As the big contracts have piled up over the past year or so, I've increasingly been wondering if the Packers are close to using up all of their cap space. When you think about each position group, there are high-paid players at most of them. By my unofficial count, the only starters who are not making big money right now are the fullback (whichever one starts), Finley, Sitton, Wells, Colledge (who will either get a raise or leave), the left OLB (whichever one starts), and Peprah. It seems like you need at least a few low-paid starters so you can pay your stars, and I would not expect that the Packers can afford any more big contracts.

Are there any capologists out there who can give us a better idea of what the salary structure for the team looks like right now? A link to a web site would be nice too. Or you can just speculate about it, like I did.

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What's the cap at?

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First, the cap level has not been set.

Second, Ted Thompson spent a ton of money last season in the "uncapped year". Don't be suprised if the Packers show a loss on the books. I believe the Packers spent the most on payroll in the NFL last season.

Thirdly, by spending the money last year mostly on salary and not signing bonuses, the Packers should avoid cap problems for awhile.

Despite the above Ted Thompson is frugal. There really is little to be concerned about for 2011 or 2012.

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Last time I saw the books (which was awhile back), we were way under it. TT's along the lines of a Level 4 Investor (RP will know what that means).

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that's great one person does.

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Currently there is no cap for the NFL.

Also it which from year to year where teams are, because contracts aren't averaged out.

One year a guy could make 5 million... the next year his contract could have only 1 million, then the last year of the contract jump back up to 5 million.... so there can be huge swings from year to year...

I believe I've read next year most Packers players contracts will be in their high year making the Packers salary look higher than normal. Also read while the teams contracts are up Matthews contract is in his down year... so the cap stuff is crazy unless you got all the info from all the teams and have it put into a nice spread sheet.

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From my recollection CC has it right. Ted Thompson signed a number of players to long-term extensions last year, front-loading the contracts that first year as salary instead of calling it a signing bonus (spread over future years). That was in addition to the normal signings that were due last year (Clifton, Tauscher, etc).

2010 long-term contract extensions:
Ryan Pickett
Nick Collins
Donald Driver
Charles Woodson
Tramon Williams

That is what I was thinking too.
They have come up with a CBA first.

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Macbob says:
2010 long-term contract extensions:

Ryan Pickett 10 million in 2010; 6 mil/year 2011-2013
Nick Collins 14 million in 2010; 7.56 mil/yr 2011-2013
Donald Driver 7 million in 2010; 4.8 million in 2011 and 2012.
Charles Woodson no details but signed through 2014
Tramon Williams 14.4 million in 2010; about 5.8 a year ave through 2014.


Don't forget
Clifton 7.48 million in 2010; 5.5 million ave for 2011 and 2012.
Tauscher 3.7 million in 2010 and 4.1 million in 2011
Desmon Bishop 400K signing bonus 19million over 4+ years (2014)
Brett Goode 625K 2010; 580K 2011 677K 2012
Sam Shields 7500 signing bonus and NFL minimum (restricted)
Frank Zombo NFL minimum (restricted)

Sorry I cannot remember more.
Now almost all contract numbers I put down include roster bonuses and workout bonuses that count only for the year they are paid. The signing bonuses were relatively small like Bishop's.


Who expires after 2011?
Those tendered (maybe) Kuhn, Crosby, Colledge
Grant
Wells
Poppinga
Bush
Jordy Nelson
Finley
Patrick Lee
Sitton
Flynn

Those underlined are good candidates for an extension during the season with high pay for the rest of the season (guaranteed if they go IR) instead of signing bonuses. It is a tactic Ted Thompson likes.

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Thanks for the info guys, especially CaliforniaCheez. I hadn't even realized that there was no cap. I should've known that. It's not like there's a default salary cap. It's something that has to be agreed upon ahead of time.

Ted is making good use of front loaded contracts to avoid cap problems. He did that with his first big free agent signing, Charles Woodson, back in '06.

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