Ram players cap figures and what it would cost to cut them

[RamsSB99]

This was posted on stltodays RamsTalk back in November by Stel a forum member. Assuming his numbers are correct its a very interesting read.

Post subject: Next year's team (an analysis)
Posted: Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:53 pm
Rather than join in the rantfest about the Rams, I spent some time perusing the numbers for next year. Maybe not too productive, but at least it is somewhat constructive and positive.

The best information I could find was from realramsfans.com (thanks to S.O.K.A.). Any errors in calculations and analysis are mine. I can't find a number for Long, his contract is very complicated, but his salary is $3.625M - for our purposes, I'm going to use $6M for cap).

By my count, there are 36 players under contract for next year, with a total cap number of $101.248M (with 23 under contract for 2010). I divided these into 4 categories: A. Players who will definitely be here, as they are doing their job, or they are "in training;" B. Those who will probably be here; those who will probably be here, because they cannot be replaced for the same money; C. Those who will be here because, regardless of whether you like their play, money concerns keep them on the roster; and D. Those that could be gone.

A. 14 players, $22.772M in cap: WR Avery, K Brown, WR Burton, DT Carricker, LB Chamberlain, S Condren, G Greco, RB Jackson, P Jones, DE Long, FB Massey, G Schuening, LB Witherspoon, and CB King.

B. 5 players, $5.056M in cap: OT Barron, S Johnson, RB Pittman, DT Ryan, CB Wade.

C. 6 players, $29.553M in cap: G Bell, QB Bulger, CB Hill, RB Leonard, DE Little, WR Bennett.

D. 11 players, $37.867M (cap hit of $12.516 if all cut, saving $25.351M in cap space): TE Becht, S Chavous, LB Draft, QB Green, DE Hall, WR Holt, TE Klopfenstein, OT Pace, LB Tinoisamoa, TE McMichael, and DT Wroten.

In addition, players not under contract that:
1. I think we will attempt to keep: DE Adeyanju, S Atogwe, CB Bartell.
2. I think we may attempt to keep: OT Goldberg, G Incognito, FB Kreider, C Leckey, WR Looker, CB Manning, RB Minor, C Romberg, LB Stills, OT Gorin.
3. I think they will probably let go without attempting to sign: QB Berlin, LB Culbertson, DT Glover, DE Moore, RB Minor, WR Hall, G Setterstrom, LB Voboro.

Those in 2 & 3 that they try to keep will be based mainly on whether they are cheaper than a comparable replacement at their position.

A few comments on individual players, since they get discussed here:
Category C
Bell - too much guaranteed money to cut
Bulger - cap number next year is $8.5M, cost if cut is $8.0
Hill - cap number next year is $2.37M, cost if cut is $2.66M
Little - cap number next year is $8.118M, cost if cut is $5.618M (could be cut, but it is his final year and the cap hit couldn't be split over two years).
Bennett - cap number next year is $4.55M, cost if cut is $5.0M

Category D
Becht - cap $1.135M, cap hit if cut $.135M; he's gone
Chavous - cap $2.8M, cap hit if cut $1.6M; the $1.2 savings could pay his replacement
Green - cap $2.7M, cap hit if cut $1.4M; the 1.3M savings could pay his replacement
Holt - cap $8.855M, cap hit if cut $2.205M; savings is $6.65M. I love him, but he's gone.
Pace - cap 9.0M, cap hit if cut $3.0M; savings is $6.0M. Not reliable enough to spend the money. He's gone.
Tinoisamoa - cap is $4.083M, cap hit if cut $1.666; savings of $2.417M
McMichael - cap is $4.6M, cap hit if cut $1.0M; savings of $3.6M

The bottom line, this team will probably clean house and rebuild over the next two years. I think 10-15 of the 36 players under contract will be gone, meaning over half of next year's team will be new players.

We will definitely need a program!

[RamsSB99]

Category C
Bulger - cap number next year is $8.5M, cost if cut is $8.0
Little - cap number next year is $8.118M, cost if cut is $5.618M (could be cut, but it is his final year and the cap hit couldn't be split over two years).

Category D
Holt - cap $8.855M, cap hit if cut $2.205M; savings is $6.65M. I love him, but he's gone.
Pace - cap 9.0M, cap hit if cut $3.0M; savings is $6.0M. Not reliable enough to spend the money. He's gone.
Tinoisamoa - cap is $4.083M, cap hit if cut $1.666; savings of $2.417M

IF we could trade these guys for a bag of chips and Mr. Irrelevant or a late round pick wouldn't we realize a savings of their whole salary?

IF Traded we get:
Bulger 8.5 mil
Pisa 4.083 mil
Little 8.118 mil
Holt 8.855 mil
Pace 9 mil
TOTAL: 38.556 mil (not that I am recommending trading Bulger and Pisa)

IF Released we get:
Bulger .5 mil (probably not worth releasing)
Pisa 2.417 mil (probably not worth releasing)
Little 2.5 mil (probably not worth releasing)
Holt 6.65 mil
Pace 6 mil
TOTAL: 18.067 mil


I would not recommend Bulger going anywhere this year. But I included him because these are the guys you might be able to trade and not have to release.

[soup1981]

The more players gone the better, bring in some winners and hard hitters spags !!!!!

[txramsfan]

You know, I wonder what kind of precendent we would set if we dropped everyone except Jackson, Long, and a few others.

With this Rams team, I harken back to John McKay and the Tampa Bay Buccanneers when a reporter asked about the execution of his team? He said, I'm all for it.

Better line: We are four specific plane crashes away from the playoffs. Wow, I miss the good ole days.

[Mooselini]

I don't want guys like Bulger, Pisa, McMichael gone. I'm sorry, they can come back and play vital roles on this team next year.

I don't know what we can do. I honestly believe that we should start contract reconstruction talks with some players on this team.