alary cap: The salary cap is set for $120.375 million in 2011.
That’s actually about $6 million less than the salary cap was back in 2009, the last year the cap
was in place.
It’s important to note the cap will rise with revenues.
(Future television deals.)
2011 salary cap flexibility: Even though the salary cap was ostensibly scaled back, teams were given two avenues to make it easier to retain high priced veterans this year.
Teams can “borrow” $3 million against future salary caps to pay for veterans.
They can also use another $3.5 million in what would otherwise be performance-based pay to use for veterans.
So the cap really isn’t $120.375 million. It’s basically $126.88 if teams want it to be.
An extra $6.5 million won’t save guys that truly deserve to get cut, but it will make life easier for teams near the cap limit.
Salary floors: Players accepted a relatively low salary cap in exchange for the raising the minimum teams have to spend.
This can’t be underestimated.
99% of the salary cap must be spent in cash in aggregate between 2011-2012.
The league-wide number falls to 95% after that.
Teams must spend at least 89% of the cap from 2013-2016 and 2017-2020.
This helps ensure teams that were way under the cap in recent years like the Bengals and Bucs spend mor
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