Many Redskins fans and media people are
asking the same question “Given that Lavar Arrington is hardly being used by Gregg
Williams, what will become of him in 2006”.
If the Redskins indeed believe that Arrington doesn’t fit into the
defensive structure, and believe he would be better off elsewhere next season
then the two options are to trade him or release him. So what are the cap implications of those options and the issues
that are related to the current state of CBA negotiations?
Just some background first. Arrington’s current contract with the Skins
runs through 2011, and his cap hit for next year (if he stays with the team) is
currently shown as $12.046 million.
That figure includes the full $6.5 million roster bonus due to him,
which as I've said in my previous
cap articles would get guaranteed if he stayed on before its due thus
spreading it out over either the length of the contract or to 2009 depending on
the state of CBA negotiations. In the
worst-case scenario, if the CBA is not extended/renewed by the time the roster
bonus is due, Arrington's cap number next year would be $7.171 million after
the roster bonus is guaranteed.
Also of note is the result of the recent
arbitration hearing into the other “disputed $6.5 million bonus figure”. An agreement was reached to insert an
amendment to Arrington's contract stating that if he makes the Pro Bowl two of
the next four seasons he would be allowed to void his contract and become a
free agent (after 2008). The Redskins would then have the option of paying him
a $3.250 million bonus to keep him. In
addition, Arrington could earn $1.6 million more if he participates in 98
percent of special-teams plays, which is highly unlikely.
To trade Arrington next offseason - before
his $6.5 million roster bonus falls due - would cost the Skins $12.545 million
in dead cap money in 2006 (from the accelerated signing/restructure
bonuses). This would indeed be a huge
commitment of dead money to the salary cap – and an increase of nearly $5
million in net cap terms. A number of
factors would govern if the Redskins could afford this including the NFL salary
cap for 2006, any cap credits gained from 2005, the ability to restructure
contracts and whether there are many major free agent needs in 2006.
Releasing Arrington outright would need to
be done before his roster bonus is due to minimise the cap damage so it would
have the same cap implications as trading him but of course the Redskins get
nothing in compensation.
So are there any other options available to
Washington that would minimize the cap damage?
There are three possibilities, the first option is a long shot, and the
second option would require a new or extended CBA agreement to be in
place. Both of these options would
require Lavar’s cooperation. The third
option is to keep Arrington around until after the 2006 season.
The long shot is that Arrington would agree
to pay back or forego instalments as part of the $11.3 million option bonus he
received last year as part of his last contract restructuring in 2003. As was seen with the Laveranues Coles
situation, the odds of a player paying back bonus money – even for freedom to
sign a new contract elsewhere either as a free agent or through a trade – are
about as great as the 49ers winning this years Super Bowl and would trigger
some intervention from the NFLPA.
The second option involves the Redskins
striking an agreement with Arrington to push back his roster bonus until after
June 1 next year in exchange for agreeing to release him on June 1 - thus
spreading the accelerated cap hit over two years ($5.096 million in 2006,
$7.449 million in 2007). This would
allow Arrington to sign with another team and get another signing bonus. However, there is one hitch to this option. The CBA must be extended or renewed
first. Why?
Unless the CBA is extended/renewed NFL
teams cannot spread cap hits on accelerated bonuses into an uncapped year
(which is 2007 under the current CBA).
Here is the relevant section of the current CBA agreement that deals
with acceleration of guaranteed bonuses :
(ii) Acceleration (of prorated bonuses).
(1) For any player removed from the Team’s
roster on or before June 1, any unamortized signing bonus amounts will be
included in Team Salary for such League Year. If such acceleration puts a Team
over the Salary Cap, the Team will have seven days to conform with the Salary
Cap, but may not sign any players until there is Room to do so under the Salary
Cap.
(2) For any player removed from the Team’s
roster after June 1, any unamortized signing bonus amounts for future years
will be included fully in Team Salary at the start of the next League Year.
* During any League Year
immediately preceding an Uncapped Year, the provisions relating to acceleration
of unamortized signing bonuses applicable on or before June 1 of that League
Year shall apply during that League Year after June 1.
*Side Letter
11/1/95: Sec. 2
(3) In the event that a player who has had a
signing bonus allocated over the years of his Player Contract is traded, or
whose Contract is assigned to another team pursuant to the NFL’s waiver
procedure, then such signing bonus shall be accelerated as in subsection
(ii)(1) above and the assignee Team’s Team Salary will not include any portion
of the signing bonus.
The other point of note is that the
majority of Arrington’s future earnings under his current contract are based on
roster and performance bonuses, so why would he be willing to cooperate in any
type of deal to move him? After all
he’s on a cash cow here in DC. Is the
motivation and eagerness to compete on the field a higher priority than earning
a bucket load of money being a spot player?
If the Redskins release him he can just sign with another team. So why should he do anything?
The third option is to keep Arrington on
the roster in 2006, guarantee his roster bonus and then move him in 2007 If the CBA isn’t renewed or extended its an
uncapped year so the salary cap is no object.
If a new CBA were in place the NFL salary cap would be significantly
higher and the Redskins cap situation would be significantly healthier to
accommodate a dead cap hit of around $11m.
So unless the Redskins get some level
cooperation from Arrington, the only way to move him in 2006 is to take the cap
medicine next year, and if this is scenario that plays out – like with Coles –
getting a player or draft pick compensation for him in a trade would be the
best option.
