PFT: Rams would be well below salary floor if cap was still in place

[Goldenfleece]

Plenty of teams would be well below the salary floor
Posted by Mike Florio on March 14, 2010 2:04 PM ET
In 2009, each NFL team was required to spend $107 million on player salaries. In 2010, plenty of teams currently would be below the minimum, if there were one.

Indeed, seven franchises would be under $100 million, if there were a salary cap in place.

We've obtained the salary cap numbers that would apply if the cap were still in place. Based on the numbers, the following franchises are, to date, taking full advantage of the lack of a salary floor: the Chiefs ($79 million), the Buccaneers ($79 million), the Jaguars ($81 million), the Bengals ($85 million), the Cardinals ($91 million), the Rams ($92 million), the Bills ($98 million).

Five other teams currently are below last year's minimum.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Salary cap report, if there were a salary cap
Posted by Mike Florio on March 14, 2010 1:39 PM ET
[Editor's note: Here are the team-by-team salary cap figures, if there were a salary cap in place this year. The numbers are current, but some contracts from the past couple of days are not yet reflected.]

AFC East

Buffalo Bills: $98 million.

Miami Dolphins: $112 million.

New England Patriots: $112 million.

New York Jets: $120 million.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: $117 million.

Cincinnati Bengals: $85 million.

Cleveland Browns: $101 million.

Pittsburgh Steelers: $116 million.

AFC South

Houston Texans: $114 million.

Indianapolis Colts: $124 million.

Jacksonville Jaguars: $81 million.

Tennessee Titans: $115 million.

AFC West

Denver Broncos: $105 million.

Kansas City Chiefs: $79 million.

Oakland Raiders: $132 million.

San Diego Chargers: $104 million.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys: $153 million.

New York Giants: $118 million.

Philadelphia Eagles: $124 million.

Washington Redskins: $134 million.

NFC North

Chicago Bears: $132 million.

Detroit Lions: $106 million.

Green Bay Packers: $126 million.

Minnesota Vikings: $134 million.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: $117 million.

Carolina Panthers: $104 million.

New Orleans Saints: $135 million.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $79 million.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals: $91 million.

St. Louis Rams: $92 million.

San Francisco *****: $109 million.

Seattle Seahawks: $122 million.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

I realize that the rookie salaries probably aren't included here, but bear in mind that $107 million was last year's floor--i.e. the absolute minimum teams were allowed to spend with the CBA in place. I point this out mainly for all those who have objected to the idea of trading for big names because it would allegedly break the bank. We're in the bottom seven payrolls, among mostly smaller market teams. Maybe it's better that we save this year with the rookie QB, but if and when we want to compete for real, we're going to have to spend.

[general counsel]

And spend we will once we have a new owner. Until that time, we will be on the austerity plan, building our warchest for the lockout and minimizing the cash that the outgoing owner needs to lay out.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[39thebeast]

We will be near that number after we sign our picks dont wory. we will end up middle of the pack

[Goldenfleece]

And spend we will once we have a new owner. Until that time, we will be on the austerity plan, building our warchest for the lockout and minimizing the cash that the outgoing owner needs to lay out.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

That may be. Unfortunately, for the interim we may be fielding the league's worst defense again. It does seem like there's a plan here, but as a fan of a team with 6 wins in 3 years, I'm not exactly thrilled about the approach.

We will be near that number after we sign our picks dont wory. we will end up middle of the pack

I doubt it. Everybody else has to sign their rookies, as well. Even if we add 10% of the current payroll to account for the rookies, we'd be shy of the $107 million mark.

[39thebeast]

I doubt it. Everybody else has to sign their rookies, as well. Even if we add 10% of the current payroll to account for the rookies, we'd be shy of the $107 million mark.

Not a huge deal IMO anyway. We are one of the 12 teams under the 107 mark. Its not like we are the only team doing this. It is fairly impressive we still have more money than teams with stable ownership. I'm not expecting the next owner to be Paul Allen or Jerry Jones, but at the same time I don't think he will be like the guy owning the Bucs either. The main thing with ownership is allowing the football people to do their jobs.

[general counsel]

STan Kroenke has more money than jerry jones (a lot more) and while he may not have as much as paul allen, i for one am confident that he will spend what it takes to make us competitive (which of course starts with having quality football guys running your team). If Kroenke becomes the owner, we will not lose for lack of resources.

As for the defense, we should all keep in mind that one of the reasons (certainly not the only reason) that the defense has been so bad is that the offense can't sustain drives at all. The defense has worn down badly and then gets bombed when its exhausted. Better ball control offense will help the defense. This is also true from a field position perspective. Sure, we have a long way to go on both sides of the ball, but a better offense would sure help the defense.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[RebelYell]

I'm not even sure how we got to $92 million and I doubt the figure. Last I saw, the Rams were about $65 million and the rookies were expected to get them up to about $85-90ish.

This was one of the major concerns for the players going into the offseason. Teams weren't required to maintain a minimum salary figure yet people thought teams would spend massively on free agents. The reality is that 2011 is going to be a lockout year and teams are preparing. I don't think a new owner changes any of that. Chiefs and Bucs don't have ownership problems, what's your excuse for them being cheap?

Lastly, the lack of available free agents is an impact upon this.

[AvengerRam]

Right now, there's really nobody out there to spend the money on.

Once the cap is reinstated (and I think it will be before the 2011 season) and the Rams have a new owner in place (which will also likely occur before the 2011 offseason), the Rams will be in a very good position to make some moves.

Until then, the Rams are doing the right thing by trying to develop young players. Even if you count Steven Jackson as a "seasoned vet," the young core includes: J.Smith, J.Brown, R.Saffold, D.Avery, M.Gilyard, L.Robinson, C.Long, C.Ryan, D.Scott, J.Laurinaitis, R.Bartell, J.Murphy and... oh, yeah... S.Bradford. There are others who could emerge as well.

I think in a couple of years we may very well look at 2009 as the "purge" year, 2010 as the year the Rams start turning things around, and 2011 as the year the Rams get back into the playoff race.

I'd be okay with that.

[RebelYell]

I think in a couple of years we may very well look at 2009 as the "purge" year, 2010 as the year the Rams start turning things around, and 2011 as the year the Rams get back into the playoff race.

I'd be okay with that.

This timeline was pretty obvious and mentioned routinely last year. I'm confused why people think all the progress should be rolled into the 2010 season. It just isn't a reality.

The Rams LIKELY need a backup RB, S, DE, SLB and WLB. You get three in next years draft and 2 via free agency. Bam, the Rams are competitive in 2011.

[general counsel]

I would sure like to know more about the bid ask in the negotiations between the rams and OJ before i drew any conclusions about whether there were or weren't any legitimate options as to where to spend money right now. There is insufficient data available to determine whether the Rams are or are not making a good faith effort to sign a quality young player to a long term deal. One of the biggest problem areas for the rams right now is that we dont seem to have very many quality young guys to lock up with long term contracts at this time.

ramming speed to all

general counsel

[PeoriaRam]

Right now, there's really nobody out there to spend the money on.

Atogwe? Just pay him, for crying out loud.

[AvengerRam]

Atogwe? Just pay him, for crying out loud.

I was referring to UFAs on the open market.

[RebelYell]

Why pay Atogwe until you know he's going to be completely healthy? If he can't pass a physical, how long of a contract should they lock him up for?

[Bralidore(RAMMODE)]

Can't pay a guy with a rehabbing shoulder and a sports hernia with no timetable on his return, anything he wants.

[PeoriaRam]

Can't pay a guy with a rehabbing shoulder and a sports hernia with no timetable on his return, anything he wants.

That'd be more meaningful if we hadn't just taken Bradford #1 overall.