incentive of 30k and does not earn it in 2003 but earns it in 2004 of 40k he would earn 70k. However, I built an additional "escalator" in the deal that would allow him to earn a one time 110k. So given the above scenario if he hit the 110k pt, he would earn 110K instead of 70K but it is capped at 110K. What this does is to protect him if in one the three years he was injured or did not play."
7/19 Update - From the Providence Journal...he (Jarvis Green) can make $35,000 in incentives in each of the first two years of the deal and $40,000 in the third year if he reaches playing-time incentives (15 percent of defensive plays in the first year; 30 percent in years two and three) and the defense improves in one of three categories. The three categories are total defense net yards allowed (the team was 14th in the AFC and 24th overall last year), average net yards per rush (10 and 21 last year) and average net yards per pass (12th and 19th)."
Bobby Hamilton - Hamilton's cap figure comes from
Michael Felger's article on the 2000 extension of Hamilton's contract as posted by Paul Dalrymle to the Patriots USENET newsgroup. The deal, which includes a $600,000 signing bonus, could be worth around $3 million if Hamilton hits all of his incentives...."Because it's an extension and not a new contract, the team can prorate the signing bonus over four years for salary cap purposes. That means the deal will cost the team just $150,000 against this year's cap." Please note that the 2002 minimum salary for a player with Hamilton's experience is $650,000.
October 5th update - From ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli:
"According to NFL Players Association salary documents, ends Anthony Pleasant and Bobby Hamilton and cornerback Otis Smith, all signed new contracts last week that included modest increases in their respective base salaries for the 2002 season. The adjustments cost the Patriots $860,000 in both cash and cap room. Pleasant and Hamilton received their raises in the form of advances on their new base salaries...Hamilton, an eight-year veteran, had his 2002 base salary increased from $550,000 to $732,143, or an actual $700,000 after proration. His base salary for 2003 was increased from $650,000 to $655,000."
Antwan Harris - From CBS Sportsline's Signing status of AFC 2000 draft picks.CB Antwan Harris (Virginia) -- Signing bonus: $70,000. Base salaries: $193,000 (2000); $275,000 (2001); $358,000 (2002). Total: three years, $896,000. Mike Felger reported that this was actually a four-year deal.
Ronald Harrison - On 3/13 Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote - "Harrison ended up with a six-year deal worth $14.5 million with a $2.5 million signing bonus and a base salary this upcoming season of $655,000, the veteran minimum. That averages out to $2.41 million a year over the life of the contract and leaves Harrison with a cap figure of a little more than $1 million this season after his prorated bonus is added to his base pay."
March 14 update ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "Harrison signed a six-year contract worth $14.45 million, but no one expects him to play more than two or three years of the deal. His signing bonus was $2.5 million and, in the first three years of the package, he will earn $6.655 million."
March 17 update The Boston Herald's Kevin Mannix reported that "Safety Rodney Harrison's deal with the Pats calls for a $2.5 million signing bonus this year as well as $250,000 roster bonuses in 2004 and 2005. His base salaries are $655,000 this year, followed by $1.45 million, $1.55 million, $2.12 million, $2.7 million and $3.8 million."
Donald Hayes - Donald Hayes received a one million dollar signing bonus. On 7/14 the Boston Herald's Mike Felger wrote that Donald Hayes' 2002 cap number was $1.18 million.
December 31 update On 12/31 the Boston Herald's Mike Felger wrote that Hayes "is due a $350,000 roster bonus and a $1.2 million salary in 2003. If Hayes were cut, he would carry a dead money charge of $600,000."
February 17 updateESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "The Patriots will save $1.53 million on their 2003 salary cap by releasing Hayes, who was scheduled to earn a $1.125 million base salary. He was due a roster bonus of $350,000 on March 1 and had an offseason workout bonus of $55,040.New England must still count $600,000, or one-half of the $1.2 million signing bonus it paid Hayes last spring, against this year's cap total."
Russ Hochstein Practice Squad Players make $4,350 a week. Hochstein was on the practice squad for one week so he made $4,350 that week. 16/17ths of a $225,000 salary is $211,765.
Jabari Holloway - From ESPN.Com's Signing status of AFC 2001 draft picks. Signing bonus: $310,000. Base salaries: $209,000 (2001); $298,000 (2002); $389,000 (2003); $418,000 Total: four years, $1,624,000.
Damon Huard - Details of Huard's contract were found on RealTeam.Com - He got a 3 year deal totaling $3 million with a $575,000 signing bonus.
June 17 update - From USAToday.Com Huard actually received a $375,000 signing bonus.
Larry Izzo - Izzo's cap figure comes from CBS Sportsline's article on his signing "Izzo, 26, signed a four-year, $2.183 million contract. It includes a $275,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $477,000 each 2001-2004". Please note that the 2002 minimum salary for a player with Izzo's experience is $525,000.
Bethel Johnson From ESPN.Com - "Johnson received a signing bonus of $1.75 million and base salaries of $274,000 (2003), $342,000 (2004), $410,000 (2005), $478,000 (2006) and $546,000 (2007). There is also an escalator clause that could increase the base salary for 2007 if Johnson reaches some prescribed playing time levels.
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported on 7/21 that "both second rounders, cornerback Eugene Wilson of Illinois and receiver Bethel Johnson of Texas A&M, signed five-year deals. Wilson received a $2 million signing bonus, salaries of $274,000, $342,000, $410,000, $478,000, and $546,000, and the potential of a $3 million payment before his fifth season based on playing time and performance over the first four years. Johnson received a similar deal, except for a slightly lower ($1.75 million) signing bonus."
July 22 update From ESPN.Com - "Signing bonus: $1,750,000. Base salaries: $274,000 (2003); $342,000 (2004); $410,000 (2005); $478,000 (2006); $546,000 (2007, includes escalator). Total: five years, $3,800,000. Cap charge: $624,000."
Ted Johnson - Salary figure comes from using the NFLPA search feature. Cap figure reported in Nick Cafardo's article listing the 2001 cap figures for most of the 2001 roster. According to the Boston Herald here's the cap consequences of releasing TJ in 2001:
"Consider Johnson. His cap number goes to $6.2 million in 2001. If the Pats release him prior to June 1, he'll count even more than that, $7.11 million. If they make Johnson a post-June 1 casualty, the hit computes out to $2.37 million in 2001 and $4.74 million in 2002". Since Ted Johnson agreed to a pay cut for the 2001 season, the amount of unamortized signing bonus left after the 2001 season did not change. Ted Johnson earns a $1 million roster bonus on March 15, 2002.
Before Ted Johnson agreed to a pay cut, the Ickster posted the following:
"TJ's 2002 number is made up of $3.1M in base salary, $1M roster bonus, $2,371,250 in bonus amortization, $100K in workout bonus, $5,600 in workout bonus for participation in program(56 workouts at $100 each).That is a cap number of $6,576,850.".
2/19 Update - According to ESPN's John Clayton, Ted Johnson's 2003 cap number is $6.827 million.
2/27 update - According to ESPN's John Clayton, "the Patriots restructured the contract of middle linebacker Ted Johnson to keep him on the team. At the threat of being released if a deal wasn't reached by 4 p.m. eastern Thursday, Johnson reached a revised three-year, $4.8 million deal that included a $1.4 million signing bonus. Johnson was scheduled to make $4.45 million this year and his cap number was $6.827 million. The new deal lowers his cap number to $3.679 million, a savings of $3.189 million." On 2/28 Nick Cafardo supplemented Clayton's report with "Johnson's cap number went from $6.8 million to $3.679 million. His compensation for the upcoming season was cut in half. Scheduled to earn a $3.35 million salary and $1 million roster bonus tomorrow, Johnson received a $1.4 million signing bonus and a veteran's minimum salary."
3/3 update - Ted Johnson (two-year extension, $1.4 million renegotiation bonus)
Old cap number: $6,827,250
New cap number: $4,843,516 ($800,000 base salary, $2,371,250 old
signing bonus proration, $466,666 new signing bonus proration, $1 million roster bonus due March 14, $5,600 workout bonus and $200,000 in unspecified incentives/other)
3/21 update Was unable to verify the 3/3 update with another source. Not counting the $1,000,000 roster bonus and the $200,000 LTBE incentives helped bring my total for the team closer to the reported figure.
As part of a 9/14 Nick Cafardo article - "Biggest cap jumps for the Patriots next year: Tom Brady, $3.3 million to $8.4 million; Willie McGinest, $2 million to $5.6 million; Troy Brown, $2.4 million to $5.1 million; Rosevelt Colvin, $1.55 million to $3.1 million; Ty Law, $8.8 million to $9.4 million; Rodney Harrison, $1.1 million to $2.1 million; Tyrone Poole, $1.1 million to $1.9 million; Antowain Smith, $2.3 million to $3.9 million; Mike Vrabel, $2.1 million to $3.7 million. One that goes down: Ted Johnson, from $3.6 million to $1.9 million."
Kenyatta Jones - From ESPN.Com's Signing status of AFC 2001 draft picks. Signing bonus: $365,000. Base salaries: $209,000 (2001); $298,000 (2002); $389,000 (2003); $418,000 Total: four years, $1,679,000. I cut and paste the following from a Boston newspaper article - "Jones' deal features playing time incentives and salary escalators, rare elements of a contract for a fourth-round choice. Kenyatta Jones was waived halfway through the 2003 season. I am presumimg that his salary is as follows (375,000/17*8, or 176,471)
Ben Kelly -I am presumimg that the the Patriots had tendered Ben Kelly the lowest RFA tender which provides the Patriots the right to match an offer and, if they don't, they will receive a 3rd round pick because Kelly was chosen in the 3rd round of the 2000 draft
Ethan Kelly From ESPN.Com - "Signing bonus: $21,500. Base salaries: $225,000 (2003); $305,000 (2004); $380,000 (2005). Total: three years, $931,500. Cap charge: $232,167." Practice Squad Players make $4,350 a week.
Brian Kinchen Kinchen was signed on 12/17 and is scheduled to be on the 53-man roster for the last 2 weeks of the season. Kinchen's $755,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. My present calculation for his cap hit is 450,000/17*2=52,941
Kliff Kingsbury On 7/21 the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported that "also in the fold is Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, who signed a three-year deal with a $50,000 bonus and minimum salaries, and seventh-rounder Spencer Nead, a tight end from Brigham Young, who got a $25,000 bonus and a three-year minimum deal.
Dan Klecko From ESPN.Com - "The contract includes a $320,000 signing bonus. The base salaries are $225,000 (2003), $305,000 (2004), $380,000 (2005) and $460,000 (2006). The contract also features an escalator that could increase the 2006 salary based on playing time." Also from ESPN.Com, "in the deals signed this week by New England fourth-rounders Dan Klecko and Asante Samuel, some similar inducements (mechanisms, based on playing time, that would elevate the players' salaries in the fourth season of the contract) are included, with each player able to guarantee larger 2006 base salaries if they achieve certain play time benchmarks. Klecko can boost his 2006 salary from its scheduled $460,000 to one commensurate with the lower restricted free agent qualifying offer by playing 40 percent of the snaps in two seasons. It will escalate to a base salary equal to the middle (or first-round) qualifying offer if he plays 70 percent of the snaps in two of the first three seasons. Samuel has similar safeguards, although his benchmark for the second one is 75 percent of the snaps in two seasons.
Adrian Klemm - From CBS Sportsline's Signing status of AFC 2000 draft picks. Signing bonus: $1,225,000. Base salaries: $300,000 (2000, plus offseason workout bonus of $50,000); $325,000 (2001, plus offseason workout bonus of $50,000); $400,000 (2002, plus offseason workout bonus of $50,000); $475,000 (2003, plus offseason workout bonus of $50,000); $550,000 (2004). Total: five years, $3,475,000.
Tom Knight - From ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli - . "The deal includes base salaries of $825,000 each for 2002 and 2003. There are stipulations that could raise his compensation to $1.3 million this season and $3.1 million next year."
On 7/14 the Boston Herald's Mike Felger wrote that Knight' 2002 cap number was $680,000 so I am figuring that he got a $300,000 signing bonus and that his cap number consists of the following (525,000 in salary, $150,000 prorated signing bonus, $5,040 in offseason workout money.
Dan Koppen - On 7/21 the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported that the "Patriots also signed a four-year deal with fifth-round pick Dan Koppen, a center from Boston College, who received a $115,000 signing bonus to go with minimum salaries of $225,000, $305,000, $380,000, and $460,000. Koppen, the 164th player taken, also will have the opportunity to earn escalators in the first three years of the deal."
July 22 update From ESPN.Com - "Signing bonus: $116,000. Base salaries: $225,000 (2003); $305,000 (2004); $380,000 (2005); $460,000 (2006, includes escalator). Total: four years, $1,486,000. Cap charge: $254,000."
Justin Kurpeikis Practice Squad Players make $4,350 a week.
Ty Law - Cap figures come from the above Pats39's post. "The 2nd-best deal a CB has ever received (behind Deion). Totaling 7 years - $48.1M without Pro Bowl and Super Bowl incentives, which are $250K each, every year. He received a $14.2M signing bonus, which counts for $2M until 2005. The rest of the money breaks down as follows:
1999 - $900,000 salary, a $500,000 reporting bonus, and a $100,000 offseason workout bonus
2000 - $1.4 million salary, plus a $500,000 reporting bonus and $100,000 offseason workout bonus
2001 - $2.4 million salary, $500,000 reporting bonus, and $100,000 workout bonus
2002 - $3.7 million salary with a $1 million reporting bonus and $100,000 workout bonus
2003 - $4.9 million in salary, a $1 million reporting bonus, and a $100,000 workout bonus
2004 - $5.65 million base salary, with a $1 million reporting bonus and $100,000 workout bonus
2005 - $7.75 million salary with a $1 million reporting bonus and a $100,000 workout bonus
Oh yeah, as an added bonus, Law receives the workout bonus even if he doesn't work out with the team. His program doesn't need to be supervised by the team." This year I included the Pro Bowl Bowl incentive of $250,000 as LTBE incentive since Ty Law made the Pro Bowl last year.
May 26, 2002 Update - Nick Cafardo wrote - "Bledsoe's cap hit will be the second-highest on the roster this season. The highest belongs to Ty Law, whose number is $6.84 million."
September 22 Update - The Ickster posted on the Patriots KFFL forum - "It would appear, from the NFLPA listing of his salaries, that Ty Law has restructured. The NFLPA lists his 2002 salary as $650K, where it used to be $3.7M:"
http://nflpa.org/members/playerProfile.asp?ID=22543
The most likely cause of this is that Law has restructured his contract, with the difference in base salary, $3.05M, being treated as bonus and spread over the final 4 years of his contract at $762.5K per season. This frees the Pats about $2.23M in 2002 but makes Law's future bonus amortization, which is already quite large, larger.
March 21 update According to the NFLPA Ty Law's 2002 cap number excluding workout bonus money was $4,710,188. I'm figuring that Law's 2003 cap figure would be the same as that except that I am including $105,600 for his offseason workout bonus money. I also included the increase in salary - $650,000 to $4,900,000 - a $4,250,000 difference. $4,710,188+$5,600+$4,250,000= $8,965,788.
June 11, 2003 update From the Boston Globe - "He (Ty Law) will earn $4.9 million in base salary this season; he'll count $8,806,965 toward the cap..."If there isn't another renegotiation of his original seven-year deal worth nearly $50 million (last year the Patriots guaranteed $2.9 million of his salary and spread it over the remainder of the contract, reducing his salary to $650,000), Law playing elsewhere could be the case very soon. Perhaps by 2004. He is due to earn base salaries of $5.65 million and $8.75 million in 2004 and '05, respectively, when his cap number rises to $9,457,365, then to $12,557,365."
December 1, 2003 update Law's 2003 year's cap number is $8,806,965 ($4.9 million base
salary, $2,701,365 signing bonus proration, $1 million reporting bonus, $100,000 roster bonus and
$105,600 workout bonus), with another $250,000 in NLTBE incentives. Law's 2004 cap number is $9,457,365 ($5.65 million base salary, $2,701,365 signing bonus proration, $1 million reporting bonus and $105,600 workout bonus), with another $500,000 in NLTBE incentives.
Matt Light - From ESPN.Com's Signing status of AFC 2001 draft picks. Signing bonus: $1,305,000. Base salaries: $260,000 (2001); $325,000 (2002); $390,000 (2003); $455,000 (2004). Total: four years, $2,735,000.
Arther Love - From ESPN.Com's Signing status of AFC 2001 draft picks. Signing bonus: $65,000. Base salaries: $209,000 (2001); $298,000 (2002); $389,000 (2003); $418,000 Total: four years, $1,379,000. Practice Squad Players make $4,000 a week.
Rick Lyle - Lyle's $655,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Lyle's salary is going to take up only $450,000 of cap space.
Fred McCrary - The Naples Daily News reported that "McCrary said the deal will pay him slightly more per year than the $725,000 he was slated to make in San Diego in this, the final year of a four-year contract. San Diego released him on Feb. 28." I am guessing that McCrary signed a two year deal with a $300,000 signing bonus and that his salaries will be $530,000 in 2003 and $660,000 in 2004. That would give McCrary $1,490,000 over the two years which averages to be $745,000 average. Given that the Pats were under the cap on the 21st of March by $444,079, his 2003 cap number, $685,600, would allow the Pats to sign him without restructuring another player's deal or releasing a player since the net cap effect would be $385,600 as McCrary would displace the $300,000 salary of Tom Ashworth from the Top 51 list.
March 23 update - Len Pasquarelli reported on ESPN.Com that "McCrary, 30, will sign a two-year contract worth between $1.5 million and $1.7 million".
Shawn Mayer Practice Squad Players make $4,350 a week. Mayer was on the practice squad for 8 weeks. 4,350*8=34,800. Mayer has been on the 53-man roster for 3 weeks and is scheduled to be on the 53-man roster for the last 6 weeks of the season. 225,000/17*9=119,118. 34,800 + 119,118=153,918.
Sean McDermott McDermott was signed on 12/10 and is scheduled to be on the 53-man roster for the last 3 weeks of the season. 375,000/17*3=66,176
Willie McGinest - Salary figure comes from using the NFLPA search feature.
In 2001 McGinest agreed to restructure his contract. Here are the details as found on the Globe:
"The Patriots added two years to McGinest's contract when they renegotiated the deal a few weeks ago. McGinest's five-year, $25 million contract, which included an $8 million signing bonus, was to expire in 2002. Basically the new deal involved four years and $10 million, which reduced the cap number for this year from $7.2 million to $4.44 million. The Patriots took some scheduled roster bonuses that were worth $2 million over the next two years and tied them into a $3.861 million signing bonus and a $477,000 base salary. McGinest's cap number will rise to $8.367 million next year but drop to $5.65 million in 2003. It will be $10 million in 2004." According to a post made by the Ickster, here are the cap consequences of releasing Willie during the 2002 season:
"However, it is a misconception that most (McGinest's cap number) of it is base salary. His base salary is $3.4M in 2002. The remainder is made up by bonus amortization ( a little less than $3.8M), roster bonus ($1M) and workout bonus ($100K).
After next season the Pats are beyond the signing bonus amortization from his original contract, and are only subject to the bonus amortization from the bonus he received on his extension (about $3.4M spread over 6 years). If he were released prior to June 1 of next year he would be a dead money hit of over $6M in 2002. If released after June 1 he would be a dead money hit of about $3.8M in 2002 and $2.3M in 2003.
If McGinest plays well next year the team will likely restructure him again, lowering his cap number to about $6M for 2002. He then would play for the team in 2002 at that number, and would have about $1.15M in bonus amortization per season in the final 4 years of his contract. Starting in 2003, the team would be able to release McGinest without killing their cap if he doesn't perform to his contract.
If McGinest plays poorly this year, then he likely would be released in 2002 with the cap hits I mentioned above." Willie McGinest earns his roster bonus on March 15th.
Added on 3/9 Mike Felger of the Boston Herald on 3/8 -
McGinest was to make about $4.6 million in 2002 in salary and roster bonuses. He basically agreed to cut that figure in half, giving back more than $2 million. McGinest's cap figure, which was to be $8.3 million in 2002, will now be under $6 million."
May 26, 2002 Update - Nick Cafardo wrote - "Bledsoe's cap hit will be the second-highest on the roster this season. The highest belongs to Ty Law, whose number is $6.84 million. Third highest is Willie McGinest at $6.2 million"
November 4, 2002 Update - The Ickster posted that in 2003 Willie is due a $5 million salary and a $5 million roster bonus.
December 14, 2002 Update - The Ickster posted:
We know, from other reports:
Lawyer Milloy - Salary figures comes from using the NFLPA search feature. Contract information came from Pats39's post to the Patriots Usenet newsgroup. "Milloy's deal is actually two different deals. The first part is a 4 year/$15M contract with a $6M signing bonus. The second half is a 3 year/$20M contract with a $2M signing bonus. After the 4th year, the Patriots have an option to void the remaining three years of the deal. If the team does not decide on the option before a certain date prior to the start of free agency, Milloy can decline the option and declare himself a free agent. For cap purposes, the $6M bonus gets spread over the full 7 seasons at about $857K per year. It is a very cap-friendly deal." I am guessing that Milloy will be receiving roster bonuses of 50,000 in 2000;100,000 in 2001, 2002, 2003; 400,000 in 2004, 2005 and 500,000 in 2006. The 50,000 roster bonus helps explain why Milloy's 2001 Cap figure was reported to be $1.36 MM. I am speculating that Milloy also received a $4,800 workout bonus this year and will be receiving the same in future years. Why $4,800. According to CBS Sportsline, Milloy's total compensation for the 2000 season was $6,504,800. $6MM of that figure came from his SB, $450,000 of that figure came from his actual salary. That leaves $54,800 unaccounted for. New as of October 21, 2001 - It appears that Milloy restructured his contract sometime in 2001. For the longest time, the NFLPA player salary search feature listed Milloy's 2001 salary as $1,300,000. It now lists it as $477,000 so it appears that the Patriots converted part of his salary into a signing bonus. The move added $99,064 to Milloy's cap figures for the next 5 years. In one of his pieces after the Super Bowl, ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli wrote that Milloy's 2002 cap figure will be $3.562 million.
September 12, 2002 Update - It appears that Milloy restructured his contract sometime this month. For the longest time, the NFLPA player salary search feature listed Milloy's 2002 salary as $2,500,000. It now lists it as $525,000 so it appears that the Patriots converted $1,975,000 into a signing bonus, saving $1,580,000 on this year's cap while adding $395,000 to Milloy's cap figures for the next 4 years. I would like to thank the Ickster for pointing out Milloy's restructure to the rest of the Patriots fan community.
March 17, 2003 update The Boston Herald's Kevin Mannix wrote: "Why all the speculation about Lawyer Milloy's future in Foxboro? Strictly financial. Milloy restructured his contract a year ago, reducing his salary cap figure to $2.4 million for the 2002 season. This year that jumps to $5.6 million. After that his cap numbers escalate $1 million a year."
July 7, 2003 update According to USA Today, Milloy's 2002 cap number was $1,982,606. This is how I break down that figure:
| 525,000 | - 2002 salary |
| 857,142 | - 2002 proration of the 2000 $6 million signing bonus |
| 100,000 | - roster bonus |
| 6,000 | - offseason workout bonus |
| 99,064 | - 2002 proration of the 2001 restructure |
| 395,000 | - 2002 proration of the 2002 restructure |
| 1,982,606 | - Total |
This is how I break down Milloy's 2003 cap number:
| 4,400,000 | - 2002 salary |
| 857,142 | - 2002 proration of the 2000 $6 million signing bonus |
| 100,000 | - roster bonus |
| 5,600 | - offseason workout bonus |
| 99,064 | - 2002 proration of the 2001 restructure |
| 395,000 | - 2002 proration of the 2002 restructure |
| 5,856,806 | - Total |
Aric Morris - From the Tennesean - His two-year deal includes minimum salaries in 2003 and 2004, along with a $25,000 signing bonus. Bechta said through incentives, including a $75,000 workout bonus and $200,000 in playing-time incentives, Morris could easily make $700,000 per season.
Leonard Myers - From ESPN.Com's Signing status of AFC 2001 draft picks. Signing bonus: $55,000. Base salaries: $209,000 (2001); $298,000 (2002); $389,000 (2003); $418,000 Total: four years, $1,369,000.
Spencer Nead On 7/21 the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported that "also in the fold is Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, who signed a three-year deal with a $50,000 bonus and minimum salaries, and seventh-rounder Spencer Nead, a tight end from Brigham Young, who got a $25,000 bonus and a three-year minimum deal.
July 22 update From ESPN.Com - "Signing bonus: $26,000. Base salaries: $225,000 (2003); $305,000 (2004); $380,000 (2005). Total: three years, $936,000. Cap charge: $233,667."
Patrick Pass -I am presumimg that the the Patriots had signed Pass to a minimum salary deal ($450,000/17*14=$370,588)
David Patten -In September, 2001 the Patriots extended David Patten's one-year deal by 3 years giving him a $1,000,000 signing bonus.
Lonie Paxton - On February 27 Mike Felger of the Boston Herald reported that "the Pats have made Lonie Paxton the highest-paid long snapper in the history of the NFL, signing the restricted free agent to a five-year deal worth more than $3 million."
Roman Phifer - Until further details become available, I am going to presume that Phifer signed a two-year contract (Providence Journal) for the minimum salary for a player with his experience. ESPN.Com's John Clayton - "Patriots coach Bill Belichick likes linebacker Roman Phifer and he showed it with the four-year deal Phifer signed last Friday. The deal primarily, thanks to a $300,000 guarantee in 2003, pays Phifer $2 million for playing this season or more than $4 million if he plays two seasons. Phifer, 34, was one of the many successful free agent finds of the Patriots in 2001 and became a valuable part of the Patriots' Super Bowl defense. Below are the salaries for Phifer according to the NFLPA.http://www.nflpa.org/members/playerProfile.asp?ID=18496
2002 - 750,000
2003 - 1,000,000
2004 - 3,000,000
2005 - 3,000,000
June 30 Update - ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli - "The four-year, $9.27 million contract that linebacker Roman Phifer signed with the New England Patriots last week not only rewards the 11-year veteran for reviving his career in 2001 but likely ensures he will play more than one additional season with the defending Super Bowl champions.
According to NFL Players Association documents, Phifer received a signing bonus of $1 million as part of the new contract. But the contract also guarantees portions of his base salaries in the 2003 and 2004 campaigns, providing an additional $1 million the Patriots would have to pay if they released Phifer after the 2002 season...
In addition to the $1 million signing bonus, Phifer will earn a base salary of $750,000 for 2002 and a workout bonus of $400. His base salary for 2003 is $1 million, with $250,000 of that guaranteed, and he is also due a $500,000 roster bonus next spring. His salaries for 2004 and 2005 are $3 million each, and if he is still playing then, those numbers probably will be renegotiated.
Notable, though, is that Phifer is guaranteed $750,000 of his salary in 2004. In essence, including his 2002 base salary, Phifer is guaranteed $2.75 million in the deal, not bad for a veteran who only last spring wasn't sure if he would play again.
Anthony Pleasant -Details of Pleasant's contract were found on RealTeam.Com - He got a 3 year deal ($4.7 million total) with a $200,000 signing bonus. He is due a $2,500,000 salary in 2003.
October 5th update - From ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli:
"According to NFL Players Association salary documents, ends Anthony Pleasant and Bobby Hamilton and cornerback Otis Smith, all signed new contracts last week that included modest increases in their respective base salaries for the 2002 season. The adjustments cost the Patriots $860,000 in both cash and cap room. Pleasant and Hamilton received their raises in the form of advances on their new base salaries. A 13-year NFL veteran, Pleasant increased his base salary from $750,000 to $1.187 million. Because the deal was signed in-season, the base salary was prorated to $1.111 million. The increase of $360,000 bumped Pleasant's cap number by a like amount, to $1.504 million. There were no other changes to the contract of the 34-year-old Pleasant."
December 28th updateFrom the Boston Herald:
"Veteran defensive end Anthony Pleasant held an extra-long list of ticket requests in his hands and a sheepish grin on his face yesterday in the locker room. Could tomorrow be Pleasant's final game?
If the 34-year-old, 13-year veteran was thinking retirement, he wasn't letting on. In fact, Pleasant said his fate was in the Pats' hands.
``I'm just thinking about Sunday right now,'' he said. ``Whatever has been planned for next year has already been planned. We'll find out in February.''
That's when Pleasant is due a $500,000 roster bonus to kick in the final year of his contract, which calls for a $2.5 million base salary in 2003. Both figures will be too high for the Pats' blood, meaning if Pleasant is asked back, it will likely be for something near the minimum. Then the ball will be back in Pleasant's court."
2/19 Update - According to ESPN's John Clayton, Anthony Pleasant's 2003 cap number is $6.827 million.
3/3 update Anthony Pleasant (contract not extended, no signing
bonus)
Old cap number: $3,079,932
New cap number: $1,079,932 ($950,000 base salary -- of which $195,000 was paid as a guaranteed salary advance and another $55,000 is also guaranteed -- $66,666 old signing bonus proration,
$55,600 workout bonus and $7,666 from a prorated salary advance of $23,000 paid in 2001). To clarify Pleasant's base salary -- it's listed as $755,000 at NFLPA.org. He got an additional $195,00 paid as a guaranteed salary advance, for a total base salary of $950,000. Normally, the guaranteed advance would be prorated, but he's in the final year of his contract. He also has another $55,000 guaranteed, for a total of $250,000 guaranteed.
Tyrone Poole It has been reported that Poole was signed to a four year $8.024 million deal that included a $1.8 million signing bonus. From a 9/14 Nick Cafardo article -
"Biggest cap jumps for the Patriots next year:....Tyrone Poole, $1.1 million to $1.9 million..."
Tim Provost Practice Squad Players make $4,350 a week.
J.R. Redmond - From CBS Sportsline's Signing status of AFC 2000 draft picks. Signing bonus: $300,000. Base salaries: $193,000 (2000); $275,000 (2001); $358,000 (2002); $385,000 (2003). Total: four years, $1,511,000. Redmond received a $300,000 signing bonus and about $170,000 in roster bonuses. Redmond must make the team the first three years of the contract in order to receive those bonuses. He must also complete 80 percent of the team's 48 offseason workouts to keep the signing bonus. If he doesn't, he must pay back any prorated share. Redmond will earn the minimum salaries for the next 4 years. The fourth year also contains incentives that appear to be worth more than $120,000. I list Redmond with a $521,600 cap figure because 146,600 was the difference between his 2001 cap figure and his 2001 salary. I am figuring that the difference will continue onto 2002.
Greg Robinson-Randall - From CBS Sportsline's Signing status of AFC 2000 draft picks. Signing bonus: $255,000. Base salaries: $193,000 (2000); $275,000 (2001); $358,000 (2002); $385,000 (2003). Total: four years, $1,466,000.
Asante Samuel From ESPN.Com - "The former Central Florida standout signed a four-year contract with a signing bonus of $312,500 and the same base salaries as Klecko
received ($225,000 - 2003; $305,000 - 2004; $380,000- 2005; $460,000 - 2006). His contract also includes an escalator clause that could boost his 2006 base salary if he reaches some predetermined playing time levels." Also from ESPN.Com, "in the deals signed this week by New England fourth-rounders Dan Klecko and Asante Samuel, some similar inducements (mechanisms, based on playing time, that would elevate the players' salaries in the fourth season of the contract) are included, with each player able to guarantee larger 2006 base salaries if they achieve certain play time benchmarks. Klecko can boost his 2006 salary from its scheduled $460,000 to one commensurate with the lower restricted free agent qualifying offer by playing 40 percent of the snaps in two seasons. It will escalate to a base salary equal to the middle (or first-round) qualifying offer if he plays 70 percent of the snaps in two of the first three seasons. Samuel has similar safeguards, although his benchmark for the second one is 75 percent of the snaps in two seasons.
Jace Sayler - The Ickster recently posted this about Sayler:
Granted, that is all 2nd-hand info, but what else do
we have to go on?"
Richard Seymour - From ESPN.Com's Signing status of AFC 2001 draft picks. "Signing bonus: $4,800,000. Base salaries: $1,200,000 (2001); $820,000 (2002, plus $3,200,000 option payment); $980,000 (2003); $960,000 (2004); $1,120,000 (2005); $1,220,000 (2006). Total: six years, $14,300,000. Base salaries for the first three seasons are guaranteed." "The 6-foot-6-inch, 299-pound defensive lineman from Georgia can make another $10 million in escalator clauses, but he would have be a Reggie White -type player to earn that over the life of the contract."
Antowain Smith - While the exact details of the Antowain Smith's contract have not been revealed, Michael Felger of the Boston Herald reported that "As for Smith, his deal was reported to be for a total of $21 million, including a $5 million signing bonus. However, there were indications last night that those numbers were inaccurate.Smith's signing bonus is likely tiered, meaning he'll receive some of the money now and have the rest tied to an option bonus that would come due later in the deal. The salary cap number for Smith in the first few years of the contract are thought to be below $3 million a year". Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported that "The Patriots offered Smith a fair market contract. There were no discounts, just a deal that was fair for everyone. The Patriots distributed the signing bonus over a few payments so not all of it counts against the cap this year." ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "Seems the contract tailback Antowain Smith signed Friday to remain with the New England Patriots, rather than test his value in the free agent market, is worth considerably less than reported. The five-year deal was trumpeted as a $21 million contract with a signing bonus of $5 million. The actual signing bonus is $3 million, and while the contract is indeed for five years, its structure makes it more like a three-year pact worth about $2.75 million annually. About the only way Smith would ever collect $21 million, Patriots sources said, is if he goes to the Pro Bowl all five years and reaches every incentive in the package." Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported on 3/4 that "Antowain Smith's five-year, $21-million deal with the Patriots had a two-tiered signing bonus of $5 million. The first amount - $3 million - was given to Smith at signing. He will receive a $1 million salary the first season, making his compensation the first year $4 million. The remaining $2 million of the signing bonus is payable before Year 3 as part of an option bonus that kicks in the remaining three years of the contract."
Otis Smith - - From ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli:
"According to NFL Players Association salary documents, ends Anthony Pleasant and Bobby Hamilton and cornerback Otis Smith, all signed new contracts last week that included modest increases in their respective base salaries for the 2002 season. The adjustments cost the Patriots $860,000 in both cash and cap room. Pleasant and Hamilton received their raises in the form of advances on their new base salaries...Smith, 36, received the second biggest raise, of $300,000. His old salary for 2002 was $750,000 and the new one is $1.114 million, prorated down to $1.05 million. The raise jumps his cap value by $300,000, to $1.213 million. New England also shuffled some funds in future seasons, leaving Smith with roster bonuses of $450,000 for 2003 and $750,000 in 2004."
Jamil Soriano Practice Squad Players make $4,350 a week.
Dan Stricker I found Stricker's $225,000 salary on the NFLPA site.
J.J. Stokes Stokes' $655,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Stokes' salary is going to take up only $158,824 of cap space. (450,000/17*3=79,412).
Adam Vinatieri - ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli's report on Vinateiri's signing "The three-year contract that "franchise" free agent Adam Vinatieri signed on Friday does not make him the highest-paid kicker in the league but does provide the New England Patriots star a level of security rarely achieved by players at the game's most tenuous position. League sources told ESPN.com on Saturday that the contract is worth $5.375 million. Far more important than the total value, however, is that the deal is guaranteed. That virtually ensures the six-year veteran of continued employment through the 2004 season.". I am GUESSING that Adam got a $1.8 million signing bonus. His salaries for the next 3 years (750,000 in 2002, 1,400,000 in 2003, 1,425,000 in 2004) total up to be $3,575,000 - a $1.8 million signing bonus would make the deal equal the $5.375 million reported by ESPN.
Undrafted Free Agents signed for the rookie minimum of $225,000.
Mike Vrabel - Vrabel signed a 3-year deal getting a $225,000 signing bonus. Since he is due a $3,500,000 salary in 2003, I am expecting that he and the Pats will extend his contract before the 2003 season. August 20,2002 Update According to the NFLPA's web site, Vrabel is signed through the 2005 season. His new salaries are as follows: salaries: $525,000 (2002); $725,000 (2003); $800,000 (2004); $900,000 (2005)
Ken Walter - Nick Cafardo reported on 2/24 that Ken Walter received a $600,000 signing bonus. According to the NFLPA salary search feature, here are Walter's base salaries: $700,000 (2002); $725,000 (2003); $800,000 (2004); $900,000 (2005); $1,000,000 (2006). A post to the Patriots USENET group by AdamJT13 provided the following information: - "His 2002 cap number is $925,600. He has $100,000 in LTBE incentive bonuses each season, and another $5,600 in workout bonuses each season. There are no roster or reporting bonuses in his contract."
Ted Washington - Ted Washington has a $1.65 million salary.
Brock Williams - I remembered reading from somewhere that Brock Williams got a $425,000 signing bonus. According to the NFLPA salary search feature, here are Brock Williams's base salaries: $209,000 (2001); $298,000 (2002); $389,000 (2003); $418,000 (2004). Usually, practice squad Players make $4,000 a week but it appears that Brock is getting $7,500 a week since his salary is listed as $127,500 on the NFLPA site.
Eugene Wilson - ESPN.Com reported on 7/20:
Antwoine Womack Signing bonus: $29,000. Base salaries: $225,000 (2002); $300,000 (2003); $380,000 (2004); and $455,000 (2005). Total: four years, $1,389,000. Cap value: $232,250.
Damien Woody Salary cap figures comes from 1999 complete NFL rookie contract details (from CBS Sportsline). Signing bonus: $3,850,000. Salaries: $175,000 (1999, plus $55,000 report bonus); $287,500 (2000); $345,000 (2001); $402,500 (2002); $460,000 (2003). Total: five years, $5,575,000.
If you have any corrections, suggestion, questions, and/or comments, please feel free to ask me a question on the PatsFans.Com message board
Please take me back to Miguel's UnOfficial Patriots Salary Cap Page or please take me to the front Page of PatsFans.com.
November 30, 2003 update In 2004 Tyrone Poole is scheduled to receive a $445,000 roster bonus during the 1st week in March.
December 19 Update - Redmond is due a $94,500 roster sometime in 2003.
"I think the Patriots like Sayler a lot more than most fans realize. Remember, he was a starter on the team
(at NT) out of camp, before being placed on IR. I also have it from a good source that the Pats really like him. He says they signed him to a 2 year contract with a $80K SB despite the fact he had no leverage as an exclusive-rights player. They did it to establish a good relationship with him and his agent, for they feel he may be a guy that can develop into someone
they want to keep. The $80K basically makes up for the money he lost going on IR last year, since he was on a split contract. He says they feel he can develop into a Chad Eaton-type interior lineman for them."
September 6 update - From the Boston Globe - "The team has recently tweaked the contracts of Mike Compton, Richard Seymour, and Antowain Smith to guarantee small portions of their base salaries (which prorates the portion of the contract affected and spreads it out over the length of the deal), but those adjustments haven't created major cap space." According to the NFLPA's web site, Seymour's salary is now $300,000 so it appears that the Pats converted $520,000 of Seymour's salary into a signing bonus, saving $416,000 on Seymour's 2002 cap figure while adding $104,000 to Seymour's future cap figures.
December 19 update From the Boston Globe - "There are no salary escalators based on performance in Seymour's contract until 2005 and 2006"
More on the Antowain Smith deal from Len Pasquarelli - "Number crunching: While on the subject of contracts for free agent running backs, it's notable the five-year deal that brought Antowain Smith back to the New England Patriots isn't worth anything close to the $21 million that was reported. Even if one assumes Smith plays all five years of the contract and earns the $9.51 million due him in the final two seasons, the contract still totals $17.53 million. In truth, it is structured as a three-year contract, totaling $8.02 million. The signing bonus is $3 million and Smith's base salaries for the first three seasons are $900,000 (2002), $1.4 million (2003) and $2.4 million (2004). There are offseason workout bonuses of $105,600 in each year. Even the three-year total isn't bad for a guy who was out of work for several weeks last summer and who came back to rush for 1,157 yards. But the $21 million figure that was floated earlier this month when Smith re-signed was grossly inflated."
AdamJT13 supplemented Pasquarelli's report in the Patriots newsgroup with: "Pasquarelli left off a $500,000 option payment for 2004 due in 2003, a $2 million option payment for 2005-06 due in 2004 and $250,000 in LTBE incentives in 2004. Including everything, it's a five-year deal for $20.278 million."
September 6 update - From the Boston Globe - "The team has recently tweaked the contracts of Mike Compton, Richard Seymour, and Antowain Smith to guarantee small portions of their base salaries (which prorates the portion of the contract affected and spreads it out over the length of the deal), but those adjustments haven't created major cap space." According to the NFLPA's web site, Smith's salary is now $525,000 so it appears that the Pats converted $375,000 of his salary into a signing bonus, saving $300,000 on Smith's 2002 cap figure while adding $75,000 to Antowain's future cap figures.
December 19, 2002 update The $500,000 option payment for 2004 due in 2003 will be prorated over 4 years (a $125,000 cap hit for 4 years). The $2 million option payment for 2005-2006 due in 2004 will be prorated over 3 years (a $666,667 cap hit for 3 years). The 2004 incentives are NTLBE, not LTBE and amount to $1,500,000, not $250,000.
July 17, 2003 update From the July 17th edition of the Boston Herald, "The Pats have seven days following the end of this season to pay Smith a $500,000 option bonus to pick up his 2004 salary ($2.4 million) and extend the contract. If the Pats don't exercise the option, Smith becomes a free agent."
November 23, 2003 update - If the Patriots do not pick up his option, Smith's 2004 cap figure will be $2,025,000, a savings of close to $1.9 million. I was mistakenly including the accleration of the $500,000 option bonus. The Pats may also get a credit for the $125,000 portion of the $500,000 option bonus that counts against the 2003 cap.
3/3 update Otis Smith renegotiated last September, mostly just changing some incentives. He was to have $750,000 in LTBE incentives this season, but those got changed to NLTBE incentives. He got $450,000 in NLTBE incentives added to last year (2002), plus a $450,000 roster bonus for this season -- although the roster bonus is reduced by the amount of NLTBE incentives he earned last year. He has $750,000 in NLTBE's this season and another $750,000 in 2004, with a $750,000 roster bonus in 2004 that will be reduced by the amount of incentives he earns this season. For now, his 2003 cap number is $1,368,100 ($755,000 base salary, $157,500 old signing bonus proration, $450,000 roster bonus and a $5,600 workout bonus, plus $750,000 in NLTBE incentives). But that roster bonus could be reduced once everything from 2002 is finalized and his NLTBE's are determined.
8/18 update -
December 1, 2003 update Adam's 2003 cap number is $2,320,676 ($1.4 million base
salary, $666,176 signing bonus proration, $4,500 workout bonus and $250,000 incentives). Adam's 2004 cap number is $2,096,777 ($1.425 million base salary, $666,176 signing bonus proration and
$5,600 workout bonus), with another $250,000 in incentives currently NLTBE.
3/3/2003 - Vrabel renegotiated last August, adding one year and an option year in 2005 (with a $1.5 million option bonus/buyout due sometime this season). He got a $2 million renegotiation bonus. His cap number this year is $2,055,600 ($975,000 base salary, $75,000 old
signing bonus proration, $500,000 new signing bonus proration, $5,600 workout bonus, $500,000 option bonus proration and $100,000 in NLTBE incentives for making the Pro Bowl). He has roster bonuses of $1 million each due in 2004 and 2005, and the $100,000 NLTBE Pro Bowl incentive in 2004 and 2005, as well.
September 1, 2003 update - It looks like Walter restructured his contract. The NFLPA website is now listing his base salary at $550K, where it previously was listed at $725K. The $175,000 was probably guaranteed and treated as signing bonus, spread at $43,750 per season over the remaining 4 years of his deal. In short, the move clears $131,250 of room on the 2003 cap.
December 14, 2003 update - When the Patriots waived Ken Walter on December 2, they caused the remaining portion of Walter's unamortized signing bonus ($491,250) to hit the 2004 cap as a "dead money" hit.
Dedric Ward - Ward's $530,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Ward's salary is going to take up only $158,824 of cap space. (450,000/17*6).
Ty Warren - ESPN.Com's John Clayton reported on 7/19 - "The New England Patriots and first-round choice Ty Warren reached agreement on a six-year deal, including escalators, which could be worth as much as $21 million. A signing bonus and a 2004 option bonus that totals more than $6 million also are included in the deal. His base salary and bonuses total more than $7 million.Warren is projected to be a starting defensive end in the Patriots' 3-4 defense. He was the 13th player selected in the draft in what was considered the best defensive-line draft in recent NFL history. The contract, which was negotiated by his agent, Kennard McGuire, was completed Saturday, four days before the opening of the Patriots training camp.
There is around $7 million in escalators in the contract, more than three-quarters of them are obtainable by playing time and the remainder achievable by Pro Bowl appearances."
July 21 update - Nick Cafardo reported "No. 1 pick Ty Warren, the 13th overall selection in the April draft, was signed to a six-year deal that could be worth up to $20.3 million. The deal includes a huge payment of up to $7 million on the back side of the contract based on Warren's performance in the first five years of the deal. The Texas A&M star also received a $3 million signing bonus and a $3.5 million option bonus payable in March 2004."
July 22 update - Nick Cafardo reported:
Warren agreed to split his bonuses. He receives $2 million within three days of signing and another $1 million by Oct. 15.The deal is actually a four-year deal, but grows to six years if the Patriots pick up the options for the '07 and '08 seasons by May 31, 2004. At that point, Warren would get an additional $3.25 million in two payments and new salaries from '04 through '08. If the Patriots don't believe Warren is suitably developing after his rookie season, they can decline the options and instead pay him through 2006. His yearly salaries -- $955,000 for '04, $1.145 million in '05, and most of his $1.335 million in '06 -- would be guaranteed if the Patriots don't pick up the options. If the Patriots pick up the $3.25 million option, Warren's yearly salaries would be (after making $765,000 this season), $305,000 in '04, $495,000 in '05, $685,000 in '06, $875,000 in '07, and $1.05 million in '08, but those salaries wouldn't be guaranteed. Starting next year, Warren must pay back $100,000 per year of his bonus (up to $500,000) if he fails to complete at least 90 percent of his offseason workouts."
From ESPN.Com - "Signing bonus: $3,000,000. Base salaries: $765,000 (2003); $955,000 (2004, plus $3,250,000 option bonus); $1,145,000 (2005); $1,335,000 (2006); $875,000 (2007); $1,050,000 (2008, includes escalator). Note: If option bonus exercised, base salaries are reduced to $350,000 (2004); $495,000 (2005); $685,000 (2006). Total: six years, $10,800,000. Cap charge: $1,265,000."
"The latest to agree is cornerback Eugene Wilson, one of New England's two second-round choices and the 36th overall pick in the draft. Wilson agreed to a five-year, $3.915 million that included a $2 million signing bonus. There is an escalator for the fifth year that would increase the base salary to $3 million, based on playing time."
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported that "Wilson received a $2 million signing bonus, salaries of $274,000, $342,000, $410,000, $478,000, and $546,000, and the potential of a $3 million payment before his fifth season based on playing time and performance over the first four years."
July 25 update - From ESPN.Com "Signing bonus: $2,000,000. Base salaries: $285,000 (2003); $356,250 (2004); $427,500 (2005); $498,750 (2006); $570,000 (2007, includes escalator). Total: five years, $4,137,500. Cap charge: $685,000."
April 5, 2003 update Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote on April 3rd that "the former Boston College star -- who made his first appearance in the Pro Bowl in February -- earned a whopping $1.4 million bonus after reaching escalators in his contract, some of them associated with playing time. Woody's compensation this season will be a shade under $2 million factoring in his $530,000 base salary. The staggering payment came on March 15, which also raised his cap number considerably and forced the Patriots to do a Tom Brady-like restructure."
September 3, 2003 update Mick Cafardo reported on 9/2 - "Woody's cap hit in this, the final year of his deal agreed to when he was a rookie, is $2.8 million. The Patriots are paying him a $530,000 salary, but he earned $1.46 million in an escalator and another $30,500 in a workout bonus. Incorporated in that salary is a pro-rated rookie bonus."