2009 Redskins Roster - Cap Burdens

Using CrazyCanuck's excellent spreadsheet, here are the primary opportunities for cap savings: Jason Taylor $8.5M, Shawn Springs $6.0M, Marcus Washington $4.5M, Phillip Daniels $2.3M. Total = $21.3M.

IMHO, if we cut all four of these players, it wouldn't hurt our defense one bit. Then we could use the cap space to sign young FA offensive linemen to rebuild our OL.

We need to get rid of Moss and/or ARE. They cost roughly the same to trade as they do to keep. If we could get a 3rd rounder for Moss or a 5th rounder for ARE, we should do it.

We need to get rid of Moss and/or ARE. They cost roughly the same to trade as they do to keep. If we could get a 3rd rounder for Moss or a 5th rounder for ARE, we should do it.

I guess if the goal is to make the team worse, that would make sense.

I have a hard time seeing how getting rid of a starting player for a 3rd round pick while gaining no cap space in the process would benefit the team.

Those who have been around the Warpath long enough know that Crazy Canuck tends to jump into action around this time of year, meticulously minding the Redskins' salary cap numbers. I love to take a look at his spreadsheets, found at the link in my signature, because they can tell you so much about the team's offseason plans.

As I did last year, I'll eventually start a thread projecting some of the contract and roster moves the team will likely make. As a prelude to that detailed look, below is a list of the players you can be assured will be Redskins in 2009, for better or worse.

CrazyCanuck's "release fee" tab is extremely helpful. (Click here (http://www.thewarpath.net/WarpathRedskinsCap.htm), then click the Release Fee tab at the bottom). The 2009 column shows the cap number for the player in 2009. The "R Fee" column just to the right shows what the cap number would be if we cut or traded that player. Essentially, if the R Fee number is lower, we could save money by jettisoning the guy.

The Redskins are over the cap as of right now, and will work to get under it. To that end, they will make cuts, trades, restructure offers and extension offers. But one thing they'll hesitate to do is cut or trade anyone whose R Fee is higher than their 2009 cap number. This does not rule out the possibility by any means - JLC has mentioned on Redskins Insider the possibility of Carlos Rogers being traded. The Redskins could move forward with such a transaction, but Rogers makes the list below because trading him would cause the 'Skins to carry $3.9 million on their books instead of the current $2.4 million.

Because of these financial considerations, it makes the Redskins more likely to carry these guys in 2009:

Chris Cooley
Counts $3.0 million on the roster
Counts $11.1 million if cut or traded

Clinton Portis
Counts $5.6 million on the roster
Counts $13.3 million if cut or traded

Randy Thomas
Counts $4.9 million on the roster
Counts $9.5 million if cut or traded

Jon Jansen
Counts $3.4 million on the roster
Counts $6.2 million if cut or traded

LaRon Landry
Counts $5.4 million on the roster
Counts $7.6 million if cut or traded

London Fletcher
Counts $4.3 million on the roster
Counts $6.3 million if cut or traded

Carlos Rogers
Counts $2.4 million on the roster
Counts $3.9 million if cut or traded

Ladell Betts
Counts $2.0 million on the roster
Counts $2.8 million if cut or traded

Antwaan Randle El
Counts $6.1 million on the roster
Counts $6.7 million if cut or traded

Santana Moss
Counts $6.7 million on the roster
Counts $7.2 million if cut or traded

Andre Carter
Counts $6.6 million on the roster
Counts $6.8 million if cut or traded

Chris Samuels
Counts $9.3 million on the roster
Counts $9.4 million if cut or traded

Most of these players are guys we absolutely want to see in Burgundy & Gold in 2009, so this initial post is much to do about nothing. But Jon Jansen and Randy Thomas are two declining players who the Redskins are likely stuck with in 2009.

In future posts and threads, we'll look at cuts and restructures the Redskins are likely to make in the offseason.

I'm not sure who is doing these contracts but why in the world is it going to cost money to cut Jansen? Didn't the team realize that he might be in
decline at this point of his career? Increasing his chances of being cut??

Also it appears we're stuck with two guys that are not worth the money they're getting paid. ARE and Andre Carter.

Also could you explain how we're over the cap? Doesn't the cap go up? Is it true that during the playing season we're under the cap? Why all of a sudden are we over it?

I'm not sure who is doing these contracts but why in the world is it going to cost money to cut Jansen? Didn't the team realize that he might be in
decline at this point of his career? Increasing his chances of being cut??

Also it appears we're stuck with two guys that are not worth the money they're getting paid. ARE and Andre Carter.

Also could you explain how we're over the cap? Doesn't the cap go up? Is it true that during the playing season we're under the cap? Why all of a sudden are we over it?

We were indeed under the cap during the 2008 season (as we had to be). The salaries and bonuses paid to players in 2008 were what counted against the 2008 cap. The cap was $116 million.

In 2009 the cap has indeed gone up, we're estimating to about $123 million at this point. But it's the 2009 salaries and bonuses that count now, the 2008 numbers are history. Salaries and bonuses are higher in 2009 than they were in 2008, putting us about $3 million over the cap right now.

Never fear, this is a normal course of business for the Redskins and many other NFL teams. They will have no problem getting well under the cap for 2009.

We were indeed under the cap during the 2008 season (as we had to be). The salaries and bonuses paid to players in 2008 were what counted against the 2008 cap. The cap was $116 million.

In 2009 the cap has indeed gone up, we're estimating to about $123 million at this point. But it's the 2009 salaries and bonuses that count now, the 2008 numbers are history. Salaries and bonuses are higher in 2009 than they were in 2008, putting us about $3 million over the cap right now.

Never fear, this is a normal course of business for the Redskins and many other NFL teams. They will have no problem getting well under the cap for 2009.

Got it.

Randle El is seriously overpaid for a borderline #2/#3 receiver. The mistakes of the disastrous 2006 offseason are still coming home to roost. ARE might have more value if we utilized him as a "Wildcat" QB several plays per game. If the young receivers drafted last year don't step up, we are in big, big trouble offensively.

offense is going to suck until a big time playmaker steps up.while watching santana moss drop a sure touchdown in the game against the 49ers i thought why do we have to stick with the present wr core. anybody could drop that damn pass

We definitely need some assistance from those rookies...

I think it's pretty unanimous that we need more help at line on both sides of the ball then anywhere else at this time. Addressing this position via draft might make the most sense, but that is too much to ask for in one draft to have impact next season. We'll need cap space for some FA's on the line, as much as that sucks.

I think we stay status quo at DE, and use first pick at DT.

WR we probably have to stay put at, especially given the way the cap looks, which to me isn't the end of the world. Banking on the rookies to step up seems like a necessary strategy.

Our o-line is probably where we need the most help, especially on the right side. Taking the hit to get rid of Jansen makes sense to me... I don't ever want to see him take the field again, and if that means making a sacrifice then so be it (Just curious, would cutting Jansen, "waterfall" into another hit in 2010?). Sucks, but I really think he's done.

Rodger's cap number looks very doable for a trade.

Why do so many people want to shove Rogers out the door? He can't catch...I am as frustrated about that as the next guy but he played pretty well otherwise especially considering he came off a knee injury. I see Rogers and Hall as a very good set of CB's to build around long term. I would cut Springs and use that cap money towards a long term deal for Hall. Springs can still play but he only plays 8 games a year and we just can't count on him anymore.

Why do so many people want to shove Rodgers out the door? He can't catch...I am as frustraded about that as the next guy but he played pretty well otherwise especially considering he came off a knee injury. I see Rodgers and Hall as a very good set of CB's to build around long term. I would cut Springs and use that cap money towards a long term deal for Hall. Springs can still play but he only plays 8 games a year and we just can't count on him anymore.

I agree with you about Rogers... Think he's a good fit here, and I def. want to keep him around.

I would prefer to sign D-Hall to a short term deal. He got INT's, but he was out of position a lot. If he does well next year, give him an extension. I don't feel as if he earned a long term deal in the short time he was here.

All signs point that he wants to stay here (He's from Chesapeake, VA), so why not give him the opportunity to earn his keep. Chris Cooley and Portis are the kinds of players that have earned long term deals... hopefully Hall will follow suit.

As too cutting Springs, yeah... I can def see that happening. We can't use him as safety IMO (not very good in run support). Ask him to take a pay cut to reduce his impact on the salary (if that's even possible), if he won't... just let him go try and earn a big deal somewhere else. It won't happen.