Breaking the Bank!

GumboBC · 02-27-2005, 11:02 AM

Increasingly we are seeing teams that are having to cut some of their "key" players in an attempt to get under the NFL mandated salary cap.

Most of those teams are teams that have either been to a recent super bowl, or teams who have made a strong push to get there

Examples:

1. Tennessee Titans: This has been a very good team for a long time. They have been a fixture in the AFC playoffs for years. Even making it to the big dance a few years ago where they lost to the St. Louis Rams. In one way or another, the Titans have spent large amounts of cash to get the players they wanted in order to try and win a championship. Unfortunately, for them, that didn't happen and now they are having to cut some of their "key" players to get under the cap!

2. Carolina Panthers: This is a team who came out of nowhere a couple of years ago to make it to the super bowl. John Fox and co., in one way or another, peaked-out their salary cap in an attempt to win it all! Unfortunately for them, they weren't quite able to win the championship. Now they are facing big cap problems and are having to release "key" guys who helped them make it to the big dance.

3. Tampa Bay Bucs: We all know the story here. Gruden took over a team Tony Dungy built team and was able to get them over the hump and won it ALL! But, they are faced with a dire situation today! Give them credit though, they paid what they had to pay and won a super bowl. I'm sure their fans are happy even though they don't appear to be a very good team today!

All of these teams have ONE thing in common. And winning the super bowl isn't one of them. What they all have in common is they spent the neccessay money to make them contenders, with only the Bucs having won the super bowl.

And now they all 3 have something else in common! They are all in salary cap hell!!

Was it worth it for the Titans and Panthers? That's a tough question to answer.

But, the bottom line is: Neither the Titans or Panthers gave their fans what they wanted. Which was a super bowl victory.

Now those fans are faced with the real possibility that neither of those teams will even make it to the playoffs for the next few years. Both teams are very weak in certain areas and even if they do somehow manage to make it to the playoffs, they sure don't look like they could advance very far.

The Titans really appear to be a bad team these days having had a terrible season last year and now having cut some of their better players.

The Panthers are coming off a 7-9 season and just cut a pro bowl receiver and a pro bowl linebacker to try and get under the salary cap. And the year after their super bowl appearance they lost some of thier best offensive linemen which really hurt them last season. This team is only a former shadow of their super bowl year!

Which brings me to the Saints. They've done a masterful job managing the salary cap. But, they haven't sniffed the playoffs for 4-years. Could this be because they haven't been willing to take risks in free-agency like the Bucs, Panthers, and Titans? I think that's a big part of it.

The bad news is the Saints haven't been to the playoffs for 4-years. The good news is that we didn't fail to win a super bowl like the Titans and Panthers and we aren't in salary cap hell like both of those teams.

The only remaining question is will the Saints be aggressive in free-agency this year and give our team a chance to compete. And can they do it the right way? Can they keep us out of salary cap hell?

[Edited on 27/2/2005 by GumboBC]

Saints4Life · 02-27-2005, 11:43 AM

The only remaining question is will the Saints be aggressive in free-agency this year and give our team a chance to compete. And can they do it the right way? Can they keep us out of salary cap hell?[Edited on 27/2/2005 by GumboBC]

I think every free agency we all ask ourselves that with the same answer.....no. Every year I get more and more frustrated when I see big names in free agency go to different teams because we are afraid to spend a little more. I always think that maybe this up coming free agency period we will finally get it done, but its the same thing every time. All the other teams get the big name players and we get the leftovers

[Edited on 27/2/2005 by Saints4Life]

GumboBC · 02-27-2005, 12:01 PM

All the other teams get the big name players and we get the leftovers

Agreed.

But, what big name free-agents have help thier teams win the super bowl?

Cory Dillion? The Pats won 2 without him. But, I definately think he played a big role this past season?

Terrell Owens? The Eagles made it to the AFC championship game 3 times without him. And made it to the superbowl with Ownes on the bench.

Champ Baily? The Broncos didn\'t even win a playoff game with Baily this year.

Clinton Portis? The Redskins did nothing with him.

It\'s debateable how much these \"big\" name players helped their teams. It\'s also debateable how much cap trouble these players will be in the future.

LKelley67 · 02-27-2005, 12:06 PM

there is a definite window for pushing for every team whether they make a run successfully or not. i think the saints have this season, maybe one more before some major recycling/overhaul moves have to be made. even the pats, the savviest for cap managers are coming to major crossroads (ty law gone, how much can they pay brady, etc.) i am a proponent of n.o. going for it all, hard as can be, now. if not, it is likely the salary cap overhauls will have to take place anyway soon whether the coming season is 4-12 or 12-4.

dberce1 · 02-27-2005, 01:15 PM

Isn\'t pumice Loomis supposed to be a cap genius?? And please don\'t confuse that with GM genius, talent wise. We know he lacks there, but seems like his penny pinching helps w/ the cap.

Euphoria · 02-27-2005, 03:43 PM

We are starting to see cap problems, this year. Howard situation doesn\'t make it easier.

What the Pats. have done is get what they feel is a ten person in talent and pay them around that range and somehow it keeps them out of cap trouble, for now. Its what everyone has been saying most of the year is that the Pats are solid across the board. You don\'t need the best WR in the league, you don\'t need the best RB in the league ya just need the number 10 guy.

mutineer10 · 02-27-2005, 04:31 PM

Its what everyone has been saying most of the year is that the Pats are solid across the board. You don\'t need the best WR in the league, you don\'t need the best RB in the league ya just need the number 10 guy.

Well, having Belichick coach them doesn\'t hurt, either...

But yeah, solid truth. Having talented - but not necessarily \"star\" - players and getting them to play as a team has bred real success for the Pats. Every week it seemed like someone different was getting it done in some different way, but the bottom line is that they kept getting it done all the way through Feburary 6th.

Must be nice...

shadowdrinker · 02-27-2005, 04:55 PM

Until this deal between the Saints and the State is finalized...

I really don\'t see us making any sort of big waves in F.A...That is unless we happen to release a few of our Top guys, and just sign second rate talent to fill the holes...Which is far more likely than us signing any from other teams..or F.A...At least until the deal is done...look for Benson to pinch pennies very hard...so hard..it\'ll make Lincoln\'s nose bleed..

LKelley67 · 02-27-2005, 08:33 PM

see WHEW read this

Euphoria · 02-27-2005, 08:43 PM

I don\'t see what the Saints/State has anything to do what they do in FA. Saints are getting strapped for cap space not much is going to be done unless we drop some players and replace them with other names.

02-27-2005, 11:02 AM	#1
GumboBC Banned Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,616	Breaking the Bank! Increasingly we are seeing teams that are having to cut some of their "key" players in an attempt to get under the NFL mandated salary cap. Most of those teams are teams that have either been to a recent super bowl, or teams who have made a strong push to get there Examples: 1. Tennessee Titans: This has been a very good team for a long time. They have been a fixture in the AFC playoffs for years. Even making it to the big dance a few years ago where they lost to the St. Louis Rams. In one way or another, the Titans have spent large amounts of cash to get the players they wanted in order to try and win a championship. Unfortunately, for them, that didn't happen and now they are having to cut some of their "key" players to get under the cap! 2. Carolina Panthers: This is a team who came out of nowhere a couple of years ago to make it to the super bowl. John Fox and co., in one way or another, peaked-out their salary cap in an attempt to win it all! Unfortunately for them, they weren't quite able to win the championship. Now they are facing big cap problems and are having to release "key" guys who helped them make it to the big dance. 3. Tampa Bay Bucs: We all know the story here. Gruden took over a team Tony Dungy built team and was able to get them over the hump and won it ALL! But, they are faced with a dire situation today! Give them credit though, they paid what they had to pay and won a super bowl. I'm sure their fans are happy even though they don't appear to be a very good team today! All of these teams have ONE thing in common. And winning the super bowl isn't one of them. What they all have in common is they spent the neccessay money to make them contenders, with only the Bucs having won the super bowl. And now they all 3 have something else in common! They are all in salary cap hell!! Was it worth it for the Titans and Panthers? That's a tough question to answer. But, the bottom line is: Neither the Titans or Panthers gave their fans what they wanted. Which was a super bowl victory. Now those fans are faced with the real possibility that neither of those teams will even make it to the playoffs for the next few years. Both teams are very weak in certain areas and even if they do somehow manage to make it to the playoffs, they sure don't look like they could advance very far. The Titans really appear to be a bad team these days having had a terrible season last year and now having cut some of their better players. The Panthers are coming off a 7-9 season and just cut a pro bowl receiver and a pro bowl linebacker to try and get under the salary cap. And the year after their super bowl appearance they lost some of thier best offensive linemen which really hurt them last season. This team is only a former shadow of their super bowl year! Which brings me to the Saints. They've done a masterful job managing the salary cap. But, they haven't sniffed the playoffs for 4-years. Could this be because they haven't been willing to take risks in free-agency like the Bucs, Panthers, and Titans? I think that's a big part of it. The bad news is the Saints haven't been to the playoffs for 4-years. The good news is that we didn't fail to win a super bowl like the Titans and Panthers and we aren't in salary cap hell like both of those teams. The only remaining question is will the Saints be aggressive in free-agency this year and give our team a chance to compete. And can they do it the right way? Can they keep us out of salary cap hell? [Edited on 27/2/2005 by GumboBC]
GumboBC Banned Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,616

02-27-2005, 11:43 AM	#2
Saints4Life Registered Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 31	Breaking the Bank! The only remaining question is will the Saints be aggressive in free-agency this year and give our team a chance to compete. And can they do it the right way? Can they keep us out of salary cap hell?[Edited on 27/2/2005 by GumboBC] I think every free agency we all ask ourselves that with the same answer.....no. Every year I get more and more frustrated when I see big names in free agency go to different teams because we are afraid to spend a little more. I always think that maybe this up coming free agency period we will finally get it done, but its the same thing every time. All the other teams get the big name players and we get the leftovers [Edited on 27/2/2005 by Saints4Life]
Saints4Life Registered Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 31

02-27-2005, 12:01 PM	#3
GumboBC Banned Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,616	Breaking the Bank! All the other teams get the big name players and we get the leftovers Agreed. But, what big name free-agents have help thier teams win the super bowl? Cory Dillion? The Pats won 2 without him. But, I definately think he played a big role this past season? Terrell Owens? The Eagles made it to the AFC championship game 3 times without him. And made it to the superbowl with Ownes on the bench. Champ Baily? The Broncos didn\'t even win a playoff game with Baily this year. Clinton Portis? The Redskins did nothing with him. It\'s debateable how much these \"big\" name players helped their teams. It\'s also debateable how much cap trouble these players will be in the future.
GumboBC Banned Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,616

02-27-2005, 12:06 PM	#4
LKelley67 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: baton rouge Posts: 2,540	Breaking the Bank! there is a definite window for pushing for every team whether they make a run successfully or not. i think the saints have this season, maybe one more before some major recycling/overhaul moves have to be made. even the pats, the savviest for cap managers are coming to major crossroads (ty law gone, how much can they pay brady, etc.) i am a proponent of n.o. going for it all, hard as can be, now. if not, it is likely the salary cap overhauls will have to take place anyway soon whether the coming season is 4-12 or 12-4.

02-27-2005, 01:15 PM	#5
dberce1 Chuck Liddells Right Hand Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Prairieville, Louisiana Posts: 1,227	Breaking the Bank! Isn\'t pumice Loomis supposed to be a cap genius?? And please don\'t confuse that with GM genius, talent wise. We know he lacks there, but seems like his penny pinching helps w/ the cap.

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02-27-2005, 03:43 PM	#6
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	Breaking the Bank! We are starting to see cap problems, this year. Howard situation doesn\'t make it easier. What the Pats. have done is get what they feel is a ten person in talent and pay them around that range and somehow it keeps them out of cap trouble, for now. Its what everyone has been saying most of the year is that the Pats are solid across the board. You don\'t need the best WR in the league, you don\'t need the best RB in the league ya just need the number 10 guy.

02-27-2005, 04:31 PM	#7
mutineer10 Site Donor Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 1,739	Breaking the Bank! Its what everyone has been saying most of the year is that the Pats are solid across the board. You don\'t need the best WR in the league, you don\'t need the best RB in the league ya just need the number 10 guy. Well, having Belichick coach them doesn\'t hurt, either... But yeah, solid truth. Having talented - but not necessarily \"star\" - players and getting them to play as a team has bred real success for the Pats. Every week it seemed like someone different was getting it done in some different way, but the bottom line is that they kept getting it done all the way through Feburary 6th. Must be nice...

02-27-2005, 04:55 PM	#8
shadowdrinker Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 517	Breaking the Bank! Until this deal between the Saints and the State is finalized... I really don\'t see us making any sort of big waves in F.A...That is unless we happen to release a few of our Top guys, and just sign second rate talent to fill the holes...Which is far more likely than us signing any from other teams..or F.A...At least until the deal is done...look for Benson to pinch pennies very hard...so hard..it\'ll make Lincoln\'s nose bleed..
shadowdrinker Banned Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 517

02-27-2005, 08:33 PM	#9
LKelley67 1000 Posts + Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: baton rouge Posts: 2,540	Breaking the Bank! see WHEW read this

02-27-2005, 08:43 PM	#10
Euphoria 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Hollywood, CA Posts: 7,601 Blog Entries: 5	Breaking the Bank! I don\'t see what the Saints/State has anything to do what they do in FA. Saints are getting strapped for cap space not much is going to be done unless we drop some players and replace them with other names.