I'm trying to understand this cap situation, so Charles Johnson

[beastson]

http://overthecap.com/player/charles-johnson/1150/

Says dead money 4 mil next year, cap savings 11 mil

If CJ is a pre-June 1 cut next year, is that good or bad for us?

[LinvilleGorge]

Long version... not sure about that site and how it's laid out, but CJ has a $15.02M cap hit next season.  $10.75M of that is in salary, $4.02M is in a restructuring bonus, and $250k is in a workout bonus.  If he were cut pre-June 1st and prior to collecting the workout bonus, we'd have $4.02M in dead cap, but we'd save the $11M of salary and workout bonus.  

Short version... we'd pick up $11M in freed cap space.

[stirs]

Whether or not he sticks is up to Gman and the cap guys, BUT, he is grossly overpaid for the job he does currently. (and yes I know he is injured), I am talking about the last couple of seasons.  He is easily handled by one Olineman, does not require a double team.

You can get that for a lot less

[LUUUUUKE]

Sadly, I think CJ is gone next season. If Smitty wasn't safe, then nobody is imho. We are a defensive football team, but I see either a complete restructure or he's gone.

[pantherj]

It's interesting to see how different players respond to getting older. Peppers is doing just fine, but CJ's body is falling apart and he just doesn't have it anymore. I can't imagine CJ coming back for next season unless he plays great after his return.

[Leeroy Jenkins PhD]

J-Stew and Big Money are likely both cap casualties next year.  Especially if we hope to resign our young DTs and Norman.  Honestly, they are both getting to an age where they are starting to decline. 

[LinvilleGorge]

From a cap perspective, it makes no sense to retain CJ at his cap number based on his recent production.  But, it honestly didn't this season either.  Sometimes your hand is forced by your current roster.  Had Hardy not royally fuged up, he'd be here making big bucks and CJ would have probably already sent packing.

[pantherj]

From here on out I would rather we stick with young cheap RBs with fresh legs. Even if CAP does a great job during his rookie contract, if he wants a big contract I'd rather let him walk. Just keep reloading with young RBs who can be obtained later in the draft. 

[Ncpantherfan71]

There is only one player on this team who is truly safe.  I think it was a few years ago the Big Cat said TD will have a job as long as he wants it, and I don't think he is the type of man to abuse that situation.  If something should cause Luke and Cam to understand perform their contract I am pretty sure they will be let go of they don't renegotiate.

[LinvilleGorge]

It won't be a restructure.  There are no future years to push money into.  It'd have to be an extension with a straight up pay cut.  Gman isn't going to push guaranteed money into future years on an aging player with injury issues and declining performance.  That'd be crazy.

 

I think CJ either plays out the contract as written or he gets cut because I don't think he's going to give up guaranteed money either.  

[LinvilleGorge]

Well, Peppers is an athletic freak of nature and has never had any real injury issues.  CJ doesn't have near Peppers' natural ability and he's been hampered by injuries for the past two years.

You can make a decent argument that Julius Peppers is the most naturally talented DE ever.  If he had CJ's drive he would've gone down as one of the greatest of all time, instead he'll just go down as one of the really good.

[panthers55]

This conversation is very premature. Let's see what happens the rest of the year. I do see us asking for a pay cut next year like we did with Gross. Not sure he would go for it. I would love to see some others break out this year which enhances our options.

 

[propagandamachine]

Gettleman will load Cut his ass and load up on nothing but defensive ends... BTW thats how he beat Patriots TWICE in the Superbowl. lol. 

[Leeroy Jenkins PhD]

In theory we can just cut CJ/Stew and slide that money to KK/Star/Norman.

The problem is now you've spent all your money & have 0 quality RBs or DEs on your roster. (Still have to sign rookies, Norwell, Turner, Benwikere, free agents, etc, etc as well as maintain flexibility.)

 

the way they have been playing, the argument can be made that we don't have quality starting at those positions right now. Just lots of sunk cost.