2008 Chicago bears Salary cap..

[dabears54]

Originally Posted by soulman

The trouble is that cutting those two would actually cost the team over $5 mil in unamortized signing bonuses. That alone takes a big chunk out of the cap excess. Personally, I think were stuck we're stuck with Benson for the moment.

What's more likely is that we sign or draft another RB and unless Benson can beat him out or unseat AP or Wolfe it's very likely we'll trade him or cut him after training camp and at least get to spread his cap hit out over two seasons.

If I were Angelo I'd make Archuleta a vet I'd designate as a June 1st cut once FA starts. Invoking that rule allows us to cut him now but treat it as if we did it on June 1st. That allow us to spread the $2 mil mil cap hit we have to take for the remainder of his SB over two seasons.

Archuleta is toast and we've got cheaper and better talent that can step and play safety. I can live with a $280K cap hit this year (the hit for the SB less his $730K salary) and $1 mil of dead cap space next year just to end this painful experiment and see his sorry ass gone.

with benson "only" having a 800K salary in 2008, You do not cut him.. makes no financial sense , no matter your personal feelings on him..

Agree about arch though, you designate him a vet cut( you can do 2), take his SB into 2 years and be done with the arch experiment and let payne and mcgowan battle it out..

[soulman]

Originally Posted by dabears54

with benson "only" having a 800K salary in 2008, You do not cut him.. makes no financial sense , no matter your personal feelings on him..

Agree about arch though, you designate him a vet cut( you can do 2), take his SB into 2 years and be done with the arch experiment and let payne and mcgowan battle it out..

It has less to do with his salary cost and a lot more to do with his crappy, pouting attitude if he's not the starter or doesn't get his carries 54. You have to admit the guys been an attitude problem since he got here and after his comments in that interview I don't see it changing.

Benson thinks he has nothing to prove and owes this team and it's fans nothing for a his lazy dog ass attitude and play. I disagree with that attitude and I care less how little he costs us in salary. AA comes at around the same price.

If we sign or draft anyone who can and should replace him and furthermore can't even get past AP in a tandem RB season he'll whine and pout and become a locker room cancer. That's the way I see it but you're right, personally I don't like the guy. He's not a Chicago Bear!

[dabears54]

Slow news day, so thought would post dates coming up.( updated for more comprehensive list
January 20 - 26
Senior Bowl Week
SAT 3 p.m. Jan 26th on NFL Network
Feb. 10: Pro Bowl, Honolulu, Hawaii


February 20 – 26
NFL Combine
Live and Tape delayed coverage on NFL Network

February 22
Last day for NFL teams to use their franchise tag

February 29
Free agent signing period begins
March 30-April 3: NFL Annual Meeting, Palm Beach, Fla.


April 18
Final day for Restricted Free Agents to get offers from other teams before exclusive negotiating rights revert back to original team.

April 26 - 27
2008 NFL Draft
Live coverage on ESPN, ESPN2, and NFL Network May 19-21 - NFL Spring Meeting in Atlanta, Georgia

June 1 - Deadline for old team to send tender offer to its unsigned Restricted Free Agents or to extend Qualifying offer, whichever is greater, in order to retain rights

June 1 - Deadline for old team to send tender offer to its unsigned Restricted Free Agents to retain rights if player is not signed by another team by July 22

June 29 -July 2 - Rookie Symposium in Carlsbad, California

July - NFL teams begin Training Camp

August 3 - Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio

August 26 - Roster reduction to 75 players


August 30 - Roster reduction to 53 players


September 4-8 - NFL Regular Season begins

[dabears54]

Tag, you're it ... a look at the '08 franchise & transition numbers

So, you say you want to place the franchise tag on wide receiver Bernard Berrian for the 2008 season.
That move will cost the Bears $7.848 million for 2008 as the figures for franchise and transition tags have been released (see below for complete breakdown).
That’s a lot of money to fork over for a receiver coming off a season with 71 receptions for 951 yards and five touchdowns. Of course, with a more settled offense and a stable quarterback position, his production would no doubt be enhanced.
General manager Jerry Angelo, in his postseason address, did not rule out the possibility of using the franchise tag on Berrian. The transition tag number is $6.872 million.


``We really haven’t talked about the franchise tag,’’ Angelo said earlier this month. ``I don’t like to use it, but if it’s in our best interest, I’m not going to rule anything out.
``We’d certainly like to have Bernard back, but if it doesn’t work out, then we have to have players that will step in, be it a Mark Bradley right off the top of my head or somebody that we look at in the draft potentially.’’
Angelo’s dislike of the franchise tag didn’t stop him from placing it on linebacker Lance Briggs this past season at a cost of $7.206 million. The figure for linebackers jumps to $8.065 million this coming season, but because Briggs was on the field for more than 75 percent of the defensive snaps, the Bears cannot tag him again.
Before the season, Berrian was asked about the franchise tag, a device that angers most players because it prevents them from signing a longterm contract with more guaranteed money. Briggs, for one, threw a fit when the Bears tagged him, threatening to never wear their uniform again.
``It could happen,’’ Berrian said prior to last season. ``But if at all possible, I would like to avoid the franchise tag. I would rather be under contract instead of having to sign a one-year tender.’’
The tag means a lot of money, Bernard.
``That is a lot of money for one year,’’ he agreed.
``I’m definitely not going to cry and sit in my bed and think, `Oh, damn, they're franchising me, what am I going to do?’’’ Berrian said. ``No matter how people want to look at it, football is a business. If that were to happen, I don't think I would be mad about it.
``Like Lance was, I would probably be upset. You want the long-term deal and you want to be where you're at, especially when you're in a good situation. Sometimes you get the franchise tag and you're thinking, `What are they thinking by franchising me? Am I one-and-done with them?’ There are a lot of things that go into play with it.’’
The Bears made an initial contract offer on a longterm extension to Berrian last summer. The deal included roughly $7.5 million guaranteed. That’s what makes it very interesting if the organization is now going to consider paying him more than that for one season.
The Bears must rework their wide receiver position, but at what cost?
The franchise tag and transition tag numbers for 2008:

Franchise Tag Numbers
QB - $10,730,000
RB - $6,538,000
WR - $7,848,000
TE - $4,522,000
P/K - $2,514,000
OL - $7,455,000
DE - $8,879,000
DT - $6,363,000
LB - $8,065,000
S - $4,396,000
CB - $9,465,000

Transition Tag Numbers
QB - $9,560,000
RB - $5,699,000
WR - $6,872,000
TE - $3,733,000
P/K - $2,245,000
OL - $6,895,000
DE - $7,679,000
DT - $5,654,000
LB - $7,335,000
S - $3,893,000
CB - $7,659,000

[OBTheAnimal]

you know db54, in a way the franchising system really screws up the negotiation process


like you said, why would Berrian take a deal over the summer for less guaranteed than what the Bears would possibly be willing to pay him guaranteed for 1 season under the franchise tag?



Could this devise actually be working to the player's advantage in a round about way?

[soulman]

There's no way the Bears should franchise BB for that kind of money and I'm certain they won't. Briggs was worth a franchise tag, Tommie Harris is worth a franchise tag, but Bernard Berrian, no!

I'd franchise Peanut Tillman (fortunately we don't have to) before I'd even consider franchising BB. There are at least a dozen guys in the league who are far better than him and few of those guys will ever be franchised for one season at almost $8 mil.

Were gonna have to go higher than $7.5 mil guaranteed but no way they should even think of franchising him. He's good but not THAT unique.

[dabears54]

Originally Posted by OBTheAnimal

you know db54, in a way the franchising system really screws up the negotiation process


like you said, why would Berrian take a deal over the summer for less guaranteed than what the Bears would possibly be willing to pay him guaranteed for 1 season under the franchise tag?


Could this devise actually be working to the player's advantage in a round about way?

it might...Its just getting real fustrating and the whole system needs a major overhaul.

While can say "its not fair" a team can franhise a player, by the same token its Not fair" a #1 pick gets $60 million and proved zip...Its not "fair" a top #1 pick for 4 years will make 2x-10X what a 4th round pick makes, no matter how they perform in the NFL- its a weird balancing act that needs changing, but both sides scared to change...

Much rather see a rookie cap that allows more $$ to vet's that have PROVED they are worth it, and lowers the difference between a #1 pick to 4-6th rounders that leads to great resentment( see benson's $$ VS hester or a briggs)..

NFLPA and owners have a cap that works for both sides.. Its the "distribution" of this cap that becuase of greedy agents has gotten screwy and before it takes the system and players down, needs to be addressed for the greater good

[dabears54]

Bears add P Pakulak

The Bears must have liked what they saw in punter Glenn Pakulak the first time they had him in because he’s back.
The club signed him to a reserve/future contract on Tuesday.
Pakulak was in a group of a half-dozen punters that were worked out when the team signed Dirk Johnson as a temporary replacement for Brad Maynard on Sept. 16. Maynard had a balky groin, and the team chose Johnson while also taking a look at Pakulak, Scott Player and Danny Baugher.


Pakulak, a Kentucky product, has spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Oakland Raiders and Tennessee Titans. He has never appeared in a regular-season game. Pakulak punted for Amsterdam the last two seasons in NFL Europe.



Posted by Brad Biggs on January 29, 2008 03:12 PM

[BEAR-DOWN]

Thats good info,, also on this link below nice work,,

http://boards.chicagobears.com/forum...ad/824662.aspx

[BEAR-DOWN]

SOMEONE WAS LOOKING FOR THIS INFORMATION ,, ALL THE NFL SALARY CAP INFO CAN BE FOUND AT THE LINK BELOW

http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/numbers.asp

For the sake of this installment, we have designated teams that are less than $5M under the cap in RED. These are teams that have little money to sign free agents and may need to make cuts or restructure salaries in order to sign all of their draft picks. Note without comment that the only team that is OVER the cap (as of this writing) is the Washington Redskins! Teams in BLACK, which are between $5M and $20M under the cap, are teams that look to be in pretty good shape in terms of adding more veterans and signing all of their rookies without having to take drastic measures. Teams in GREEN are teams that are well under the cap and should have plenty of room to sign free agents and rookies. Note that for the first time in years, almost every team in is very good cap shape.

With the latest extension to the CBA, the 2008 salary cap is approximately $116 M, which represents a nice increase over last year's estimated $109 M figure. (Note that the cap was "just" $85.5 M in 2005, the final season prior to the CBA's extension and $102 M in 2006 after the CBA extension.)

Keep in mind that these numbers remain tentative -- and are changing on a daily basis. These "unofficial" figures are approximate as of December 27, 2007 and were compiled from various media sources including the NFLPA, ESPN and Sports Illustrated.

Projected 2008 NFL Salary Cap Space for Each Team
Rank Team $ Under the Cap

1
San Diego Chargers
$43.03 M
There are currently 44 players under contract.
2
Tennessee Titans
$40.85 M
There are currently 39 players under contract.
3
Miami Dolphins
$35.56 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
4
Jacksonville Jaguars
$32.69 M
There are currently 43 players under contract.
5
Buffalo Bills
$32.05 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
6
New Orleans Saints
$31.69 M
There are currently 39 players under contract.
7
Cincinnati Bengals
$31.45 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
8
San Francisco 49ers
$30.91 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
9
Cleveland Browns
$30.31 M
There are currently 42 players under contract.
10
Arizona Cardinals
$30.27 M
There are currently 34 players under contract.
11
NY Jets
$27.72 M
There are currently 45 players under contract.
12
Oakland Raiders
$25.98 M
There are currently 40 players under contract.
13
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
$25.9 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
14
NY Giants
$24.47 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
15
Detroit Lions
$23.5 M
There are currently 42 players under contract.
16
Houston Texans
$22.91 M
There are currently 43 players under contract.
17
Dallas Cowboys
$20.61 M
There are currently 40 players under contract.
18
Kansas City Chiefs
$20.27 M
There are currently 44 players under contract.
19
Chicago Bears
$19.8 M
There are currently 52 players under contract.
20
Pittsburgh Steelers
$18.61 M
There are currently 43 players under contract.
21
Green Bay Packers
$18.37 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
22
Philadelphia Eagles
$17.17 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
23
Denver Broncos
$16.77 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
24
Minnesota Vikings
$14.88 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
25
New England Patriots
$10.93 M
There are currently 41 players under contract.
26
St. Louis Rams
$9.61 M
There are currently 45 players under contract.
27
Seattle Seahawks
$9.55 M
There are currently 44 players under contract.
28
Indianapolis Colts
$8.49 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
29
Carolina Panthers
$6.05 M
There are currently 35 players under contract.
30
Atlanta Falcons
$5.79 M
There are currently 52 players under contract.
31
Baltimore Ravens
$5 M
There are currently 42 players under contract.
32
Washington Redskins
$-20.72 M
There are currently 45 players under contract.

[OBTheAnimal]

Originally Posted by BEAR-DOWN

SOMEONE WAS LOOKING FOR THIS INFORMATION ,, ALL THE NFL SALARY CAP INFO CAN BE FOUND AT THE LINK BELOW

http://www.askthecommish.com/salarycap/numbers.asp

For the sake of this installment, we have designated teams that are less than $5M under the cap in RED. These are teams that have little money to sign free agents and may need to make cuts or restructure salaries in order to sign all of their draft picks. Note without comment that the only team that is OVER the cap (as of this writing) is the Washington Redskins! Teams in BLACK, which are between $5M and $20M under the cap, are teams that look to be in pretty good shape in terms of adding more veterans and signing all of their rookies without having to take drastic measures. Teams in GREEN are teams that are well under the cap and should have plenty of room to sign free agents and rookies. Note that for the first time in years, almost every team in is very good cap shape.

With the latest extension to the CBA, the 2008 salary cap is approximately $116 M, which represents a nice increase over last year's estimated $109 M figure. (Note that the cap was "just" $85.5 M in 2005, the final season prior to the CBA's extension and $102 M in 2006 after the CBA extension.)

Keep in mind that these numbers remain tentative -- and are changing on a daily basis. These "unofficial" figures are approximate as of December 27, 2007 and were compiled from various media sources including the NFLPA, ESPN and Sports Illustrated.

Projected 2008 NFL Salary Cap Space for Each Team
Rank Team $ Under the Cap

1
San Diego Chargers
$43.03 M
There are currently 44 players under contract.
2
Tennessee Titans
$40.85 M
There are currently 39 players under contract.
3
Miami Dolphins
$35.56 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
4
Jacksonville Jaguars
$32.69 M
There are currently 43 players under contract.
5
Buffalo Bills
$32.05 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
6
New Orleans Saints
$31.69 M
There are currently 39 players under contract.
7
Cincinnati Bengals
$31.45 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
8
San Francisco 49ers
$30.91 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
9
Cleveland Browns
$30.31 M
There are currently 42 players under contract.
10
Arizona Cardinals
$30.27 M
There are currently 34 players under contract.
11
NY Jets
$27.72 M
There are currently 45 players under contract.
12
Oakland Raiders
$25.98 M
There are currently 40 players under contract.
13
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
$25.9 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
14
NY Giants
$24.47 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
15
Detroit Lions
$23.5 M
There are currently 42 players under contract.
16
Houston Texans
$22.91 M
There are currently 43 players under contract.
17
Dallas Cowboys
$20.61 M
There are currently 40 players under contract.
18
Kansas City Chiefs
$20.27 M
There are currently 44 players under contract.
19
Chicago Bears
$19.8 M
There are currently 52 players under contract.
20
Pittsburgh Steelers
$18.61 M
There are currently 43 players under contract.
21
Green Bay Packers
$18.37 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
22
Philadelphia Eagles
$17.17 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
23
Denver Broncos
$16.77 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
24
Minnesota Vikings
$14.88 M
There are currently 49 players under contract.
25
New England Patriots
$10.93 M
There are currently 41 players under contract.
26
St. Louis Rams
$9.61 M
There are currently 45 players under contract.
27
Seattle Seahawks
$9.55 M
There are currently 44 players under contract.
28
Indianapolis Colts
$8.49 M
There are currently 48 players under contract.
29
Carolina Panthers
$6.05 M
There are currently 35 players under contract.
30
Atlanta Falcons
$5.79 M
There are currently 52 players under contract.
31
Baltimore Ravens
$5 M
There are currently 42 players under contract.
32
Washington Redskins
$-20.72 M
There are currently 45 players under contract.

Great info B-D! Thx much


I didn't realize it, but the Cowgirls aren't in nearly as great of a cap position as some say. Yeah they have 20M+... but they only have 40 players under K

[go4bears]

i found this on scout

http://profootballexperts.scout.com/...nid=83&yr=2008

i wonder how many of these guys will be available and what they would be asking for

[OBTheAnimal]

hey db54

how realistic do you think it would be to acquire in FA Turner, Johnson, and a guy like Lilja (assuming Briggs and Berrian go bye-bye)?

would it just totally screw the cap up?

[dabears54]

Originally Posted by OBTheAnimal

hey db54

how realistic do you think it would be to acquire in FA Turner, Johnson, and a guy like Lilja (assuming Briggs and Berrian go bye-bye)?

would it just totally screw the cap up?

Depends on turner demands.. doable "if" no briggs and berrian, BUT just IMO turner has no chance of coming here, his demands will be more than what ced got( 28 mill), and jsut can't see having 2 high priced Rb's with Ap/wolfe already here.

Also keep in mind, Angelo has always offered his stars a deal one year early( because we are the only team that can, and its a win/win as the players gets roughly 6X his pay for year, and team gets a cheaper long term deal, because signing early), we did this Urlacher, mike brown, kreutz, tried with lance and did for peanut/vasher. So expect a big chunk of cap space to hopefully go to tommie harris( prob 50+ million) to sign this offseason, if rosensleaze has any sense. So out cap space for other F/a is not as big as you think, if we sign tommie( figure roughly $6-7 mill of cap space for tommie for argument sake.. unless drew lets bears do a more backended deal, but do not see those often now)

[OBTheAnimal]

Originally Posted by dabears54

Depends on turner demands.. doable "if" no briggs and berrian, BUT just IMO turner has no chance of coming here, his demands will be more than what ced got( 28 mill), and jsut can't see having 2 high priced Rb's with Ap/wolfe already here.

Also keep in mind, Angelo has always offered his stars a deal one year early( because we are the only team that can, and its a win/win as the players gets roughly 6X his pay for year, and team gets a cheaper long term deal, because signing early), we did this Urlacher, mike brown, kreutz, tried with lance and did for peanut/vasher. So expect a big chunk of cap space to hopefully go to tommie harris( prob 50+ million) to sign this offseason, if rosensleaze has any sense. So out cap space for other F/a is not as big as you think, if we sign tommie( figure roughly $6-7 mill of cap space for tommie for argument sake.. unless drew lets bears do a more backended deal, but do not see those often now)

I definitely agree resigning Harris is probably the top priority...


From your comments I'd infer you think the areas of consideration for the FA market would be oline, RB, WR, and QB (you've mentioned resigning Rex... all I'm referring to).



My question really is this following up:
if we resign Harris... assuming whatever number you want to assume for the remainder of our cap space (taking into account the draft), how would you prioritize FA signings by position and who would you like to see the club go after?