TheOak

What salary cap situation do you speak of? having 5.5M in reserve?

jeanpierre

Well, yeah, that's less than 4.5% of the 2013 available salary cap...

That's not to take away from the good job of postponing the salary hits this year...

...but if we had to sign someone for this season, decide to release a player thus accelerating a cap hit, or extend a contract for a key player, that available space vanishes...

So I'd argue the salary cap situation is pretty tight...

TheOak

We only take a cap hit on cut players if they have bonus money associated with their contract.examples would be PT, DLP, who both have zero dead money associated with their contract.

extension example:
5 contracts can be extended with a 2013 value of 1M each and that would only open more cap space. You could restructure Strief in this way and gain 1M in cap space even with the 250k dead money acceleration.

Wallace or McCowan will be cut opening up near 1M. Cutting McCowan comes with a $65k dead money hit. Wallace yields a full 840k in cap space.

jeanpierre

Oak, other than restructuring or trade, my point is we really have no cap flexibility to release players, add players, etc...

Seer1

There's always Drew...

TheOak

We are where I would expect us to be with a fully burdened camp roster and a #1 offense.

We are near middle of the pack on cap space.
http://overthecap.com/nfl-cap-space.php?Year=2013

hagan714

MIKE (2) Curtis Lofton, Chris Chamberlain, Ramon Humber, Kevin Reddick (UDFA)

WILL (2) Jon Vilma, David Hawthorne, Will Herring, Austin Johnson, Eric Martin (UDFA)

This group really worries me. i hope they can the job since we did not get ILB in the draft or as a UNDFA. a whole bunch 43 MLB

If the group fail it could take 2 years to address.

jeanpierre

I'm still sore about not drafting Ogletree - but, I'm on-board with Vacarro now and hoping he wins the Safety spot out-right so as to improve that facet of the defense...

But, Brother, keep your eyes on UDFA Kevin Reddick - he may be a year or two away, but it'll speak volumes if he makes the team as an active player this year playing special teams...

And also watch for UDFA Eric Martin, dude has one helluva motor...

But Thomas is definitely a 3-4 OLB, even if he doesn't have the 'measurables'; I'm eager to see Thomas and Rufus push at the OLB positions for the Saints...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...

hagan714

Chase Thomas might be the right move to ILB and let him get some experience there off and on this year. butlers injury may have just assured him a roster spot

jeanpierre

Training Camp Battles Are Setting Up Nicely...

Reserve Quarterback (aka Deuce)

Luke McCown has both experience with the Saints and has starting experience that even Chase Daniel didn't offer; and while Senaca Wallace was out of football last season, his value is as a scout team quarterback for the defense; Griffin has never been surrounded by talent, but after having played in the college version of the Saints offense by former Saint Coach Curtis Johnson, he may be one of the local surprises that makes this team...

Running Back

It's the Pierre-Sproles-Ingram Committee; then, enjoy...
Travaris Cadet vs Khiry Robinson - this will be a good matchup and the winner will be the guy that gets the intangibles right (ie blocking, reads) which will earn Coach's trust and so a roster spot...

Wide Receiver

Colston, Moore, Roby should make the roster; the fourth spot is Toon's to lose; Morgan exposed himself more with the DUI - but it's his mental inconsistency that handicaps him; Stills may have the pro groomed pedigree - but I've not been impressed with his maturity in his interviews nor his grasp of what's been thrown his way; Hakim's speed is amazing, but he'll have to earn coaching staff trust as quickly as he can run to make the team; the rest will be solid, but not enough to justify seven receivers...

Perimeter Line (Tackles)

Left Tackle battle more about how fast Armstead can adapt than Armstead vs. Charlie Brown, whom the latter is not trusted by Coach...
Jason Smith will probably move to the right as he offers good measurables and could be coached up to correct some playing deficiencies setting up a nice challenge for incumbent Zach Strief who had a down year (injuries)...


Interior Line

Should remain same with Evans, de la Puente, and Grubbs with Olsen in reserve; remaining spot will be filed by one of a good group of candidates; look for Tiller to show he's gotten better to make the roster...

Tight End

Graham, best TE on the planet backed up by a great FA signing Watson; who will be the second best No.2 TE in the league; nice battle for No. 3 TE, keep an eye on Idaho State alum Josh Hill...

It's not that my way is the right way, I just make the right way my way...