Patriots’ Cap Figure Burdened By Dead Money But Still Near 2009 Status Quo

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Jul 28, 2010

Patriots' Cap Figure Burdened By Dead Money But Still Near 2009 Status QuoWhat's the 2010 NFL salary cap? 

It doesn't exist, as the league is operating in an uncapped year while labor negotiations take place.

Even so, most teams are staying approximately true to last year's figure of $128 million. The Patriots, with no blockbuster moves, are nearly at the identical cap figure to 2009 of $123 million, according to Football Outsiders.

The Pats' most expensive player is Randy Moss, who costs the team $11.26 million (about one-eleventh of the total cap figure). Tom Brady, also in the last year of his contract, is second-most expensive. Somewhat surprisingly, Leigh Bodden is the team's third-most expensive player.

Within this figure is approximately $10.7 million in so-called "dead money," which is the portion of signing bonuses assigned to future seasons at the time of signing free agents after said free agents have left the team.

For example, Adalius Thomas is no longer on the team, but a $4.4 million portion of his signing bonus is left as dead money against the cap this year. When players whom you sign to long-term deals live out their contracts with your team, signing bonuses relieve stress on a salary cap, but the opposite is true when they leave. 

While the Pats' $10.7 million figure has nothing on the Redskins $31 million mark, it is well above the league average and a major reason why the Pats couldn't make a big offseason move.

Moss' current cap figure of $11.26 million is comprised of a $4.75 million portion of his signing bonus, $6.4 million in base salary, and approximately $100,000 in workout bonuses. Even though the $4.75 million is over one-third of his total $12 million signing bonus on his three year deal, this back-loaded proration is still much more cap friendly than signing Moss to a deal with a higher salary and lower bonus. This is because players generally demand less total money when more of the figure is paid up-front.

As for Brady's hypothetical new deal, if Sam Bradford gets a deal worth about $50 million over five years, Brady should be expected to sign a deal with a higher base salary, such as $48 million over four years. 

Moss, of course, will also need a new deal if he is to stay in New England.

The one team that is an exception to the "staying true to the 2009 cap" rule should be no surprise. Dan Snyder's Washington Redskins are paying out nearly $190 million this year.

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