If the reports are true and the Browns are indeed some $21 million under this year’s salary cap, there are plenty of intriguing options at their disposal, even after shelling out $6 million for the rookies.
Below are some possibilities in each of three general categories. This is more descriptive than advisory: I don’t endorse every option below, but within each category, I do list them in order of preference.
Fill in the remaining holes on the roster.
- Save a few million in case an injury creates an immediate need for a signing or swap somewhere, or to upgrade the roster by jumping in fast in case a good player gets released elsewhere. It’s always a good idea to have cash stashed for such contingencies.
- Acquire a veteran via trade. I wouldn’t put it past Phil Savage to work some kind of roster tweak if it serves dual purposes. It’s all to the positive if he can get an immediate contributor while shedding a player who won’t have much of a role, such as Chaun Thompson or one of the incumbent quarterbacks, or is a problem of some sort, as Kevin Shaffer may prove to be (see below).
- Sign a veteran free agent running back. The pickings are slim at this point, with Chris Brown being the best of the bunch.
- Sign a veteran free agent quarterback. Even slimmer pickings here. Aaron Brooks, anyone? Didn’t think so.
Ensure that the team’s “core players” will be wearing Browns uniforms for years to come.
- Extend the contract of long snapper Ryan Pontbriand (assuming his back problem is no longer an issue) before he hits free agency after the upcoming season.
- Secure the long-term services of safety Sean Jones, whose contract expires after 2008, not only because of the cap space, but also because his price may rise as his performance continues to improve.
- Consider extensions for other UFAs-to-be, if and when they can prove something more on the field. In order of likelihood: RB Jamal Lewis, WR Tim Carter, LB Mason Unck, NT Ethan Kelley, LB Chaun Thompson, DB Jeremy LeSueur, LB Jason Short, LB Matt Stewart. (I’m writing off Ted Washington and the two Dorseys.)
- Consider extensions for CB Daven Holly, QB Derek Anderson, and DE Simon Fraser, who will all be restricted free agents after this season. If they continue to progress, it would work to the Browns’ advantage to get their bonuses paid while there’s plenty of room.
Use this year’s cap space to free up additional funds for the future.
- Come to terms with Kevin Shaffer. He could be the best long-term answer at right tackle, but if he won’t play nice, a trade would at least accelerate his signing bonus into a cap year where we have room. A more conciliatory approach: restructure his deal to move up bonuses in exchange for reducing his high salaries in the out years.
- Release big-ticket players whose projected future value falls short of their upcoming salaries. This would improve the long-term financial picture by eliminating salary obligations and absorbing amortized signing bonuses into the current year. Joe Andruzzi’s departure fell under this category. Who else am I talking about? In order of likelihood: Willie McGinest, LeCharles Bentley, Gary Baxter, Ryan Tucker, Orpheus Roye, Phil Dawson, Andra Davis. The downsides are loss of veteran leadership and potential alienation of remaining players.
- Restructure the contracts of a few “keeper” players to front-load more of the cash into this salary cap year. Without having the full terms of the deals in front of me, it’s hard to make specific suggestions about who and how, but some clever tinkering with roster bonuses, salaries, and incentives could motivate certain players short-term and perhaps also keep them under contract a bit longer.
Any more tactics or specifics to add? Log in and fire away in comments.
