Recapping the Cap For The Chiefs

@tm1946 First, cash spent in one season is not the same as cap spent in the same season--signing bonuses are amortized over contract lives, etc. Second, while cash in the bank can carry over to the next season, I do not believe unused cap space does. If this is the case and so long as owners have ample cash on hand, then it could, under the right circumstances, be smart to spend cash this season that would otherwise be spent in future seasons in order to more fully use up this season's cap space and free up future season cap space. If future cap space is not carefully managed, then sooner or later the cap Piper has to be paid either by "restructuring" existing long term contracts (a la Steelers) or also losing key players (a la Raiders and perhaps other teams whose identities will be known soon). Clear as mud?

@JohnMorrow How would use it or lose it work? If it is in your bank account do you give it back to the NFL or not spend it on player salaries or be forced to put it in the owners personal account or give some money to the fans, heaven forbid. Do not sse how it would work.

@laddiemorse@tm1946@kcman1978 Under new CBA, does anyone know whether any unused cap for 2011 carries over to 2012? If not, then there would seem to exist a "use it or lose it" incentive to do some mid-year deals to lock in some more key players, such as one or both Brandons, etc.

@laddiemorse Despair not! I believe the AFC West can be won with fewer than 10 wins this year. Schedule is darn tough for the entire division. We do need to have the best record against division opponents, though, unlike last year.

Looks like the Steelers have gotten under the cap by restructuring the contracts of five players: Woodley, Roethlisberger, Harrison, Miller and Keisel. Most teams will probably restructure. If not expect the hammer to fall on some unexpecting big names.

3:00 PM CT is the deadline for teams to bring their total cap spending under the cap.

[...] Recapping the Cap For The Chiefs [...]

Looking into that and will let you know when I hear something. @rlangsford

Pioli is on top of that game... he extended DJ and JC in the middle of last season. I expect he'll do the same with Carr and perhaps others depending on how the Chiefs are performing mid season. @Celtks

Fewer than 10 wins? You may be right and I hope Chiefs' fans are prepared for that because it's very possible... and yet we'll be an improved team this season. @JohnMorrow Excellent post.

It may not do much but, if some astounding player becomes available we can jump in... if we want to. @tm1946 @kcman1978

Maybe doing a longer term contract during the season is in the cards for an existing player.

Any speculation on potential cap casualty players the Chiefs should be ready to pounce on?

@kcman1978 Changed my position, these moves are more than adequate. But still waiting to see how management handles things. If the numbers are correct, 10-12 mil will not do much, so keep it.

Because the new CBA introduced some sanity into the rookie salary scale, the Chiefs received better value for a strong, 9-member draft class whose members fit specific needs. Because the CBA-shortened pre-season reduced the time to integrate and, therefore, the demand for free agents, the Chiefs received better value for a handful of free agents carefully chosen to fit specific needs while mainly resigning their own, known players. Because the Chiefs are still significantly under their 2011 salary cap, they have the flexibility to take opportunistic advantage of other teams' cap "casualties" (a proven backup QB perhaps). I like our young, emerging 53-man team and cap position much better than that of our AFC West competition and believe we are going to be a stronger team this year than last, even if our much tougher 2011 schedule produces fewer than 10 wins.

Damn autocorrect! Pioli* knows football. (Maybe my phone thinks otherwise)

Kudos to the Chiefs' front office (including Clark Hunt). Everybody's been so upset we didn't sign the San Fran NT, but I am totally happy with us getting back Hali, Carr and bringing in Breaston and McClain. Now we have room to scoop up any good cap casualties. We as Chiefs fans have a habit of bitching about our front office because for so many years we had good reason to. Stop looking at the stats. Stop looking at league trends. Just sit back and enjoy the show. Pooling knows football! He's not trying to build the Kansas City Patriots. He's trying to build something better!

Looks like the Steelers have gotten under the cap by restructuring the contracts of five players: Woodley, Roethlisberger, Harrison, Miller and Keisel. Most teams will probably restructure. If not expect the hammer to fall on some unexpecting big names.

3:00 PM CT is the deadline for teams to bring their total cap spending under the cap.

Maybe doing a longer term contract during the season is in the cards for an existing player.

Any speculation on potential cap casualty players the Chiefs should be ready to pounce on?

Because the new CBA introduced some sanity into the rookie salary scale, the Chiefs received better value for a strong, 9-member draft class whose members fit specific needs.

Because the CBA-shortened pre-season reduced the time to integrate and, therefore, the demand for free agents, the Chiefs received better value for a handful of free agents carefully chosen to fit specific needs while mainly resigning their own, known players.

Because the Chiefs are still significantly under their 2011 salary cap, they have the flexibility to take opportunistic advantage of other teams' cap "casualties" (a proven backup QB perhaps).

I like our young, emerging 53-man team and cap position much better than that of our AFC West competition and believe we are going to be a stronger team this year than last, even if our much tougher 2011 schedule produces fewer than 10 wins.

Damn autocorrect! Pioli* knows football. (Maybe my phone thinks otherwise)

Kudos to the Chiefs' front office (including Clark Hunt). Everybody's been so upset we didn't sign the San Fran NT, but I am totally happy with us getting back Hali, Carr and bringing in Breaston and McClain. Now we have room to scoop up any good cap casualties.

We as Chiefs fans have a habit of bitching about our front office because for so many years we had good reason to. Stop looking at the stats. Stop looking at league trends. Just sit back and enjoy the show. Pooling knows football! He's not trying to build the Kansas City Patriots. He's trying to build something better!