Over The Cap weighs in on Hardy FT, Smitty

[mario]

It’s not a coincidence that teams began using the franchise tag on the same day this announcement regarding an increased salary cap was made. The Saints tagged TE Jimmy Graham, the Jets tagged K Nick Folk, and the Panthers tagged DE Greg Hardy.

 

But franchising a Kicker is a common practice and the Saints really had no choice but to franchise Graham.  It’s Carolina’s tagging of Hardy that’s by far the most interesting move to me.

 

By slapping Hardy with the tag, Panthers GM Dave Gettleman is saying two things: that he truly believes the cap will continue to increase, and that there is nothing more important than rushing the passer.

 

The $13.1 million cost of tagging Hardy comprises the majority of Carolina’s 2014 free agent spending money. And Gettleman made this decision in spite of Charles Johnson, the Defensive End who plays opposite Hardy, carrying a $16,420,000 2014 cap hit that increases to $17,420,000 in 2015.  He did it despite franchise QB Cam Newton entering the final year of his rookie deal and despite the contract of reigning DPOY Luke Kuechly expiring after 2015.

 

Gettleman also made the decision to tag Hardy knowing that all four starters in Carolina’s secondary—Cornerback’s Captain Munnerlyn & Drayton Florence and Safety’s Quintin Mikell & Mike Mitchell—are current free agents.

 

 

http://overthecap.com/franchising-hardy-risky-play-gm-gettleman/

 

The Panthers would gain little by releasing Smith. His cap charge for the year would be $6 million, assuming his is a post June 1, and he is currently only counting for $7 million.  The team would then be responsible for $3 million in cap charges in 2015 ($4 million in acceleration and a $1 million credit for not picking up the option). His roster spot would also need to be replaced by someone making at least the minimum of $420,000. What it boils down to is that releasing Smith in 2014 is going to cost the Panthers $9.84 million in cap space and $3.84 million in cash plus a somewhat negative PR situation over the next two seasons.

 

The best case for both sides is to find a way to make Smith’s contract more reasonable for his age and expected performance level.

 

 

http://overthecap.com/steve-smiths-contract-situation-carolina-panthers/

[SCP]

Yep, this offseason will test the mettle of our new GM. He navigated things well last year and he seems to have the big picture approach.

[jptaylor84]

So what it's saying is gettleman is either a dumbass for wasting all our money on hardy or he must have a master plan like trading, I doubt this myself reading his and riveras quotes about him playing next year, ok it could be game talk to not how his hand yet regarding a trade but I just don't see a trade, it's not common practice, so we restructure CJ to prob $8mil this year backloading the other $8milto next years cap, which is rumoured to rise by another $7-10mil, we likely cut Godfrey and restructure Steve also, Godfreys cut $5.1mil will cover the draft class and we will have roughly $12-15mil on free agency left, as we are at $6mil at this point in time.

[Khaki Lackey]

The cap is supposed to go up in the next two years, the same time that we get the awful running back contracts off the books, Gettleman is just treading water until then. He seems to think long term, which is good.

[carolina-chuck]

Hardy is staying and 89 need to learn that hes not young anymore.

Also, Gman could go DBs heavy in the draft.

[jptaylor84]

The cap is supposed to go up in the next two years, the same time that we get the awful running back contracts off the books, Gettleman is just treading water until then. He seems to think long term, which is good.

Agree but don't think it's viable I get rid of jstews deal til 2016? I maybe wrong but his hits and bonuses make it that way, so we atleast have to put up with him another two offseasons, dwill probably his last year, I agree longterm is gettlemans way of thinking it has to be were already $110mil commited to 2015 cap and that without Cams new deal and Luke and we only have 29 guys signed at this point. I think Star can wait til 2016

[Jon Snow]

I think the BPA approach is going to difficult with the holes we have. We need 2 WR's, 2 OL and 2 DB's at the moment and it is going to be difficult to get any FA to fill those needs. Here's to hoping the draft yields use a starter at each of those positions. Sent from my Nexus 7 using CarolinaHuddle mobile app

[poorboysrev]

So what it's saying is gettleman is either a dumbass for wasting all our money on hardy or he must have a master plan like trading, I doubt this myself reading his and riveras quotes about him playing next year, ok it could be game talk to not how his hand yet regarding a trade but I just don't see a trade, it's not common practice, so we restructure CJ to prob $8mil this year backloading the other $8milto next years cap, which is rumoured to rise by another $7-10mil, we likely cut Godfrey and restructure Steve also, Godfreys cut $5.1mil will cover the draft class and we will have roughly $12-15mil on free agency left, as we are at $6mil at this point in time.

   A lot of teams tag a player just to give them more time to work out a longterm contract. I think that is what's happening and will happen before June. Then Hardy's cap number will come down for this year giving us more money for other players. with the salary cap going up the next couple years I think we are just going to backload the cap hit for the signing bonus as much as we can. Hopefully you are right about the CJ restructure.

   I don't think Gettleman would hamstring our whole cap space for 1 player for just a 1 yr rental. He's about to sign Hardy to a longterm deal so that we have our bookends for a few years together ala the Giants. Just means we HAVE to draft our corners, oline, and WR's well since their won't be as much FA money for those positions. Have to find late round gems like Seattle did. The Giants got 2 rings doing it that way so it can work.

[Khaki Lackey]

 The Giants got 2 rings doing it that way so it can work.

Plus, we have something the Giants never did. :cam1:

[Fiz]

OH NO NOT OUR SECONDARY HOWEVER WILL WE RECOVER

[Jackofalltrades]

They act as though we can't continue to save money, like we've done everything we can to make more room.

I believe in Gettlemen.

[jptaylor84]

A lot of teams tag a player just to give them more time to work out a longterm contract. I think that is what's happening and will happen before June. Then Hardy's cap number will come down for this year giving us more money for other players. with the salary cap going up the next couple years I think we are just going to backload the cap hit for the signing bonus as much as we can. Hopefully you are right about the CJ restructure.

I don't think Gettleman would hamstring our whole cap space for 1 player for just a 1 yr rental. He's about to sign Hardy to a longterm deal so that we have our bookends for a few years together ala the Giants. Just means we HAVE to draft our corners, oline, and WR's well since their won't be as much FA money for those positions. Have to find late round gems like Seattle did. The Giants got 2 rings doing it that way so it can work.

Yes I agree, I do have faith gettlemans ability to spot talent more so than his ability as a gm at this point, as was mentioned we did have 6 rookies outhere on defence at some point and in big games, I'm hoping we snag a few more good draft pickups and udfa this year, king and mcnutt are basically like kugbila unknown and untested but they are basically three 2013 draft picks that will be on this years roster actually playing games! looking at free agency I don't think we need to make huge splashes anyway, I would just like a good LT like anthony collins, bring mitchell back and maybe another safety to play with him, a veteran corner to compliment melvin white who I'm happy give a shot gain this year, he will be better for his rookie season last year.

We can maybe draft two receivers to go along with mcnutt,king and smitty, there are guys like those I've mentioned and others like brandon williams, travis bond that will replace some of the free agents lost like piggy, dockery and others, we are going to have a much younger and new team this year and we will have to expect some growing pains, but longterm we are being moulded slowly into a totally new team.

[bleys]

 

 

He did it despite franchise QB Cam Newton entering the final year of his rookie deal and despite the contract of reigning DPOY Luke Kuechly expiring after 2015.

 

these 2 points are being made a much bigger deal than it's relevance..  Cam has his own version of a FT next year and Kuechly isn't even close..  DWill's contract will be a much bigger release to sign either one of these guys up front and next year this 13mil FT is instantly freed up..  Where if Hardy is resigned will cost more around 3-4 mil at the most in the form of a cap hit.  

 

which by this time Godfrey's dead money will be gone (assuming he's released this year after June 1st)...  And we are all another year closer to seeing JStew's money come off the books in another 2 years..  In other words, both Kuechly and Cam will long be signed by the time any significant cap hits start to grow feet...

 

 

 

This money that is going to "roll over" this year is no different than watching this 13 mil "roll over" next year...  Granted we can't sign Hakeem Nicks with that money now..   

[MHS831]

The wisdom of this move is lost in the numbers and the writer's inability to analyze all possible future scenarios.  For example, what if Hardy has 9 sacks in 2014?  What if CJ restructures his deal?  Smitty drops about $3 million off his cap figure?  I think there is about $10m to be found by looking into those situations.

 

The OL concerns me.  When I read articles about Bell playing LT because he is left handed, I get very concerned.