Lets make a deal

And as far as the likelyhood of the trade goes...do you see any teams lining up to trade for Mushin Muhamed right now? Nope, becasue they know that Carolina is going to cut him. Trading Coles is nonsense...the Redskins are going to look into it for sure becasue they would be stupid to at least not explore every avenue. But in the end they will find cool trade waters and come to the realization that they need to just cut ties with LC and move on...

Muhammad is due a very large bonus, $10 or $12 mill I believe, so you're right, unless the Panthers want to eat that they'll more than likely end up cutting him.

No use in trading for a guy you know is going to hit the open market eventually. If we get anything for Gardner and Coles we'll be extremely lucky.

Maybe I don't understand this fully, but if he gives back 5 million we take the other 3 against our cap this year like you said but we then have a 35 million dollar player off our books after this season. So maybe they don't get a full 5 million to use right now, but they are wiping off a big contract for only a 3 million dollar dead money charge. This should help the cap situation in the future when experts were speculating cap problems for the Redskins.

Basically, what i am trying to say is they have to get helped capwise by this at some point assuming he gives money back.

I may be in the minority, because I know I am among many LC fans on this site. However, I think the LC signing was a mistake to begin with so if they can get out of it for only a 3-4 million dollar hit this year I will be okay with that. I don't really want to rehash the same old argument, but I just don't think LC is a #1 NFL WR. And I have just agreed to disagree with the Warpath LC fans...

First, this was a shocker to everyone we weren't going to release coles until yesterday he was even mentioned as trade talk or as a cut, he was suppose to help ramsey mature as the #1 reciever. Secondly coles is good, he had a good year in NY and a two good years with us. Although he didn't score as much he led in receptions with a career high 90. That is why most in the media and the NFL are shocked by this occurance. Thirdly, not by any surcumstance do we HAVE TO LET COLES GO. He wants to leave, so did Ramsey when Brunnel was first brought in. So if it's in the skins best interest well release him, otherwise tuff luck bitch you still gota play for us. This is not a career where u get go to often he's still under contract!

Now with that said it not like we couldn't package a deal with both Coles and Gardner for someone big like Moss or Abraham. Open ur minds people we have NFL caliber stars, not high school scrubs!

Cap Situation:

Scenario 1: If Coles is on our team in 2005, his cap hit in 2005 will be 3.357 million.

Scenario 2: If Coles is cut or traded (makes no difference which) before March 1, and he doesn't give back any of his bonus, his cap hit in 2005 will be 9.28 million.

Scenario 3: If Coles is cut or traded (makes no difference which) before March 1, and he gives back $5 million of his bonus, his cap hit in 2005 will be 4.285 million.

And if he is cut or traded before March 1, he will be totally cleared from our cap in 2006 and beyond.

I'm with Matty, I'd be happy with scenario 3, damage is minimal. I'm a realist, not many teams are in cap shape to take on a guy like Coles. The Cowboys are, but if we are talking a trade, there's no way we're sending him there. I think Coles is worth a first rounder as a player, he had 2 straight 1200 yard seasons, and last year he had 90 catches. He works hard and keeps a low profile during the season. Even though he's worth a lot talent-wise, I'd be surprised if we can get more than a 2nd rounder. A 3rd rounder is more realistic. But to tell you the truth, in today's NFL, we should be happy with just not getting hosed by a major cap hit. That is if you want to be a realist.

And by the way, if he doesn't give back any of his bonus, I'd keep him and say tough shit, play out your contract. The Skins can't afford a 9.28 million hit this year.

Incidentally, you know what, I'll bet Coles would actually be glad he ended up staying if it worked out that way. Ramsey's QB rating was in the 80s in games he started, compared to Brunell's 63. The offense began to move the ball last year, and it can only get better from here as the coaches find the right way to use Portis, mix in Betts, lean on Cooley in the middle, and find ways to go deep which they've pledged to do.

I know it's LC's career and his call to make, but I think it's a mistake and doesn't make any rational sense.

Schneed - how many times DURING the year did they pledge to go deep, or even worse say they DID go deep.

To start things off, under no circumstances would I let Coles walk. We must get something for him. This means that he will have to convert a large portion of his bonus into base salary, and work out an agreement with the other team on a new contract. If he does not agree to giving up his bonus along with being traded, then we must keep him. We cannot absorb a $9M cap hit because Coles is unsatisfied with his 90 receptions.

The odds of us getting a great deal for him are slim, but I think we would do well to try and fill a void by either getting a solid player at a needed position or getting a draft pick (likely a 2nd rounder.) All of this speculation about getting Abraham is nonsense. Abraham's value outweighs Coles' by a longshot. In the best case scenario, I see us getting a 2nd rounder so that we can draft an interior lineman. That gets rid of a problem player and helps to fill one of our main needs.


Agreed, if we can't bring back some quality I keep him, if he really want's out he will do whatever he has to to make sure that his departure is cap friendly, as well as player or draft pick friendly for us, if he's unwilling to do so then he doesn't want out bad enough, Coles is not a problem player like a Moss and so on, I believe he would still conduct himself like a professional even if he end's up staying on with us.

I like what the washington times reported about a trade involviing L.C. for abraham and possibly throw morton in to sweeten the deal. Then aquire derek mason and draft hopefully edwards.

Well - if we keep him I think he'll play. Remember how bad Ty Law wanted out of NE?