Favre’s Cap Status
There appears to be a lot of misconceptions about Brett Favre’s salary cap status, so I thought it would be useful to summarize:
Favre was paid $12m in 2008 and is under contract for 2 more years. He is set to earn $13m in 2009 and $14m in 2010.
If he retires, the Jets will not be required to pay him any more money and he will not count against the cap. The Packers will also owe the Jets a 7th round pick.
If he is cut, the Jets will not be required to pay him any more money and there will be no cap hit. The Packers had a $3m cap hit when they traded him to the Jets, which was the balance of his $10m signing bonus.
If he is traded, the Jets will not be required to pay him any more money and there will be no cap hit, exactly as above. They cannot trade him to an NFC North team, otherwise they will owe the Packers three first round picks, but this will not apply if he is cut and then picked up by an NFC North team. UPDATE: See comment number 8 below for what happens if they trade him to a team who then trades him on to an NFC North team.
Theoretically, it is possible that the Jets could restructure Favre’s deal (although it would be easier to cut him and re-sign him to a new deal). However, I think this is extremely unlikely in practice.
If Favre is released, he will be free to negotiate with any team, whereas if he is traded, the new team would take on the remaining two years, although they could restructure it (or cut him and give him a new deal) as above.
I think that is everything. Any questions? Leave them in the comments and I will respond.
22 Responses to Favre’s Cap Status
-
Brandon in Florida says:
Thanks for the clarifications… I have a question but it doesn’t pertain to the salary question: What do you think will happen with Brett Favre? I don’t see the Jets releasing him or trading him.
-
ian says:
very nice breakdown. appreciate the work.
-
mole57 says:
If the Jets trade him to a non-NFC North team, does that new team absorb the poison pill?
-
Neil says:
Thank you for being an island of clarity in the sea of lies, misinformation and all around sloppy journalisim by the Jets MSM.
-
Harvlis says:
Thanks for the info. If I was the Jets, I would thank him and give him his walking papers. He has nothing more to play for. His play is no longer inspiring. As a Jet fan, I would like to see someone else behind center, next year. Do you think that Bellichek would put up with Brett’s idea of ball control?
-
swizzle81 says:
Can the Jets ask Favre for a refund because of his dismal performance this past year and use that money for PSL’s for season ticket holders?
-
Bent says:
***Q&A – Part One***
#
Brandon in Florida,
What do you think will happen with Brett Favre? I don’t see the Jets releasing him or trading him.A – Depends entirely on the head coach.
#
mole57,If the Jets trade him to a non-NFC North team, does that new team absorb the poison pill?
A – Great question. The answer is that the Jets would still be on the hook for 3 first round picks. So, how do they ensure a team doesn’t screw them over by then making a trade to an NFC North team? Easy – they include their own poison pill in that trade (ie if you trade him to an NFC North team, you give us 4 first rounders). If the team won’t sign off on that (why wouldn’t they unless it was their intention?), then you walk away from the negotiations. If he is released, picked up and then traded to an NFC North team (or picked up directly), then no poison pill arises.
#
Harvlis,Do you think that Bellichek would put up with Brett’s idea of ball control?
A – No. (I love answering rhetorical questions).
#
swizzle81,Can the Jets ask Favre for a refund because of his dismal performance this past year and use that money for PSL’s for season ticket holders?
A – See response to Harvlis’ question.
-
Nikolas says:
Can we trade him to the Dolphins to get CHAD BACK!!
-
Rudibager says:
Unrelated question:
Can we expect the last OWWL of the season? During these harsh times, it’s my favorite part of the week (aside from OWWW of course)
-
Sammy G. says:
I hope Favre comes back just to make all of you miserable. I could definitely see it happen because Jets fans were destined to be miserable.
Clemens? Ratliff? Hilarious. Natural born losers.
-
Harlan Lachman says:
“If he is cut, the Jets will not be required to pay him any more money and there will be no cap hit. ” …
“The answer is that the Jets would still be on the hook for 3 first round picks. So, how do they ensure a team doesn’t screw them over by then making a trade to an NFC North team.”
BENTBent, my understanding is that if the Jets cut Favre, and if he signs with an NFC North team, we still are on the hook for 3 first round picks. It is our responsibility to make sure the trade to us does not allow him to go to the NFC North during the duration of his contract. Is that correct or incorrect?
If I am incorrect, then those who said we can cut him if we choose without penalty, are correct. In fact, as you point out, we get a #7 pick. I would let the next coach choose.
OTOH, if I am right, if the poison pill is still in effect, we cannot cut him for the next two years. Favre is in the drivers seat if he wants to show up.
This is a critical distinction.
Harlan
-
nyckage says:
Is there a chance, where our new coach will refuse to have Favre back and he wants to be back, like how Favre did in the last offseason with the Pack?
-
nyckage
Great question. Its what I have been thinking since the horrible Woody press conference. Favre has been here 5 months and it appears he already runs our franchise. I get the feeling Favre wants to play which is a nightmare for any proven head coach not named Marty. Shannahan and Cowher will never come here with this guys playing QB.
-
Maybe…just maybe you guys are using all these big names not wanting to come to the Jets and blaming the reasoning on Favre. Sorry, I don’t buy it. These big names don’t want to come coach for the Jes……………………….drum roll………………………………because its the Jets
-
Bent says:
***Q&A – Part Two***
#
Nikolas,Can we trade him to the Dolphins to get CHAD BACK!!
A – Yes, although I have a sneaking suspicion that the Dolphins might balk at such a trade.
#
Rudibager,Can we expect the last OWWL of the season? During these harsh times, it’s my favorite part of the week (aside from OWWW of course)
A – OWWL was Bassett’s baby, but (as you can imagine), I have plenty of unused OWWW material that should hit your screens in the fullness of time. Stay tuned!
#
Harlan Lachman,Bent, my understanding is that if the Jets cut Favre, and if he signs with an NFC North team, we still are on the hook for 3 first round picks. It is our responsibility to make sure the trade to us does not allow him to go to the NFC North during the duration of his contract. Is that correct or incorrect?
If I am incorrect, then those who said we can cut him if we choose without penalty, are correct. In fact, as you point out, we get a #7 pick. I would let the next coach choose.
OTOH, if I am right, if the poison pill is still in effect, we cannot cut him for the next two years. Favre is in the drivers seat if he wants to show up.
A – As you’ve seen, Bassett has confirmed in the other thread that you are wrong, so you have to give him one of your kewpies. Note, we only get the 7th rounder if he retires.
Here’s what Bassett said for completeness:
Harlan, it’s only in effect should the Jets try to TRADE him to the NFC Norht (sic) …
NFL.com’s Adam Schefter reports that the Packers took great pains to ensure that Favre would not be traded to the Vikings by inserting a “poison pill” in the deal. If Favre were to be traded to Minnesota, the Jets would have to surrender three first-round picks to Green Bay.
http://blog.nola.com/tpsports/2008/08/brett_favre_gets_traded_to_the.html
#
nyckage,Is there a chance, where our new coach will refuse to have Favre back and he wants to be back, like how Favre did in the last offseason with the Pack?
A – Sure, but there would be nothing stopping the new coach from cutting him.
-
hank/naples says:
Sammy G:
You are the true definition of a front-runner.
-
kj says:
hank/naples – as a giants fan too i saw this from when coughlin was viewed as a dead duck coach ..hollis thomas was a FA from the saints the giants were trying to sign him and he basically said on sirius nfl channel and i heard it with my own ears so its not 2nd hand “why would i want to sign with them and that crappy situation” ..it happens teams get a bad rap and it hurts them when FA comes around and now i hate him and i’m so glad that that very year they go all the way and win it all and he wasn’t a giant for it ..he was a saint ..and still is
-
Kewpies to Bent and Bassett (both for the coherence to their posts, the accuracy of their information, and the good news it brings).
Make them king size Kewpies in honor of the best sports blog on the web.
harlan
-
Moyvore says:
Thanks to Bent and Basset for the cap “hit” clarification if Fauve is cut.
This appears to leave
(1) A $13 million reduction of available cap space for 2009 if Fauve is still the quarterback.
(2) If the Jets decide to use the $13 million in a more productive way, I suppose it is in Fauve’s future commercial interest to say he knows when its time to retire rather than suffering the ignominity of being cut.
(3) A 7th round draft choice if he retires. (I wonder if this accounts for the life of his contract or only after the first year.)
(4) If he retires (like he did in Green Bay) and the Jets use the 7th rounder in the draft, do they have to give it back if he pulls another spring “I’m unretiring” stunt?
(This qualifies as a trivia question.)
(5) The basic issue is whether or not in 2009 the Jets could use the $13 million more productively than to watch Fauve add to his NFL interception record.
A decison that likely falls on the new head coach.
I used to be a Giant fan…was in the stands for the 1958 Championship Game against the Colts. (Screamed for them to go for it on 4th down late in the 4th quarter rather than give Unitis another chance at their tiring defense….but Jim Lee didn’t listen to me.)
After many years of suffering, then 2 Super Bowl wins, I stopped being a Giants fan after George Young told Belichick he had to look elsewhere for a head coaching position and later gave the job to Ray Handley. Watching the Dan Reeves offense was like watching paint dry.
Still can’t believe Woody let Belichick get away after he asked for his HC NYJ job back in January 2000 in favor of Al Groh. But I suppose he felt he had to smother Parcells’ ass with kisses even when Parcells was preparing to bail out on him.
I think Woody’s a nice enough guy for someone who had a trust fund buy him a sports team to play with, but dumb and impulsive then, and dumb and impulsive now. Maybe he’ll get lucky someday…but I doubt it.
Belichick was the model of success and Mangini was hired to replicate it. You learn that in 8th grade: “Can I copy your homework?” Except that Mangini didn’t seem particulary proficient in being able to tear up a defensive game plan that wasn’t working and cobble together a new one in on the fly.
Scheming is a talent that can frequently overcome an oposition’s superior physical skills but after a while deficiencies get exposed.
Mangini sifted though LOTS of of defensive backfield bodies to come up with two first class players (1 corner, one safety). At least he was tireless in trying to upgrade. For the first two years he was behind the eight-ball without a real nose tackle…and then after a marvelous start, Jenkins developed herniated discs in his back.
If the next coach combined Shanahan’s offensive mind with Belichick’s defensive brain the team would be fun to watch….but I’m not optimistic that will happen.
I’d rather have had Mangini continue as head coach with talented coordinators and a front office that is good a picking up players. (That’s why the Giant’s have been successful lately…it certainly hasn’t been been because of Coughlin.
Since it was Woody who “cut” Mangini, I wonder when he will begin experiencing the same cutters regret that he will always feel after trading Bellichick for a first round (#16) draft pick in 2000.
I’d say Mangini will eventually turn out to be worth more than the 4th rounder he got for Herm (even though that turned out to be Leon).
-
Bent says:
***Q&A – Part 3***
#
Moyvore,(3) A 7th round draft choice if he retires. (I wonder if this accounts for the life of his contract or only after the first year.)
A – It was explicitly stated in the agreement that this was only if he retired after the first year. Note that it would have been a 6th rounder if the Jets had made the playoffs and given up a 2nd round pick and a 5th if they had made the SB and given up a 1st rounder.
**
Moyvore (again),(4) If he retires (like he did in Green Bay) and the Jets use the 7th rounder in the draft, do they have to give it back if he pulls another spring “I’m unretiring” stunt?
(This qualifies as a trivia question.)
A – It’s actually a 2010 pick (although Cimini reported yesterday that it was a 2009 pick, I think this was an error on his part), so I would assume it is only triggered if he is not on the Jets roster on opening day 2009 by virtue of having retired. Obviously if he unretires after that point, his contract will have been terminated, so they should still get the pick. If he unretired before opening day then they would either have to cut or trade him, or keep him, so the compensatory pick should not be available.
Disclaimer: I have not seen the paperwork but this is the only logical way I can see it working, unless it is automatically triggered by his retirement even if the retirement is only temporary, but since the Packers have seen this a few times, I doubt they would accept that.
-
Pingback: If Favre Was Hurt, Why Not Use Clemens? - The Fifth Down Blog - NYTimes.com
Thank you, Bent.