Who should we dump and how much will it save us.

[lex]

Wow, this team has an enormous amount of non-producing salary. So then, with that in mind who would you cut and how much would it save us?

[lex]

This was a post made earlier by eddie mac. I thank him for his handiwerk.

Cos that's approx what he'll be on the books for come next season.

Champ turned $4.78m of 2007 base salary into a signing bonus which prorates through the final 3 years of his deal to 2010 thus that's his new whopping figure for 2008 (includes a base salary of $7.5m).

Whilst there's no doubt this guy is the best player to wear the Denver uniform for a while is one player really worth over 1/10 of a team's cap room

Here's some more approx cap hits for Broncos in 2008.

Champ Bailey $12.5m-base $7.5m
Matt Lepsis $7.1m-base $4.5m
Ian Gold $4.9m-base $2.75m
Dre Bly $4.8m-base $1.0m
Javon Walker $4.2m-base $2.1m
Tom Nalen $4.1m-base $1.9m
Dan Graham $4.0m-base $700k (additional $5m option bonus kicks in in 2008 which is already prorated)
John Lynch $4.0m-base $2.0m
Ben Hamilton $3.6m-base 2.81m
Rod Smith $3.5m-base 1.5m (contract is guaranteed no matter whether he returns or not)
Patrick Ramsey $3.45m-base $700k ($2m option/roster bonus due in 2008)
Travis Henry $3.4m-base $730k
Jay Cutler $3.2m-base $648k
DJ Williams $2.35m-base $850k
Alvin McKinley $2.0m-base $1.33m
John Engelberger $1.6m-base $1.33m (There's a good chance John's deal voids saving the team his base salary)
Jarvis Moss $1.5m-base $370k
Warrick Holdman $1.5m-base $1.0m


Every other player's cap hit should be below the $1m mark unless their base salary gets upgraded via the performance system the NFL operates.

Here's the poorly paid contributors

Elvis Dumervil $545k
Brandon Marshall $550k
Tony Scheffler $695k
Chris Kuper $485k
Marcus Thomas $475k
Selvin Young $370k
Andre Hall $370k

The Broncos have approx $7-$8m of dead cap room on the books for 2008 (Al Wilson and Gerard Warren)

They also should have somewhere around $20m mark in free cap space with 47 players under contract (currently between $96m-$97m) without touching any of these deals

[rovolution]

Gold will probably not be back and Lepsis will be forced to restructure.

[alkemical]

I think DJ's contract is up soon

[SoCalBronco]

I think DJ's contract is up soon

He's an UFA after next season, since the final season of his deal (2009) is voidable.

[HEAV]

I think DJ's contract is up soon


2009

[cutthemdown]

I think Gold is gone for sure, Hamilton I think makes it back, Lynch I think retires, Lepsis will be asked to take a pay cut.

[Inkana7]

They wanted Gold gone last offseason.

[SoCalBronco]

They wanted Gold gone last offseason.

Indeed...and his replacement (Timmons) was targetted in the last draft. Ian got saved because we could not afford the financial aspects of getting rid of him and Wilson in the same offseason.

Mr. Pyrite will not be so lucky this time around. The clock is ticking.

http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1153985/2/istockphoto_1153985_calendar_march.jpg

http://www.web40571.clarahost.co.uk/roman/pix/IV_clock_Westminster.JPG

http://images.easyart.com/i/prints/rw/lg/7/1/Maxi-Posters-Grim-reaper-71949.jpg

http://web1.denverbroncos.com/resources/custom/Images/blog/070604/070604_6.jpg

[maher_tyler]

This was a post made earlier by eddie mac. I thank him for his handiwerk.

based off this i think Hamilton will be gone, holdman, smith restructure, ramsey will be gone, engleberger...maybe Todd S...

[cutthemdown]

I think Broncos will give Hamiton a chance to make it back. Maybe I am just being a homer but we sure could use him. He is loads better then Kyper and Meyers.

[lex]

I think Broncos will give Hamiton a chance to make it back. Maybe I am just being a homer but we sure could use him. He is loads better then Kyper and Meyers.

Theres no gurantee he will be next year. Look at Lepsis this year. Plus Kuper is young. Honestly, I think Kuper has been our best OL. Thats not saying a lot but Lepsis and Pears have been pure garbage. Of Holland, Myers, and Kuper, Id give Kuper the edge.

[TheDave]

based off this i think Hamilton will be gone, holdman, smith restructure, ramsey will be gone, engleberger...maybe Todd S...

I think the Todd S thing is already taken care of...

[cutthemdown]

Theres no gurantee he will be next year. Look at Lepsis this year. Plus Kuper is young. Honestly, I think Kuper has been our best OL. Thats not saying a lot but Lepsis and Pears have been pure garbage. Of Holland, Myers, and Kuper, Id give Kuper the edge.

I realize he may not come back but it's not like it was his knee or something physically he's ok. If his head heals up then I don't see him hangin up the cleats. I think Holland played the best of the interior lineman this year and I agree the tackles were horrid. Pears honestly looked better at LT last yr. Lepsis to me played like his back was bad. He played stiff and didn't seem to move his feet well. I'm not saying he was injured only trying to figure out a reason why he looked so bad all yr.

[rovolution]

Theres no gurantee he will be next year. Look at Lepsis this year. Plus Kuper is young. Honestly, I think Kuper has been our best OL. Thats not saying a lot but Lepsis and Pears have been pure garbage. Of Holland, Myers, and Kuper, Id give Kuper the edge.

Holland has been the best in my eyes, but i agree.

The interior of the line is set, regardless of whether Nalen returns or not.

Pears has been playing that "George Foster Football" and needs to take a seat on that bench.

Lepsis is clearly not the same, but lets see what Harris is made of.


From reading the Hamilton piece in the Post, I honestly believe his NFL career is over. Thats just terrible the whole situation with his children and his wife. The Broncos should not even let him come back if the situation due to concussions is affecting his family life to that degree of severity.

[TheDave]

Lepsis is clearly not the same, but lets see what Harris is made of.




My fear is that even though Lepsis has been playing poorly most of the year Harris has yet to challenge him for a position. Granted he did have a great game against the Chefs but in 3 out of his last 4 starts he has been beaten all to regularly...

With that type of performance i would at least expect to see the rookie get a series or two.

[lex]

Holland has been the best in my eyes, but i agree.

The interior of the line is set, regardless of whether Nalen returns or not.

Pears has been playing that "George Foster Football" and needs to take a seat on that bench.

Lepsis is clearly not the same, but lets see what Harris is made of.


From reading the Hamilton piece in the Post, I honestly believe his NFL career is over. Thats just terrible the whole situation with his children and his wife. The Broncos should not even let him come back if the situation due to concussions is affecting his family life to that degree of severity.

Im not comfortable with Harris.

[alkemical]

My fear is that even though Lepsis has been playing poorly most of the year Harris has yet to challenge him for a position. Granted he did have a great game against the Chefs but in 3 out of his last 4 starts he has been beaten all to regularly...

With that type of performance i would at least expect to see the rookie get a series or two.

We also have a habit of letting our rook OL's sit a year too

[lex]

We also have a habit of letting our rook OL's sit a year too

Why is that? Is it because a lot of our linemen are projects taken in low rounds?

[alkemical]

Why is that? Is it because a lot of our linemen are projects taken in low rounds?

No, i remember reading when we drafted foster - that it takes time to learn our scheme, so they sit and learn it before they play.

[lex]

No, i remember reading when we drafted foster - that it takes time to learn our scheme, so they sit and learn it before they play.

Alright, well part of it has to do with what you have at the time and our offensive line has bottomed out where Tackle is concerned. Whereas, in 2003 that may have been a luxury, in 2008 its not so much. Our Tackle situation has reached crisis stage and a young guy we draft may need to play because he's better than what we have.

[alkemical]

Yeah, i dunno - since i'm not a coach - i can only assume that i wouldn't put a guy in who's been hurt a good part of the year and may not have good strength and parts of the playbook down.

[Elway777]

If both Lynch, ,Smith and Nalen retire that should save about 6 million against the cap. If Gold is cut that should save some money but don't know how much which depends on signing bonus accelaration. I also don't know what saving the broncos get from cutting Lepsis or if Hamilton retire which would depend on signing bonus payed to them. I don't think the walker figue is right . If you look at Henry contract he only has a base of 700,000 but cap# of 3.5 which would say Henry has a big bonus comming to him next year. I wonder if the Broncos should not just cut Lepsis and trade up in the draft to get Jake long using our 2008 and 2009 first rounders.

[rovolution]

I wonder if the Broncos should not just cut Lepsis and trade up in the draft to get Jake long using our 2008 and 2009 first rounders.


If he turns out to be Joe Thomas (aka a good player), we gave up too much for one guy, but if he turns out to be Robert Gallery (a bad player), the franchise has been set back by a decade.

[telluride]

Shanny. $5 mill plus.

[SoCalBronco]

If both Lynch, ,Smith and Nalen retire that should save about 6 million against the cap. .

There will be no savings whatsoever in terms of releasing Rod. The team agreed to guarantee this year and next year's base salary in exchange for him taking a pay cut in the last restructure.

[Elway777]

If he turns out to be Joe Thomas (aka a good player), we gave up too much for one guy, but if he turns out to be Robert Gallery (a bad player), the franchise has been set back by a decade.
The Broncos would gain alot of cap room for 2009 season by cutting Lepsis and gold plus all with dead cap money comming off the books plus retirement of lynch,smith and Nalen then The Broncos should have a ton of cap room in 2009 to sign free agent s which should make up for loss of our 2009 first rounder. Long will not be bust. Long is a All pro type player either at LT or Rt.

[ward63]

Man, gotta love the offseason!!!! Please CUT GOLD! Lynch can stay if he wants. Hamilton may be very serious, but I hope he's back. Lepsis needs to restructure or hit the bricks. We have a ton of holes on this team and IMO, we need to trade our first rounder back, even if we give up a little value. I know people are going to want a top 10 talent, but we need a ton more than that. 2 OT's, DL, 2 OLB's(or replace dj and move him again), S, and P. 8 positions out of 22, that's a ton. I'm sure people disagree, but it's alright.

[eddie mac]

There will be no savings whatsoever in terms of releasing Rod. The team agreed to guarantee this year and next year's base salary in exchange for him taking a pay cut in the last restructure.


Quite correct SoCal and the $2m we owe him in backloaded bonuses sticks regardless of what happens to him so he's on the books for $3.5m whether he comes back or not. The only grace would be designating him as a June release but I've a feeling we'll use that utility on Gold as we did with Al last year.

The players who should be most wary of their current base salaries/contracts are:

Champ $7.5m base ($12.5m cap 08). The Broncos will once again either change the majority of this base into a signing bonus thus spreading the hit further throughout the remaining years of his contract or look at an extension. One has to bear in mind that any extension would automatically accelerate all owing bonus money and we're looking at anything between $15m-$18m still owing. Either way I'm pretty confident Champ's cap hit will be nowhere near the $12.5m it currently sits at for 2008.

Lepsis $4.5m base ($7.0m cap 08). This guy is in more danger of losing his job totally if he doesn't consider a huge paycut not pushing money back. Matt has only 2 years left of the 4 year extension he signed in 2005 so getting rid now would save the team cap room (approx $4m or approx $6m if we designate as a June release=$2m in dead money 2009)

Gold $2.75m base ($4.9m cap 08). He's gone unless he's prepared to play for the base minimum and school a young rookie for a season. Cap savings approx $600k if we cut now or approx $3.5m if we designate as a June release=$2.9m in dead money 2009)

Hamilton $2.81m base ($3.6m cap 08) Ben's affordable if he's 100% fit. If he cant come back and has to retire then we're looking at $2m in savings for 2008.

Lynch $2m base ($3.8m cap 08) If John retires the Broncos save approx $2m. I for one hope he doesn't. I'd like to see us draft at least one prospect and let John tutor them for a season.

Engelberger$1.33m base ($1.6m cap 08) I think John has played enough snaps this year for the final year of his 3 year extension to void. This hasn't been taken into account yet on any total cap estimates so when his contract comes off the books the Broncos save his base salary $1.33m

Holdman $1m base ($1.5m cap 08) Doubt whether Warrick will be back unless Shanahan thinks he's the answer to the worst linebacking unit in football. Savings $1m.

Walker $2.1m base ($5.3m cap 08) Forget about releasing Javon it just isn't going to happen regardless of what Klis says. The cap rammifications would be just too high. I do however think that we may attempt to shift that option bonus ($4.4m) due in March 2008 forward 1 season from 2008 to 2009 to see if that knee comes around. I dont know if that's legal within the CBA but I'm sure the Broncos are looking into that.

[eddie mac]

So the last I heard we we're sitting with 50 players under contract for 2008 with anywhere between $16.5m-$20m in room depending on what the cap figure will be.

I'd say by the time we adjust Champ's deal or extend it, get the Engelberger money via the voiding contract, release Holdman, cut Gold (designating as June 1st release), take $2m off Matt's base we could be sitting with over $30m in cap room.

Then again we do need a lot of players and good one's too.

[Elway777]

Quite correct SoCal and the $2m we owe him in backloaded bonuses sticks regardless of what happens to him so he's on the books for $3.5m whether he comes back or not. The only grace would be designating him as a June release but I've a feeling we'll use that utility on Gold as we did with Al last year.

The players who should be most wary of their current base salaries/contracts are:

Champ $7.5m base ($12.5m cap 08). The Broncos will once again either change the majority of this base into a signing bonus thus spreading the hit further throughout the remaining years of his contract or look at an extension. One has to bear in mind that any extension would automatically accelerate all owing bonus money and we're looking at anything between $15m-$18m still owing. Either way I'm pretty confident Champ's cap hit will be nowhere near the $12.5m it currently sits at for 2008.

Lepsis $4.5m base ($7.0m cap 08). This guy is in more danger of losing his job totally if he doesn't consider a huge paycut not pushing money back. Matt has only 2 years left of the 4 year extension he signed in 2005 so getting rid now would save the team cap room (approx $4m or approx $6m if we designate as a June release=$2m in dead money 2009)

Gold $2.75m base ($4.9m cap 08). He's gone unless he's prepared to play for the base minimum and school a young rookie for a season. Cap savings approx $600k if we cut now or approx $3.5m if we designate as a June release=$2.9m in dead money 2009)

Hamilton $2.81m base ($3.6m cap 08) Ben's affordable if he's 100% fit. If he cant come back and has to retire then we're looking at $2m in savings for 2008.

Lynch $2m base ($3.8m cap 08) If John retires the Broncos save approx $2m. I for one hope he doesn't. I'd like to see us draft at least one prospect and let John tutor them for a season.

Engelberger$1.33m base ($1.6m cap 08) I think John has played enough snaps this year for the final year of his 3 year extension to void. This hasn't been taken into account yet on any total cap estimates so when his contract comes off the books the Broncos save his base salary $1.33m

Holdman $1m base ($1.5m cap 08) Doubt whether Warrick will be back unless Shanahan thinks he's the answer to the worst linebacking unit in football. Savings $1m.

Walker $2.1m base ($5.3m cap 08) Forget about releasing Javon it just isn't going to happen regardless of what Klis says. The cap rammifications would be just too high. I do however think that we may attempt to shift that option bonus ($4.4m) due in March 2008 forward 1 season from 2008 to 2009 to see if that knee comes around. I dont know if that's legal within the CBA but I'm sure the Broncos are looking into that. Great Post and thanks for the information. The Broncos have no need to put dead money on the cap in 2009. If the Broncos cut these player Holdman,Lepsis ,Gold and Hamilton , Lynch and Smith retire that would give the Broncos about 11 million more under the cap . That would give the Broncos about 27 million they could spend on free agents.In 2009 the Broncos will be in better shape with all the dead money comming off the books. I think the Broncos #1 priority should be to protect Cutler. Maybe the Broncos cut Lepsis or redo his contract then go after Jake Long in the Draft.The Broncos should also be smart in the way they spend their money and target young players like Smiley and Darsby and not overspend.

[bloodsunday]

Gold, McKinley, Javon, Hamilton ... it was nice knowing you.

Travis Henry is a sleeper pick to be cut, IMHO.

[backup qb]

Im not comfortable with Harris.

Of course you're not comfortable with an unproven rookie OT. However, the time is now to find out what he has. He should play at least half of the snaps over the final two games.

[socalorado]

Of course you're not comfortable with an unproven rookie OT. However, the time is now to find out what he has. He should play at least half of the snaps over the final two games.

And THEN DEN cuts him??

[backup qb]

And THEN DEN cuts him??

????????????????I guess we'll find out. What is everyone's panic over Harris? We all know it is very rare for a rookie OL to come in and play right away. How about seeing him play a substantial amount of snaps before declaring him worthless?

[socalorado]

????????????????I guess we'll find out. What is everyone's panic over Harris? We all know it is very rare for a rookie OL to come in and play right away. How about seeing him play a substantial amount of snaps before declaring him worthless?

I guess with all the recent cuts and demotions coupled with the threads like this one on who DEN is going to cut, posters are just expecting Harris to trun out like most of Shanny's picks and get cut before the season ends.
Merry Christmas!!!!Booya!

[ND Bronco Fan]

So the last I heard we we're sitting with 50 players under contract for 2008 with anywhere between $16.5m-$20m in room depending on what the cap figure will be.

I'd say by the time we adjust Champ's deal or extend it, get the Engelberger money via the voiding contract, release Holdman, cut Gold (designating as June 1st release), take $2m off Matt's base we could be sitting with over $30m in cap room.

Then again we do need a lot of players and good one's too.

30 Mill in cap room would be fan-freakin-tastic. Its amazing what good drafts can do to help out a team (06).

[Beantown Bronco]

Im not comfortable with Harris.

I wasn't too comfortable with Rod Smith after his rookie year, either.

[Paladin]

Shanny. $5 mill plus.

When you are hating on him, that's Mr. Shanahan to you.

[Beantown Bronco]

Long will not be bust. Long is a All pro type player either at LT or Rt.

Good luck finding anything really negative about Gallery when he was at this point in the process as well. I clearly remember all the glowing reports. He was the "can't miss" prospect of that entire draft.

Nothing is a sure thing.

[backup qb]

Good luck finding anything really negative about Gallery when he was at this point in the process as well. I clearly remember all the glowing reports. He was the "can't miss" prospect of that entire draft.

Nothing is a sure thing.

I believe the only negative on Gallery, and it was a small one, was that he had short arms for an OT. I guess that may be one reason why he is at guard now.

[eddie mac]

Great Post and thanks for the information. The Broncos have no need to put dead money on the cap in 2009. If the Broncos cut these player Holdman,Lepsis ,Gold and Hamilton , Lynch and Smith retire that would give the Broncos about 11 million more under the cap . That would give the Broncos about 27 million they could spend on free agents.In 2009 the Broncos will be in better shape with all the dead money comming off the books. I think the Broncos #1 priority should be to protect Cutler. Maybe the Broncos cut Lepsis or redo his contract then go after Jake Long in the Draft.The Broncos should also be smart in the way they spend their money and target young players like Smiley and Darsby and not overspend.


Those 2 players will most likely bank the biggest contracts at their respective positions.

BTW Denver never do a season without any dead money. Shanahan likes as much room now, not later.

[eddie mac]

Gold, McKinley, Javon, Hamilton ... it was nice knowing you.

Travis Henry is a sleeper pick to be cut, IMHO.

Those 4 will be here next season unless their career's are over due to injury.

McKinley is the only DT on the roster with much NFL experience and his contract isn't huge.

As for Henry, since when do teams cut players after 1 season when they've been guaranteed $12m and it automatically hits the cap as soon as they go???

[lex]

Of course you're not comfortable with an unproven rookie OT. However, the time is now to find out what he has. He should play at least half of the snaps over the final two games.

2 games is too small of a sample size to pin your hopes on an injury prone tackle taken in the third round. We should keep him in the mix but it would be a mistake to assume he is going to pull through for us. 2 games is not enough to go on and this is a draft too laden with talent at offensive tackle. We should keep him on the roster but not assume he is going to give us anything.

[lex]

I wasn't too comfortable with Rod Smith after his rookie year, either.

When you go out to eat, do you scan right past the haddock and scrod and go right to the red herring? Just kidding. But seriously, if Rod misses a pass Elway walks off the field. If Harris misses a block, its not a certainty Jay walks off the field. Plus, Rod wasnt a third round pick like Harris so we werent exactly pinning our hopes on Rod at the outset. Same here. I dont think we can afford to bank on Harris coming through for us.

[broncolife]

????????????????I guess we'll find out. What is everyone's panic over Harris? We all know it is very rare for a rookie OL to come in and play right away. How about seeing him play a substantial amount of snaps before declaring him worthless?

I hated it when we drafted him. I thought he looked soft. So I dont have much optimism with him. But I agree this is the time to give everybody a look since the playoffs are out of reach.

[broncolife]

I wasn't too comfortable with Rod Smith after his rookie year, either.

There was nothing for me to be comfortable with because Rod didnt even hit my radar until he caught the last second bomb to win the game against the redskins.

[backup qb]

2 games is too small of a sample size to pin your hopes on an injury prone tackle taken in the third round. We should keep him in the mix but it would be a mistake to assume he is going to pull through for us. 2 games is not enough to go on and this is a draft too laden with talent at offensive tackle. We should keep him on the roster but not assume he is going to give us anything.

I have no issue with drafting an o-linemen either. I DO want to see what Harris can do.

[Dudeskey]

Of course you're not comfortable with an unproven rookie OT. However, the time is now to find out what he has. He should play at least half of the snaps over the final two games.

Sure, line up Ramsey back there first... I'd rather play russian roulette w/ his health rather than Cutler's. Yes it is the last 2 games, but I'd rather not see Cutler spending his offseason rehabilitating something.