An Offseason Question:

[MoeIsBetter]

I pray we get to resign Karlos Dansby but this question is ONLY if we aren't able too. If he doesn't resign here did Graves pull out a brilliant move by making him our franchise player? I'm hoping someone like Joe can help me but I was reading the Packers forum after the game and they said that the reason Kampman was left on the team was so that when his contract expired after this year they can use the money they lost with him to sign someone else (if they made it as one of the final 8 teams in the uncapped year this year).

So here is my question. Right now Dansby is making over 9 mill. If we lose him in the offseason then we are aloud to use that 9 mill on a free agent right? The top 8 teams only get to spend what they lose so is this the reason that Karlos was franchised again, knowing he wanted to be wined and dined during free agency?

Again, this is NOT a let him walk thread!! Just a question on what we get to spend now that we are for sure a top 8 team.

 

[187]

Great question. I am completely in the dark on the rules about free agent signings, etc next season so I need to look into this.

 

[joeshmo]

So here is my question. Right now Dansby is making over 9 mill. If we lose him in the offseason then we are aloud to use that 9 mill on a free agent right? The top 8 teams only get to spend what they lose so is this the reason that Karlos was franchised again, knowing he wanted to be wined and dined during free agency?

Not sure if it was the Cards reason, in fact I don't think they were even thinking about that when the franchised him again. But good observation and it is an unintended plus for us. We will see more if it was their intentions if they actually use that money to sign a marque free agent.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

Second question Joe. Do we only get to use that money on one player or is it like all the money we lose to players leaving is all one lump some for as many free agents as you want?

 

[NuttinButTDs]

there is a good explanation of this at http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/01/12/cowboys-victory-means-win-for-skins/

 

[joeshmo]

there is a good explanation of this at http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/01/12/cowboys-victory-means-win-for-skins/

THIS.

 

[football karma]

one tends to assume uncapped means that the money will flow --

I am not so sure.

The final eight includes three teams that have tended to give deals that upset the salary structure: Cowboys, Jets and Vikings (the other five really haven't been big spenders).

Washington is pledging a new approach -- but I guess we will believe that when we see it.

Then -- the salary "floor" goes away as well. If you are a rebuilding team -- you might as well ditch higher priced vets that are only marginally more productive than lower priced young players.

As cynical as it sounds -- if you are an NFL owner-- what would you choose: 6-10, or 3-13 but you make an additional $10 mm in profit. And btw: in the latter situation, you have given roster spots to 10 or 15 guys -- one or two of which might turn out to be really good by the time you are ready to compete again.

 

[joeshmo]

That plus it is not in the owners best interest to spend like crazy while in a fight with the players union to lower salaries because they just dont have the money. Its like when the car industry went to ask congress for a bail out and drove their in cars rather then their usual luxury private jets.

 

[ajcardfan]

That plus it is not in the owners best interest to spend like crazy while in a fight with the players union to lower salaries because they just dont have the money. Its like when the car industry went to ask congress for a bail out and drove their in cars rather then their usual luxury private jets.

That's right joe. IMO, the owners fully intend to tighten the screws on the players with this uncapped season. They have the upper hand, and I think they will use it to break the union into giving them major concessions. Sadly, I don't think those concessions will come until after a lockout however.

 

[Doug]

Back to the initial thought in this thread. I think since the cards are in the final 8 teams they still should franchise Dansby for the last chance to do it.

It pays off bigtime in that Coach Davis has his whole defense built around Dansby in the way we saw Dansby used in the Great Giants&Vikes wins & the Packers win with 3 Forced fumbles or returned TD.

I think Gerald Hayes will remain an injury problem with his back problems that have caused him to miss 2 games in a row & probably a disc problem that has reduced his production of 2 early season games of 10 tackles or more.His last great effort was in the Vikes game where he gave all he had left.

Love Hayes but this year a 1st round OT or inside linebacker to replace Hayes will go miles to fix this defense back to a #1 gap filling run stopping team again.Like we started the season.The rookies are there to fill that gap now.

IF KURT WARNER returns this is still a superBowl level team,especially with the growth of Beanie,THT,& even the great late pick of triple threat weapon of the HOWLER.He can run,return,recieve as a future MAJOR weapon.Plus with hopes of Patrick and possibly another tight end & fullback that can catch unlike Kreider.

Back to the defensive side with the improvement of Toler who was a great pick.Plus the continuing improvement of Ware in Davis' defense that allows A-Dub's free-lancing.Then think of Calais' Campbell & Kenny Iwebema along with a HEALTHY Will Davis and Cody Brown.Branch is finally coming along to pair with gabe Watson.

We're talking Major depth with Breaston & Early Doucet stepping foreward.Still wonder if Early can take a seasons beating.Hope we don't take anything less than a second round pick for Q.Don't think anyone can afford that either.So picking up TEXAS' wr Shipley in the second round may not happen but he could be the go to reciever that sets Fitz' coverage free.Shipley is NFL ready NOW & would be Kurts HOT READ on every down instead of THT and even give the dump's to Hightower much more room.

The FUTURE is so bright for this team we're all gonna NEED SHADES.Breaston being a 5th round pick even though a restricted free agent might get stolen for a 5th round draft pick if we don't redo him or prtect him some other way.He's well worth a team stealing him just for a fifth round pick.Something to think about.

 

[Cards Czar]

The FUTURE is so bright for this team we're all gonna NEED SHADES.Breaston being a 5th round pick even though a restricted free agent might get stolen for a 5th round draft pick if we don't redo him or prtect him some other way.He's well worth a team stealing him just for a fifth round pick.Something to think about.

All the Cardinals have to do is put the High RFA tag on Breston. thats a 1st and 3rd and hoping that nobody will try to go after him.

If they tender him with the lowest tag then will Breston be worth a 5th rounder.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

.So picking up TEXAS' wr Shipley in the second round may not happen but he could be the go to reciever that sets Fitz' coverage free.Shipley is NFL ready NOW & would be Kurts HOT READ on every down instead of THT and even give the dump's to Hightower much more room.

Wes Welker is going to make Jordan Shipley alot of money. Everybody thinks Shipley will be a Welker-like WR. I think he'll get drafted earlier than i would take him,maybe even go in round 2. With the Cards WR's i wouldn't really look hard at him until their 3rd round pick. Even if Boldin gets dealt, you still have 3 pretty good guys in front of him.

 

[Doug]

Wes Welker is going to make Jordan Shipley alot of money. Everybody thinks Shipley will be a Welker-like WR. I think he'll get drafted earlier than i would take him,maybe even go in round 2. With the Cards WR's i wouldn't really look hard at him until their 3rd round pick. Even if Boldin gets dealt, you still have 3 pretty good guys in front of him.

Shipley with a top 5 NFL qb will be as good or better than Welker.His route running is already NFL worthy.Its his NFL durability that will be at biggest question.He'll run a great time in Indy.Its his quickness that is so dangerous and he will be a starter as a rookie,even on our team.He really has great hands.Not a Welker clone at all.It will still take a top 5 qb to make him what he CAN be.He can stretch the field also.

I in no way believe he's even on the Cardinals board with what Doucet just showed.I just hope Doucet can stay Healthy.Plus the Howler is such a weapon that is just gonna grow for this team and the packages they give him.What a great late pick he was.What a draft period.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

I wasn't asking if people would spend money like crazy, just what we would have because we have guys making some BIG money this year that could become free agents. Graves HAD to have thought that we had a chance to be a top 8 team before the season began. I'm trying to throw the guy some credit because Dansby coming of the books in a year like next year (being a top 8 team) could be HUGE in finding more filler pieces. Were talking an average middle linebacker, a nickle corner, and maybe another special teamer just on the money we lose with Dansby. Add that plus the draft and just losing Dansby gives us free agent money that most top 8 teams dont have.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

Just to clarify, I do not want to lose Dansby but everything he has said up to this point makes me think were headed there. It just seems like we have a HUGE head start on the top 8 teams this year come free agency spending. I mean how many top 8 teams are losing one guy for almost 10 mill? That could be all the money we spend this offseason lol.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

there is a good explanation of this at http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/01/12/cowboys-victory-means-win-for-skins/

Ok, awesome explanation.

EDIT: Urban must read these threads because he talked about it this morning and explained it for the Cardinals VERY simply.

http://blog.azcardinals.com/2010/01/12/final-8-berth-changes-free-agency/

Posted by darrenurban on January 12, 2010 – 6:37 am


The Cardinals’ playoff win — plus the looming uncapped year given the impending end of the collective bargaining agreement — will affect the Cardinals in free agency.

Assuming there is no new CBA before free agency (and there likely won’t be), the NFL will have a season without a salary cap in 2010. The change also brings with it various rules that were designed to forced the two sides to the bargaining table in order to avoid a work stoppage in 2011. One was a limited on free agency for the top eight teams (the theory being, that way, the rich couldn’t get richer). Teams in the “Final Eight Plan” (page 76 77 of the official CBA), which are all the teams now remaining in the playoffs, can’t sign a new free agent unless they lose one, and then that player’s salary can’t be greater than the one the former player is getting.

What that means is the Cards could chase a big-ticket player if, say, LB Karlos Dansby leaves for big money. But if Dansby is waiting around and, for example, kicker Neil Rackers (also an FA-to-be) leaves for a less-than-huge deal, the Cards can’t make any kind of splash yet.

It will definitely make maneuvering the offseason more difficult. Then again, no one would trade a place in the Divisional round of the playoffs for the alternative.

UPDATE: There are a few questions below and I thought the best way to address them would be to throw in a couple more details: The uncapped year also makes it harder to become a an unrestricted free agent, meaning a player has to have six years in the NFL to avoid restricted status. That impacts two main contributors for the Cards: guard Deuce Lutui and nose tackle Gabe Watson. Each were scheduled to be unrestricted after their fourth season and now, they likely won’t have that option.

Rules like that will cut down on the amount of available free agents anyway, making the “Final Eight” rule less important, but, if I read the rule correctly, it’s a one-to-one swap; i.e., if Dansby signs a deal worth $5 million in salary elsewhere, you can’t then sign two guys for $2.5 million each. A team can re-sign all its own players, by the way, regardless if it is in the Final Eight or not.

Also, all teams get a franchise tag and two transition tags for players, rather than just one (choosing between a franchise or transition tag). That will also restrict movement. There are further details here (HT to Sando). Ultimately, what it all means is that free agency isn’t going to be much of anything this year, and players are going to realize a salary cap situation is probably the best for them.