NFL Salary Cap Higher then Expected

[Chisoxfn]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/stor..._len&id=1738866

 

Means the Bears will probably be about 20 mill under the cap give or take 1.5 mill.

 

Of course this also means that the Packers have two million more to ensure that Clifton (the only realistic LT out there) will resign with the Packers.

 

I think the Bears have targeted him, if he doesn't get re-signed. John Tait is also out there, but Shea has said he doesn't believe he is a left tackle.

 

Also, Nat Dorsey came into the combine way out of shape (reportedly all flabby).

[Gene Honda Civic]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/stor..._len&id=1738866

 

Means the Bears will probably be about 20 mill under the cap give or take 1.5 mill.

 

Of course this also means that the Packers have two million more to ensure that Clifton (the only realistic LT out there) will resign with the Packers.

 

I think the Bears have targeted him, if he doesn't get re-signed.  John Tait is also out there, but Shea has said he doesn't believe he is a left tackle. 

 

Also, Nat Dorsey came into the combine way out of shape (reportedly all flabby).

That's bad news on the clifton thing.... The pack likely only had to clear a little room to keep him around.

 

This was written yesterday, before the new cap was announced.

Talks ongoing, but Packers can’t afford to “tag” Clifton - from PFW

 

 

The lone Green Bay offensive starter not under contract for the upcoming season, Packers OLT Chad Clifton would draw a lot of interest in free agency. The Packers are scurrying to find a way to keep Clifton from becoming an unrestricted free agent March 3, but are hard-pressed to do so with less than $1.1 million under the projected 2004 salary cap. Because the transition tag carries a $6.012 million cap charge this season and the franchise designation presents a $7.021 million hit, cap-strapped Green Bay can only hope for a long-term deal with Clifton.

 

PFW: What is Clifton’s worth and how would the Packers replace him if a deal cannot be reached?

 

Reynolds: Clifton would not last long on the open market. He is an outstanding athlete for his size, known to scouts as an exceptional pass blocker, and he answered doubts about his health by playing every down in 17 of 18 games, including the postseason. The Packers hope the 27-year-old can be re-signed, but as the deadline for announcing franchise and transition players (Feb. 24) nears, a long-term deal does not appear imminent. Green Bay expects to need at least $1.27 million, more capital than the team has under the cap presently, for its allocated rookie pool to sign its draft picks this summer.

 

Clifton seeks a deal at or exceeding the value of the pact Giants OLT Luke Petitgout signed on Feb. 28, 2003 for six years, $30 million, including a $9.75 million signing bonus. The Packers could only pay a bonus of that magnitude by, as is the norm, prorating it annually over the lifetime of the contract or restructuring a number of veteran contracts. Keeping Petitgout as an example, he had a base salary of less than $1 million last season and approximately $1.7 million of his signing bonus counted against the Giants' 2003 cap because the signing bonus is spread out through 2008. Still, Petitgout took home a little more than $10 million in “new money” in 2003.

 

A Packers source did acknowledge that QB Brett Favre had volunteered to reshape his contract, which includes a $3 million bonus due next week, and FS Darren Sharper or DE Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila could be next.

 

If Green Bay loses Clifton, it plans to move ORT Mark Tauscher to the left side. Tauscher is a good athlete who is a better run blocker but inferior pass blocker than Clifton, but Tauscher has the athleticism and quick feet to be a fine fix without Clifton. Third-year OT Kevin Barry would replace Tauscher at right tackle.

[southsider2k5]

I hope all of this means that the Bears are going to be an impact buyer on the market. They need some secondary help, and a pass rusher bad.