New NFL CBA: On The Bills Reaching The Salary Floor, Part IV

by MattRichWarren on Jul 22, 2011 9:30 AM EDT in Buffalo Bills News

I wasn't planning on writing a Part IV to this series until I heard Ross Tucker's Football Today podcast from Monday. About 16 minutes in, Tucker begins discussing the salary cap situation with Matt Williamson. At the 20-minute mark, Tucker enlightened me on a key issue for the contract floor.

"You only have to get to that amount by the end of the season," said Tucker of the minimum salary floor. "It's not like you need to do that by the start of the season."

With this piece of information, it makes more sense for the Buffalo Bills to wait and see on those contract extensions for guys like Stevie Johnson, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Demetrius Bell. They can sit tight and if Fitzpatrick has a monster year, the team can lock him up long-term. If Stevie's numbers come back down to earth, they aren't on the hook for $50 million on a new contract he signed in August.

Conversely, teams cannot exceed the salary cap at the beginning of the season (or middle, or end for that matter). Apparently, the salary floor will not function in the same manner, which makes sense. Not spending money doesn't give you a competitive advantage, it just annoys the other owners paying into the revenue sharing pool.

There is going to be a lot of information on the new CBA coming out very quickly. We'll do our best to keep you updated and informed.

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"Reaching the floor"

…get your season tickets now.

I’d argue that signing Johnson and Fitzpatrick to extensions before the season makes more sense for the club than waiting because if they perform as expected, their price will go up as they approach the open market. Either approach is a gamble, but waiting in fear of poor seasons is the defeatist way to go about it; I’m hoping the club is so confident in what they’ve seen in these two that they want to lock them up now because they expect bigger things.

"There's only one C.J. Spiller." -Buddy Nix

by Port Royal on Jul 22, 2011 9:38 AM EDT reply actions

Of All the NEw this is what I have liked the best

Thanks MRW.

Buddy did it with Kelsay and I can see him doing it with Johnson and Fitz.

Essentially waiting till “half way through the season” will allow them to assess exactly what they have and if Fitzy and Stevie come out and are tearing up the league, give them the money the deserve and let it help yoiu get to the floor. By waiting some may look at it as handicapping them becuase they will have to pay more, but in a weird year such as this where they have to spend money it makes sense to wait and see what ya got and if ya got something, pay up.

Really, if Fitzy shows he’s a legitimate QB this year (25 TD’s, 3000 yds 10-15 int) then i mean it really helps this team in terms of long term development. If he comes out and poops the bed we havent locked him up and basically can let him walk. To me this scenario of poopiong the bed really makes me interested in who we are bringing in as a backup. If we bring someone in in the mold of Vince Young, Kyle Orton type we don’t really lose much if Fitzy isn’t all there but if we bring a youngster we have a chance at Luck and we have a chance of a young undrafted kid (ala Tony Romo; who I hate by the way) coming in and basically haveing nothing to lose.

To me the QB situation here in Buffalo is just getting started. And you could make the same case for Stevie aswell, There are too many young receivers on this team. If Stevie doesn’t come close to replicating his year last year we could see him leave as a FA next year.

"Big Gulps Eh, Well See ya later" - Lloyd Christmas
" You Gus ready To Let The Dogs Out" "What?" " you Know, Who Let the dogs out rough rough rogh rough" - Zack Galifinakis - The Hangover

by PaullyPforPrez on Jul 22, 2011 9:48 AM EDT reply actions

Im so confused

about the new floor and ceiling.

Now attending the Univ. of Hockey.

by bflo on Jul 22, 2011 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

Well not the floor as much...

but the ceiling for sure. And now that its just by seasons end, that makes it even more confusing.

Now attending the Univ. of Hockey.

by bflo on Jul 22, 2011 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah…. all the numbers that have been flying out contradict each other. Once the dust settles I will have the final figures and try and explain it more thoroughly. Just know this… the Bills (and Bucs and Redskins and a few other teams) have to spend GOBS OF MONEY on player salaries this year.

You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Jul 22, 2011 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Ha, that last sentence is about the only thing I really understand.

A re-cap after all this mess is over with would be much appreciated. Just like you said, the contradicting statements have been whats got me confused. I thought I understood until yesterdays “Well maybe teams can go over if they already were” stuff…

Just get to training camp. Thats what I know, football, haha.

Now attending the Univ. of Hockey.

by bflo on Jul 22, 2011 10:27 AM EDT up reply actions

"Well maybe teams can go over if they already were" stuff…

Yeah I read that and went “Then what the heck is a salary CAP?” We shall see.

You can't have CHANGE without CHAN.
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by MattRichWarren on Jul 22, 2011 10:30 AM EDT up reply actions

Same here.

Except I instantly got an image of Jerry Jones doing an evil laugh in my brain. Then I got a headache, haha.

Now attending the Univ. of Hockey.

by bflo on Jul 22, 2011 10:34 AM EDT up reply actions

I listen religiously to that podcast as well

Always better when Ross Tucker is on, but when season starts he will be on every time.

by sketchydave on Jul 22, 2011 10:05 AM EDT via mobile reply actions

Small Steps

We don’t even know what the supplemental revenue sharing will be yet. We don’t even know what the next Toronto series revenue sharing will bring in. We need to be cautious, sign our FA that we want to keep on the roster, explore adding additional pieces through FA, before addressing keepers after this season. We do have some keepers on the team as mentioned in the article and it does allow us to become more cautious before drowning in a mistake. We can’t afford mistakes. Small steps going forward, one or two FA outside the roster and not big contracts will allow us to move forward and still be competitive.

YOU ARE OUT of you kuku fufu mine craker laker Flaber baber FUNKI chunki brain. WE want to winn every year -- abayarde

by VanScottM on Jul 22, 2011 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

I would say 3 or 4

Just Sayin

"Big Gulps Eh, Well See ya later" - Lloyd Christmas
" You Gus ready To Let The Dogs Out" "What?" " you Know, Who Let the dogs out rough rough rogh rough" - Zack Galifinakis - The Hangover

by PaullyPforPrez on Jul 22, 2011 10:07 AM EDT up reply actions

We’ll do our best to keep you updated and informed.

Never a doubt in my mind. Appreciate your dedication and effort. It shows in the quality product you all bring us.

Thanks

Y'all- There's a "D" in rebuild, but no "O"- The gospel according to Buddy Nix 4:12

by fansince60 on Jul 22, 2011 10:23 AM EDT reply actions

agreed

The bandwagon will be full and fast and drunk and exciting - Undee

by poz on Jul 22, 2011 11:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Some reports

I’ve heard some reports/rumors that teams will have to spend up to 99% of the ceiling.

the Bills (and Bucs and Redskins and a few other teams) have to spend GOBS OF MONEY on player salaries this year.

I know the Bills, Bucs and Bengals have plenty of cash but it is hard to believe the Skins have cash to spend. I always imagine the Skins in cap hell…

A flute without holes, is not a flute. A donut without a hole, is a Danish.
Ty webb (Caddyshack)

by Goose22 on Jul 22, 2011 11:46 AM EDT reply actions