WSJ article on salary cap shenanigans

We've had a pretty spirited discussion over the last few weeks on the Glazers and their spending. It seems to focus on the lack of spending under the cap. This article talks about some of the ploys used to get around the cap.

While this certainly doesn't improve the perception that the Bucs are spending, until I get a look at all 32 teams' books and analyze how they all spend their money, I can't cast a stone. Something tells me this is very common place.

3 months ago Buc Wild 7 comments 0 recs |

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LOL I guess you got the same email huh?

It’s a very good piece, kinda goes with yesterdays stuff and the parity stuff too, to a lesser extent, but still.

If anyone can get production out of Gaines Adams, it will be Rod Marinelli. Good Luck Gaines and thank you Bucs for restoring my confidence that there is accountability.

by Niko Houllis on Oct 23, 2009 5:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Certainly we are significantly under the cap this year but,.....

I do not see the Glazers as cheap or bad for the team. They have paid pretty well to get talent when they have felt the need. If Dominik ends up being a good GM he will need that cap room to restructure the team for a new regime next year.

Gary Williams for President!
Put Rose in the Hall of Fame

by terp12 on Oct 23, 2009 6:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Scary

If those type of fraudulent practices exist, that’s completely unfair to the players. If teams are legitimately circumventing the salary floor, it illustrates how corrupt Sherriff Goodell is. Hard on the players for things that don’t actually affect the product, but soft as a linen on the owners and coaches, who actually manipulate rules for advantages or profits. I’ve never liked Goodell and I think this is more evidence of his ineptitude. The NFL may be headed for some real trouble.

by bucsfandave on Oct 23, 2009 9:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The problem is regulating it is tough.

They fine them, but the fine is cheaper than what the cost of circumventing it is. It’s hard for me to get into discussing salary caps without going into politics, but I think Godell is doing well and enforcing everything as good as he can. It is up to the Player Union to stand up to it.

"I have come that you may have life, and life to the max"

by UNFNOLE on Oct 24, 2009 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not fraudulent

It’s a loophole in the CBA that teams exploit. LTBI or Likely to be earned incentives (rushing for 1000 yards, starting 12 games etc) are immediately charged against the cap. So in a contract for Josh Johnson, they may say, if you throw for 1000 yards you get $1 million and if you rush for 1,000 yards and catch 50 passes you get $10 million. Well, those are LTBI, so they get charged against the cap (punters/kickers have the same clauses). Then when and if those goals arent met, the team gets a rebate of that money on next years cap.

So say the above scenario took place in 2009. Our cap is carrying a 10 million dollar hit, but we all know JJ wont have 50 receptions. So next year (lets pretend next year was a regular cap year), the Bucs would have an additional 10 MM to play with. Thats what Bruce Allen did when they say he “rolled the money forward” You dont technically get to save extra money, but those are the tricks found in the CBA.

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by Buc Wild on Oct 24, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and FYI, thats a very crude example.

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by Buc Wild on Oct 24, 2009 8:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but what it does is explain why there seems to be a significant “talent” difference between the players the bucs put on the field and say the players the patriots put on the field.

the league preaches parity, but it’s a myth because the owners are exploiting loopholes in the cap, even though the patriots payroll (ie. cap hit) is probably similar to ours.

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by HockeyOutsiders on Oct 25, 2009 1:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs