2009 Redskins Roster - Cap Burdens

[Schneed10]

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, 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.

[The Goat]

Jeez I luv this website.

Anywho, Springs salary is just a shocker no matter how many times I see it. He's traded or cut. JT should restructure and save us a bundle as should Marcus if he wants to stay. Hard to know where to look next.

[backrow]

One thing Crazy Canuck is not is.........well, crazy!

Brilliant is more like it!

Springs is 8.483 mil. to keep, 2.483 mil. to cut or release?

[Schneed10]

Originally Posted by backrow

One thing Crazy Canuck is not is.........well, crazy!

Brilliant is more like it!

Springs is 8.483 mil. to keep, 2.483 mil. to cut or release?

Yeah he's a prime candidate for a major move. Strictly from a financial perspective he's a candidate to be cut. The team could save $6 million of cap space by doing so.

But we saw Blache start Springs and Hall coming down the stretch. And so far we have no reason to believe Vinny Cerrato subscribes to the same thinking the Philadelphia Eagles do, which is to jettison players before they reach the twilight of their careers. If anything, the acquisition of Jason Taylor shows that Vinny's not afraid to have old guys on the books.

My judgment is the Redskins will extend Springs in a manner allowing him to return this season at a much lower cap figure. However if we do that, I'll be very curious to see how Vinny manages the downside risk of potential cap hits in 2010 and beyond for a graybeard corner (assuming there still is a cap).

[Redskins8588]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

(assuming there still is a cap).

With you touching on the subject, what happens to these numbers if the union and owners do not come to an agreement? I am going out on a limb and guessing that the Redskins wont be the only team in bad shape. From what I remember, from the last union negotiation, doesn't all of the players bonus money come due immediately? I am sure that you or crazycanuck(sp) can help out on this issue.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by Schneed10

My judgment is the Redskins will extend Springs in a manner allowing him to return this season at a much lower cap figure. However if we do that, I'll be very curious to see how Vinny manages the downside risk of potential cap hits in 2010 and beyond for a graybeard corner (assuming there still is a cap).

I'd guess they'll extend him maybe 2-3 years and hope they can transition him to safety sooner rather than later. Possibly 2010. With a "normal" rate of declination he'd probably still be a very good cover safety at that point in his career. He'd give us some real flexibility in nickle packages. It's the main reason I'd keep Rogers. As bad as his hands are he is still very solid in coverage, that is hard to come by. If we dump him then in two years we'll wish we still had someone with his cover skills.

[53Fan]

Great stuff Schneed10. Thanks! Info like this sure makes roster moves easier to understand. Would cutting Marcus Washington and then resigning him to a lesser contract if no one else was interested be feasible?

[NM Redskin]

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

[Redskins8588]

Originally Posted by NM Redskin

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

Unless it is a 1st round pick, I am hoping that we do not trade Rodger's. With Springs getting older I think that Rodgers and Hall would be a great CB duo.

[celts32]

Originally Posted by NM Redskin

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.

[RobH4413]

Originally Posted by celts32

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.

[Skinny Tee]

Originally Posted by RobH4413

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.

I have a feeling that if Springs were to leave that he would entertain going to dallas because of his family ties to that area.

dallas looks like they could use a stop gap CB too in the next year. I'd have to puke if I saw Springs in a cowboy jersey.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Skinny Tee

I have a feeling that if Springs were to leave that he would entertain going to dallas because of his family ties to that area.

dallas looks like they could use a stop gap CB too in the next year. I'd have to puke if I saw Springs in a cowboy jersey.

I imagine he would suddenly stop having mysterious illnesses and injuries for the cowboys too. Springs is one of those guys that just wants his money. He's got no heart. If he wasnt such a waste of cap space, i would want to keep him here, just to spite him.

[redskins5044]

Originally Posted by celts32

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.

his name is Carlos Rogers, not Rodgers

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by celts32

Why do so many people want to shove Rodgers out the door?

it has nothing to do with Rogers ability and everything to do with Vinnys desire to accumulate draft picks to make up for the fact that he wasted a 2nd rounder on the bum that is Jason Taylor. Its a PR move, plain and simple. Vinny has one more year to prove his worth or Danny is going to fire him AND zorn. I fully expect us to be very active in FA and in doing trades this offseason. Vinny needs as much "ammunition" as possible.

I honestly wouldnt be surprised if we use our 2010 1st rounder in a trade to get a 2009 2nd rounder either. Vinny will probably spin it as saying "theres so much talent" in the 2009 draft that a 2nd rounder this year will be the same as a 1st rounder next year... the same type of BS he used in an attempt to convince us that Devin Thomas, Fred Davis, and Malcom Kelly all had "first round grades."