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As Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis and coach Sean Payton take stock in their roster and how money is allocated in relation to the salary cap, some things pop into mind that might be of interest to the general fan.
Once March 12 arrives, the NFL goes to a Top 51 accounting for salary cap. The top 51 salary cap numbers on each roster regardless of how many players are signed count against the cap, which is expected to be roughly $121.1 million in 2013.
For the Saints, No. 1 is Drew Brees ($17.4 million) and No. 51 is one of eight players with a $405,000 cap number. Including a $2.7 million adjustment, the Saints are still roughly $16.9 million over the expected cap as of Feb. 19.
In New Orleans’ Top 51, 25 offensive players, 24 defensive spots and two kickers are included. The offense and defense is nearly split evenly, with the offense accounting for 47 percent and the defense 49 percent of the Saints’ $135.9 million allocated towards the cap right now. That includes a $2.7 million adjustment in New Orleans' favor.

Saints have work to do to get under expected NFL salary cap in time | wwltv.com New Orleans

hagan714

Regardless, the Saints have to be at or below the ceiling by March 12 at 3 p.m. New Orleans time.

Loomis, and Payton, have their work cut out, especially since there are free agents that will have to be accounted for and eventually draft picks and rookies.

this was the key thing i saw in the report. show time is right around the corner

Danno

17 million over and we don't have a LT, or Center, and we have Jimmy Graham to deal with next year.

Thats why you don't give a 4th string injury prone fumble machine like Chris Ivory 2 million per year.

SmashMouth

... among others...

QBREES9

Oh Boy, here we go.

lumm0x

To make matters worse, we are in the top 5 worst teams in the league percentage wise for cap money tied up in signing bonuses. We are living on credit and it's going to catch up to us. We could probably free up half of what we need by turning contract money on guys like Grubbs and Evans into signing bonus cash right now by restructuring as well but it is making matters worse for 2014 and 2015. We may need to bite the bullet and make guys take pay cuts or replace them with cheaper alternatives.

TheOak

Same old drama machine that came out last year..... It's fixable.

saintsfan1976

You think other teams don't have the same problem?

Jamessr

I like having the stable of running backs we have but tbh somebody can use Ivory...
We can get something for him vs nothing.

Danno

Only 9 teams are over the cap.

8 teams are under the cap by 20 million already

Half the league is at least 10 million under the cap.

Tampa is currently sitting at 31 million under the cap. Wow.

Team Cap Space (Millions)
NY Jets -19.4
Dallas -18.2
New Orleans-14.7
Carolina -11.8
Pittsburgh -10.8
NY Giants -4.7
Oakland -4.5
Washington -4
Detroit -1.1
Arizona -0.72
St. Louis 1.8
San Fran 3.9
Atlanta 4.9
Philadelphia 5.2
Green Bay 7.1
San Diego 8.7
Houston 12.9
Chicago 13.3
Baltimore 15.7
Kansas City 16.1
Minnesota 16.1
Denver 18.5
New England 18.6
Seattle 18.6
Tennessee 19.4
Buffalo 20.6
Jacksonville 22.1
Tampa Bay 31.3
Miami 35.8
Indianapolis 46
Cleveland 48.9
Cincinnati 55.1