Is there a cap until 2010 is declared uncapped?

[panthers55]

If we tag Peppers next week for example would be still have to fit under a cap until 2010 is declared uncapped? If the uncapped year doesn't go in effect until March is there a time when there would be a cap in effect? What is the date that teams have to be under the cap- same date as the date when the 2010 is declared uncapped- later or earlier? I have not seen anything discussing this so it might not be an issue. I wondered if any of the guys who read everything saw this discussed or am I out in left field?

[csx]

I don't believe there is a cap in the offseason. I want to say it's late Spring or so when there is a date of some sort.

June 1st?....hence the reason there used to be so many cuts then before there was a change in the way contracts are applied?

[Sultan33g]

no cap starting on march 5th

[mountainpantherfan]

The start of the league year is March 5th. Even though the tag could be placed and signed before then, it would not effect the cap, or lack thereof, until then. So not tagging Peppers has nothing to do with the current capped year.

[panthers55]

I heard that Miami cut Joey Porter earlier today but the NFL voided the deal since the escalated salary due to cutting him would exceed their cap which is still in effect from 2009. Therefore he will still a Dolphin but will be obviously cut after March 5th. So if this is true, then the answer to my question appears to be there is a cap in effect before March 5th. So the issue remains if we franchised Peppers would we have to fit that under the 2009 cap which will be in effect until March 5th??

I see Mountainpantherfan says no. Is that speculation or do you have a link?

[mountainpantherfan]

I heard that Miami cut Joey Porter earlier today but the NFL voided the deal since the escalated salary due to cutting him would exceed their cap which is still in effect from 2009. Therefore he will still a Dolphin but will be obviously cut after March 5th. So if this is true, then the answer to my question appears to be there is a cap in effect before March 5th. So the issue remains if we franchised Peppers would we have to fit that under the 2009 cap which will be in effect until March 5th??

I see Mountainpantherfan says no. Is that speculation or do you have a link?

No link, just based on the information as I know it. However, I just saw the same thing about Porter and that makes absolutely no sense to me because I know that in the past teams have cut players before the start of the new year but were able to "hold on to the paper work" until then as to give the player time to find a new team. I didn't completely understand it then so I'm not going to even try to understand it now with all of the new rules that are in place with the uncapped year.

Could very well be the reason why they are not using the tag; they can't...

[Evil Hurney]

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/inside-the-nfl/story/1477925.html

The reason for the retraction stemmed from a complex issue involving the team's salary cap. Take a deep breathe for this one: Because Porter's release would have caused his cap hit of $4.8 million to be accelerated, the Dolphins would have been nearly $600,000 above the current salary cap.

The team doesn't owe Porter his $1 million roster bonus until March 10, so they will have five days after the start of the league year to release the linebacker.

Basically, the Dolphins want to cut Joey Porter and save the $1 million they would have to pay him if he is still on the team come March 10th. They tried to do it now to let Joey have more time to find a new team, but as the article says, it caused his salary to be accelerated into the current cap (the 2009-2010 one). That accelerated amount was too large and the league had to say no.

The Dolphins don't care about the accelerated amount as they don't actually have to pay it to Joey. Or at least that is how I understand it.

[panthers55]

http://www.miamiherald.com/sports/football/inside-the-nfl/story/1477925.html

Basically, the Dolphins want to cut Joey Porter and save the $1 million they would have to pay him if he is still on the team come March 10th. They tried to do it now to let Joey have more time to find a new team, but as the article says, it caused his salary to be accelerated into the current cap (the 2009-2010 one). That accelerated amount was too large and the league had to say no.

The Dolphins don't care about the accelerated amount as they don't actually have to pay it to Joey. Or at least that is how I understand it.

My question is if Porter's escalated salary still counts against the cap until it goes away on March 5th, would Pepper's franchise tag price count against the cap in 2009 meaning we would have to release some players to get under the cap or does it not apply until next year which is uncapped. In other words teams have to continue to stay under the cap until it goes away meaning it won't be easy to franchise Pepper's and stay under the cap.

[mountainpantherfan]

My question is if Porter's escalated salary still counts against the cap until it goes away on March 5th, would Pepper's franchise tag price count against the cap in 2009 meaning we would have to release some players to get under the cap or does it not apply until next year which is uncapped. In other words teams have to continue to stay under the cap until it goes away meaning it won't be easy to franchise Pepper's and stay under the cap.

You should send this in to a media outlet, but probably not anyone local. Maybe PFT would be a good place to pose the question but I think you have to have login info to post comments.

[Evil Hurney]

My question is if Porter's escalated salary still counts against the cap until it goes away on March 5th

Porter's salary would only be escalated if he were released before the end of the "fiscal" season.

would Pepper's franchise tag price count against the cap in 2009 meaning we would have to release some players to get under the cap or does it not apply until next year which is uncapped.

Pepper's tag should have counted against the current cap. We have apparently been under it this whole time, so there is no reason for us to need to cut players to get under it.

In other words teams have to continue to stay under the cap until it goes away meaning it won't be easy to franchise Pepper's and stay under the cap.

All teams have to stay under the 2009-2010 cap until the seasons officially ends on March 4th/5th. After then it all depends on whether there is a new cap to takes its place or not for the 2010-2011 season.

[panthers55]

Porter's salary would only be escalated if he were released before the end of the "fiscal" season.

Pepper's tag should have counted against the current cap. We have apparently been under it this whole time, so there is no reason for us to need to cut players to get under it.

All teams have to stay under the 2009-2010 cap until the seasons officially ends on March 4th/5th. After then it all depends on whether there is a new cap to takes its place or not for the 2010-2011 season.

SO if we franchise him we would have to fit his new cap number under the existing 2009 cap, is that what you are saying??

[Evil Hurney]

SO if we franchise him we would have to fit his new cap number under the existing 2009 cap, is that what you are saying??

If we franchise him for the new season, the value should apply to the 2010-2011 cap (if there is one) and not this current one. If it didn't work that way then we would have had more cap room this season to sign better players.

[panthers55]

If we franchise him for the new season, the value should apply to the 2010-2011 cap (if there is one) and not this current one. If it didn't work that way then we would have had more cap room this season to sign better players.

Then why would Porter's escalating salary hit which means that all guaranteed money paid in future years is now due, which should apply for 2010/2011, still count against the 2009 cap. Wouldn't the same thing apply if we franchise him? It becomes applicable immediately, right? If means that we would have to fit the additional 20% increase and incentives likely to be earned under the current cap. From what I have read a team always has to be under the cap and that if you franchise a player you have to fit the new cap figure under the current cap like we did last year.

[Urrymonster]

This is a good point and something no media source has actually thought about.

I know we had to shave a few million to fit Pep under last years cap, can't remember if we had to initially get him under the old cap first or not though. If memory serves we fit him under the cap and then the natural yearly increase created room for the draft.

If what you are suggesting is true, I see no feasible way we can fit him under the cap and this could be the reason why the media stories are coming out saying we will not tag him.