Official Chargers News - Injury Updates

[QSmokey]

I'm not sure why everyone keeps thinking Fluker is moving inside to guard. IIRC, I have heard a couple of times this season that he is staying at RT.

Wishful thinking. FWIW, I've heard what you've heard. This could be the 2nd Coming of "Jammer to Safety". Which is unfortunate, because the opinion shared about Fluker as a RT - from those here - seems to be pretty much unanimous.

[Mister Hoarse]

Please gawd do not let Dunlap walk and move Fluker to LT.

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

Agent's Take: The five teams with the worst salary cap situations
By Joel Corry / Former Sports Agent
December 23, 2014 01:26 PM ET


Something is going to have to give between Larry Fitzgerald and the Cardinals. (USATSI)
Contract restructurings, pay cuts and salary cap casualties are a way of life in the NFL. This is because there isn't a universal method of managing the salary cap, and player contracts aren't fully guaranteed like they are in the NBA and MLB.

An agent must have a good understanding of the potential moves teams may make during the early part of the offseason to assess whether it's in his or her client's best interest to accommodate any requests from the team about the player helping with salary cap room. A seasoned agent may voluntarily approach the team in instances when he or she is convinced that a client's roster spot is in jeopardy.

Some teams place more importance on the long-term cap implications of player signings and roster moves than others. Judgment can get clouded when teams believe they have a window of opportunity to be Super Bowl contenders. That's how long-range salary cap planning can get sacrificed for short-term gain.

A contract restructuring is different from a pay cut. In a typical restructuring, a player will convert some portion of his base salary or roster bonus (without reducing salary) into signing bonus because it can be prorated or spread out evenly over the life of a contract (most other salary components usually can't be prorated) for a maximum of five years. The team gets a lower cap number in the current season while the player gains more short-term security.

A relatively new phenomenon is for teams to take away the player's option of restructuring a contract. Cap flexibility has started being built into contracts, especially the most lucrative ones, with teams having the ability to automatically create cap room at any time during a deal with a discretionary right to convert a portion of a player's base salary or roster bonus into signing bonus.

When a player is released or traded, the remaining proration of the salary components that are treated like signing bonus immediately accelerate into his team's current salary cap. There are two major exceptions to this general rule of bonus proration accelerating. Only the current year's proration counts toward the cap with players released or traded after June 1. The bonus proration in future contract years is delayed until the following season.

A team can also release two players each year prior to June 1 (known as a post-June 1 designation) that will be treated under the cap as if they were released after June 1. With a post-June 1 designation, a team is required to carry the player's full cap number until June 2 even though he is no longer a part of the roster. The player's salary comes off the books at that time unless it is guaranteed.

NFL teams were informed at an NFL meeting on December 9 that the 2015 salary cap is preliminarily projected to be between $138.6 million and $141.8 million. The actual salary cap this year is 5.3 percent higher than the preliminary projections this time last year. When the 2015 salary cap is set in late February or early March, the expectation is for it to once again exceed initial projections.

The Saints, Cardinals, Steelers, Patriots and 49ers are the five teams with the worst salary cap situations entering 2015.

Below are some options for them to become compliant with the cap when the new league year begins on March 10, assuming it comes in at $142 million. Other potential key offseason developments have also been identified with the teams.

The St. Louis Rams and Kansas City Chiefs also have extremely tight cap situations. The Rams are approximately $500,000 over the cap while the Chiefs have slightly under $400,000 of cap room.

Surprisingly, the Dallas Cowboys, who have become synonymous with unsound salary cap management, are not among the five teams with the worst salary cap situations. The team currently has $5.478 million of 2015 cap space. More can easily be created by reducing Tony Romo's league high $27.773 million 2015 cap number in a contract restructure, which may be necessary in order to put a $12.708 million franchise tag (assumes $142 million salary cap) on Dez Bryant.

Included in each team's calculations in order to give a more complete cap picture:

• Fourth-year proven performance escalators earned by third- through seventh-round picks under the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement's rookie wage scale

• Tenders for restricted free agents and exclusive rights players with expiring contracts and voidable contract years

• Futures contracts for practice squad players

•Unused cap room carry-over from this year to 2015

In the offseason, only the top 51 cap numbers count on the cap. These projections include 51 players unless noted otherwise.

1. New Orleans Saints

Salary cap overage: $23.07 million

New Orleans' cap is top heavy. Five players with cap numbers over $10 million are taking up a combined $74.15 million of cap space. The Saints can make significant headway with their cap overage by restructuring the four-year, $41.5 million contract extension (worth a maximum of $48 million through salary escalators) Junior Galette signed right before the start of the regular season. $10 million of cap room will be created by converting Galette's fully-guaranteed $12.5 million roster bonus that kicks in on the third day of the 2015 league year (March 12) into signing bonus.



Junior Galette's 2015 roster bonus will likely be converted into a signing bonus. (USATSI)
Jairus Byrd wasn't living up to his six-year, $52.5 million deal (worth up to $54 million with salary escalators) before a torn lateral meniscus in his knee ended his season after four games. The three-time All-Pro has the NFL's highest 2015 cap number for a safety at $10.3 million. The Saints can free up $5.6 million of cap room by turning $1 million of Byrd's $2 million 2015 base salary and his entire fully-guaranteed $6 million 2015 league year roster bonus into signing bonus.

A maximum of $4.77 million of cap room can be gained if Jimmy Graham's four-year, $40 million contract, which makes him the NFL's highest-paid tight end, is restructured. Graham's $11 million 2015 cap number is the only tight end one over $10 million next year.

The Saints have two of the NFL's four highest-paid guards in Jahri Evans ($8.1 million per year, $11 million 2015 cap number) and Ben Grubbs ($7.2 million per year, $9.6 million 2015 salary cap number). Neither has played in 2014 to the level that earned both of them Pro Bowl honors in 2013, which makes one or both of them candidates to be released or take a pay cut. Evans, who has been named All-Pro for five straight years, and Grubbs are scheduled to make $7.5 million and $6.6 million in 2015. The Saints would pick up $6 million of cap space by releasing Evans. It's $3.6 million of cap space by parting ways with Grubbs.

The Saints may have to make a difficult decision with wide receiver Marques Colston, one of mainstays of the offense. The 31-year-old, who has a $9.7 million cap number in 2015, is having the worst season of his nine-year NFL career. Rookie Brandin Cooks was the team's leading receiver before being sidelined for the duration with a broken thumb 10 games into the season. Linebacker David Hawthorne could also find himself on the chopping block before his $2.5 million roster bonus is payable on the third day of the 2015 league year. Releasing him will free up $2.99 million of cap space.

Drew Brees can be another source of significant cap room. He has the NFL's second-highest 2015 cap number at $26.4 million. Lowering Brees' $18.75 million 2015 base salary to $1 million with the remaining $17.75 million becoming signing bonus would provide $8.875 million of cap relief, but raise his 2016 cap number to $36.275 million. Up to three voidable years (2017 through 2019 contract years) could also be added to help with the bonus proration and create additional cap room.

Leaving Brees' contract alone gives the Saints flexibility with him in 2016 when he'll be heading into his contract year that they won't have by restructuring his contract. $20 million on the cap would be saved in 2016 in the unlikely event he is released.

2011 first-round pick Mark Ingram is having a breakout year after the Saints declined a fifth-year option for him in 2015 at $5.211 million. The Saints made the right decision despite the 2009 Heisman Trophy winner's career year. Re-signing Ingram won't be an expensive proposition because it's been a buyer's market in free agency with running backs in recent years. The last running back to switch teams in free agency with a deal over $5 million per year was Michael Turner in 2008 when he received a six-year, $34.5 million contract (with $15 million guaranteed and an additional $1.5 million in salary escalators) from the Atlanta Falcons.

2. Arizona Cardinals

Salary cap overage: $6.44 million

General manager Steve Keim indicated during an Arizona Sports 98.7 FM interview in the aftermath of Week 16's loss to the Seattle Seahawks that the Cardinals could carry Larry Fitzgerald's $23.6 million 2015 cap number. The eight-time Pro Bowler, who signed a seven-year, $113 million contract extension in 2011, has the NFL's fourth-highest 2015 salary cap number.

Keim may be unwittingly giving Fitzgerald leverage in any discussions about cap relief by taking his release out of the equation. Although it is Arizona's preference for Fitzgerald to eventually retire with the team, his performance no longer warrants him being paid like an elite wide receiver. Fitzgerald, who is scheduled to make $16.25 million in 2015, appeared to be in line for his first season with 1,000 receiving yards since 2011 before he was hindered by a knee sprain and injuries at quarterback.

The situation will likely come to a head before Fitzgerald's $8 million 2015 roster bonus is payable on the fifth day of the league year (March 14). The trade market for Fitzgerald will be somewhat limited because a team must have enough cap room to absorb his salary ($16.25 million) in order to acquire him.

Only after a trade is completed would the acquiring team be able to restructure Fitzgerald's contract to decrease his cap number. The Cardinals will pick up $9.2 million of cap room with a trade, which is the same amount of cap space that would be created if the team changes its mind about releasing him.

A possible resolution could be the 31-year-old WR dropping his salary in the remaining four years of his contract ($61.5 million) to be in line with the three-year contract extension averaging $10M a year that Brandon Marshall signed with the Chicago Bears in the offseason.

Daryl Washington's reinstatement from his year-long suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy has been factored into the cap overage. His contract has been tolled during his suspension. He could be subject to additional league discipline under the personal conduct policy because he pled guilty to aggravated assault in a 2013 domestic violence incident.



Daryl Washington may wind up a cap casualty in Arizona. (USATSI)
Whether he is welcomed back with opens arms by the Cardinals remains to be seen. Washington forfeiting $2,956,756 of his signing and option bonuses, the 2014 prorated amounted of the bonuses on the cap, could result in a cap credit for that amount.

Some or all of Carson Palmer's $9.5 million 2015 league roster bonus could be converted into signing bonuses, even though he's on the mend from reconstructive knee surgery. Up to $7.125 million in cap room can be picked in such a salary conversion.

Cornerback Antonio Cromartie has rebounded from a subpar 2013 season, which led to his exit from the New York Jets. He signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal (worth up to $4.25 million with incentives) to join the team this year. His best contract may be elsewhere, considering the salary commitment already made to All-Pro cornerback Patrick Peterson (five-year, $70.05 million extension).

3. Pittsburgh Steelers

Salary cap overage: $2.901 Million

Pittsburgh's overage is partially due to being proactive. Cornerback Cortez Allen, offensive tackle Marcus Gilbert and center Maurkice Pouncey received new deals in their contract year taking up a combined $22.061 million of 2015 cap room.

The Steelers decided against renegotiating Roethlisberger's contract with two years remaining as they did with his rookie deal. Team president Art Rooney II indicated during the early part of training camp that Roethlisberger's contract situation would be addressed after the season.

In order for Roethlisberger to maintain the same place in the quarterback salary hierarchy as the six-year contract extension averaging $14,664,417 per year with $33.2 million in guarantees he signed in 2008 (NFL's second-highest paid player and third most contract guarantees), his new extension would need to top $20.75 million per year and $59 million in guarantees.

Because there's already $6.795 million of signing bonus proration on the books from Roethlisberger restructuring his contract for three straight years (2011 through 2013), the Steelers may not get more than $5 million of cap relief by signing him to a new deal.

It may be time for the Steelers to part ways with 2010 NFL Defensive Player of the Year Troy Polamalu if he doesn't retire. The 33-year-old safety seems to have hit the wall. Since he was given a two-year extension in the offseason to help with the cap instead of playing out the final year of his contract, $3.7 million of cap room will be gained from his retirement or letting him go.



All-Pro safety Troy Polamalu has likely reached the end of his line with the Steelers. (USATSI)
Cornerback is a big area of concern for the Steelers. The defense ranks 27th against the pass and only has nine interceptions. Prior to being placed on injured reserve in Week 14 with a thumb injury, Allen, who signed a four-year, $24.6 million contract extension at the start of the regular season, was relegated to special teams duty when he was benched after eight games. He ranks 105th out of 110 cornerbacks in 2014 according to Pro Football Focus' (PFF) ratings.

Most teams are reluctant to admit they made a mistake so quickly after giving a player a new deal, which could be Allen's saving grace for 2015.

The Steelers would pick up $1.581 million of 2015 salary cap room by releasing Allen, who has a $6.981 million cap number next year, before his $3 million roster bonus is payable on the fifth day of the 2015 league year (March 14). $5.631 million of 2015 cap room could be created by giving Allen a post-June 1 designation or releasing him after June 1. The only 2015 cap charge for the Steelers would be his $1.35 million of 2015 signing bonus proration. The Steelers would also have a $4.05 million cap charge in 2016 relating to Allen with post-June 1 treatment.

It would essentially be giving Allen a $5.969 million windfall by releasing him so soon because his salary is $7.4 million this year instead of the $1.431 million he was scheduled to make under his rookie contract.

Outside linebacker Jason Worilds has rebounded from an extremely slow start to post 4.5 sacks during the second half of the season. It's unlikely that the Steelers will put a transition tag on him for a second time at $11,740,800. Worilds may ask the Steelers to give him a contract similar to the six-year, $61.5 million deal LaMarr Woodley received in 2011 to remain in Pittsburgh. Woodley was an offseason cap casualty partially because of Worilds' emergence in 2013. James Harrison putting off retirement for one more year would help offset losing Worilds.

4. New England Patriots

Salary cap overage: $1.945 Million

New England's cap situation isn't as bad as it seems. It should be noted that a majority of New England's $5.71 million of carry-over room will be eaten up by unlikely-to-be-earned incentives being achieved by players. Signing Darrelle Revis to a long-term deal, presumably near the top of the cornerback market ($13 million to $14 million per year) will create a substantial amount of cap space. Revis has a two-year, $32 million deal on paper, which in reality is a one-year contract for $12 million.

2015 is an option year that the Patriots must exercise before the end of the 2014 league year (March 9). If the option isn't exercised, the Patriots are prohibited from designating Revis as their franchise or transition player in 2015. Revis' $20 million 2015 salary on a $25 million cap number practically ensures that the option year won't be picked up.

If Revis hits the open market, the Patriots will gain $20 million in cap space with the absence of his 2015 option year.

The final three years (2015 through 2017) of the severely under-market five-year, $57 million deal Tom Brady signed in his 2013 contract renegotiation, which are worth $24 million, become fully guaranteed (without an offset) if he is on New England's roster for the final game of this regular season. Brady has the second-highest 2015 cap number on the team at $13 million. If $6 million of Brady's $7 million base salary is converted into signing bonus, $4 million of cap space will be created.

Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jerod Mayo, who has a $10, 287,500 2015 cap number, will likely be asked to a pay cut from his $7 million salary if he isn't released. Mayo's season was cut short by injury, a torn patellar tendon in his right knee, for a second straight year. The defense really hasn't missed a beat without him. Mayo's $4.5 million injury guarantee may be the only thing that keeps him from getting released.

Wide receiver Danny Amendola is expendable. He was given a five-year, $28.5 million deal (with $10 million in guarantees and an additional $500,000 of incentives each year for receptions) in 2013 to replace Wes Welker. A nagging groin injury, which required offseason surgery, allowed Julian Edelman to fill that role.



Danny Amendola hasn't exactly been Wes Welker in New England. (USATSI)
With Edelman firmly entrenched as a starting wide receiver, Amendola ($5.7 million 2015 cap number) is the NFL's second-most expensive backup wide receiver (by average yearly salary). $2.1 million of cap room will be freed up by releasing him. It increases to $4.5 million with post-June 1 treatment. The Patriots operate as if it's better to get rid of a player a year too early rather than a year too late. Defensive tackle Vince Wilfork's roster spot could be in jeopardy because of this philosophy. A decision must be made whether to pick up the option for the five-time All-Pro's 2015 and 2016 contract years. Wilfork has an $8,433,333 2015 cap number, which includes a $4.5 million first day of the league year roster bonus (March 10). Declining the option on the 33-year-old defensive tackle would create $7,566,666 of cap space.

Devin McCourty is the only candidate for the team's franchise tag. He is PFF's top-rated safety this season. It will cost $9.532 million to use the designation on him.

A decision on the grievances Aaron Hernandez filed against the Patriots for more than $6 million salary, including a $3.25 million deferred payment of his signing bonus that was due on March 31, could come in 2015. With a decision that's favorable to the Patriots, a minimum of $3.25 million in cap space would be gained because of the unpaid signing bonus installment. Any additional cap relief would come only from money that was recovered from Hernandez, which may not be any given his circumstances.

5. San Francisco 49ers

Salary cap overage: $928,000

Colin Kaepernick's surprising regression this season and the inevitable departure of San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh have raised doubts about Kaepernick's future in the Bay Area.

The six-year, $126 million contract extension containing $61 million in guarantees that Kaepernick signed in the offseason has a team friendly structure. All of the lucrative contracts negotiated by the 49ers in recent years do.

Less than $13 million of the $61 million in guarantees is fully guaranteed at signing. Slightly over $48 million of Kaepernick's base salaries are guaranteed for injury only initially but are fully guaranteed if he's on San Francisco's roster on April 1 in those specific contract years (i.e.; 2015 base salary becomes guaranteed on April 1, 2015). The 49ers missing the playoffs triggered a convoluted salary de-escalator in Kaepernick's deal so his 2015 base salary will go from $12.4 million to $10.4 million. The de-escalator being activated won't change Kaepernick's $15,265,753 2015 salary cap number. The lower salary, $10.4 million, is already a part of his cap number because de-escalation is being considered likely for cap purposes.

The relatively modest signing bonus, particularly for such a lucrative contract, and the conditional guarantees allow the 49ers to part ways with Kaepernick at anytime without adverse cap consequences. The 49ers releasing Kaepernick in 2015 is unrealistic. It would essentially be giving him a $12 million windfall by releasing him so soon because his salary is $13,073,766 this year instead of the $1,073,766 he was scheduled to make by playing out his rookie contract.

The most likely scenario is the 49ers restructuring Kaepernick's contract because he has the highest 2015 cap number on the team. The 49ers can create $7.724 million in 2015 cap space if Kaepernick's entire 2015 salary except for his $745,000 league minimum is converted into signing bonus. Kaepernick's 2015 cap number would drop to $7,541,753.

With a $9,648,750 2015 cap number, Ahmad Brooks' days with the 49ers are probably numbered. He's split time with 2014 fifth-round pick Aaron Lynch at right outside linebacker ever since Aldon Smith returned from his nine game personal conduct and substance abuse policies suspension. The 49ers will pick up $4,102,500 of cap room by releasing him.

All-Pro tight end Vernon Davis' roster spot might also be in question. He's been largely ineffective after being slowed by assorted injuries early in the season. The nine-year veteran is having his worst season statistically since he was a rookie. $4.95 million of cap space will be picked up if he is let go.



Vernon Davis is having the worst season of his career. (USATSI)
Aldon Smith, who is on three years probation for weapons and drunken driving charges, can't seem to get out of his own way. He reportedly was drinking at former teammate Ray McDonald's house several hours after an alleged sexual occurred there. Driving with alcohol in his system is a violation of Smith's probation.

Despite having some reservations because of Smith's off-the-field problems, the 49ers exercised their 2015 option year with him for $9.754 million, which is the team's second-highest cap number next year. The option year is currently only guaranteed for injury. It becomes fully guaranteed if Smith, who is a rare talent as a pass rusher, is on the team's roster at the start of the 2015 league year. If the 49ers aren't comfortable that Smith has put his troubles behind him, $9.754 million of cap room would be picked up from letting him go before March 10 when the full guarantee kicks in.

Wide receiver Michael Crabtree isn't having the type of season he envisioned for his contract year. He will price himself out of San Francisco if he believes he's capable of consistently performing like he did in 2012 prior to his Achilles tear when he was Kaepernick's go-to receiver. It only makes sense to keep Stevie Johnson at his $6.025 million 2015 salary if Crabtree leaves and the 49ers view him as a legitimate option to assume his place in the starting lineup.

Putting a franchise tag on offensive guard Mike Iupati at $12.828 million (assumes $142 million salary cap) seems unlikely. Andy Levitre's six-year, $46.8 million contract (includes $16 million guaranteed) with the Tennessee Titans could be an important data point for the two-time All-Pro.

The 49ers may not make much of an effort to re-sign running back Frank Gore because he's on the wrong side of 30 and Carlos Hyde was taken in the second round of this year's draft. If Gore does return, it will be for substantially less than the $6.45 million he's making this year. Steven Jackson is the NFL's highest paid older running back at $4 million per year.

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

Some interesting cap strapped teams this is year...

[richpjr]

According to overthecap.com we have $25.2 million in cap space for the 2015 season, which is the 12th most in the league.

But just wait until 2016 when we are number one with, yes, $105 million in cap space! And 2017 is even better with $142 million!

[Boltjolt]

We need an upgrade over Rinehart.

Badly.

The combo of Rhinehart and Troutman at LG doesn't have me jumping for joy.

[X-man]

Take a page from the donkies by acquiring talent from your divisional rivals. Two things are going against the Donkies and Chiefs if they try to do that to us...1) they both have enough talented FAs of their own to try and re-sign and 2) it will be slim pickings for them to try and pick from our FAs versus what they currently have and what will ultimately be on the market.

Justin Houston would be an awesome addition and if McCoy is serious about giving the pass rush a boost...he'd be a definite guy to keep on...but like others have said before, it's most likely the Chiefs will do everything they can to keep him at whatever cost. The Donkies have more then a few guys they will be trying to keep and players in which can provide an upgrade to the Lightning Bolts. Turn about is fair play...just as they were happy to hurt our online and take Vasquez from us...this year we can return the favor by trying to acquire some of their talent (any of these guys would provide an upgrade): Demaryius Thomas, Julius Thomas, Chris Harris, T Knighton, O Franklin, and Virgil Green.

The oline definitely needs to be upgraded for the offense to be any kind of effective, but what also was noticed these pass 2 months is the lack of team speed on defense. It just seemed that too often when teams would try to attack us on the perimeter and it was contained...a big gaping hole would open up somewhere else and besides Melvin Ingram, Corey Liuget, or Ricardo Matthews...nobody seemed fast enough to go sideline to sideline to prevent huge gains.

[Boltjolt]

Take a page from the donkies by acquiring talent from your divisional rivals. Two things are going against the Donkies and Chiefs if they try to do that to us...1) they both have enough talented FAs of their own to try and re-sign and 2) it will be slim pickings for them to try and pick from our FAs versus what they currently have and what will ultimately be on the market.

Justin Houston would be an awesome addition and if McCoy is serious about giving the pass rush a boost...he'd be a definite guy to keep on...but like others have said before, it's most likely the Chiefs will do everything can to keep him at whatever cost. The Donkies have more then a few guys they will be trying to keep and players in which can provide an upgrade to the Lightning Bolts. Turn about us fair play...just as they were happy to hurt our online and take Vasquez from us...this year we can return the favor by trying to acquire some of their talent (any of these guys would provide an upgrade): Demaryius Thomas, Julian Thomas, Chris Harris, T Knighton, O Franklin, and Virgil Green.

The oline definitely needs to be upgraded for the offense to be any kind of effective, but what also was noticed these pass 2 months is the lack of team speed on defense. It just seemed that too often when teams would try to attack us on the perimeter and it was contained...a big gaping hole in the would open up somewhere else and besides Melvin Ingram, Corey Liuget, or Ricardo Matthews...nobody seemed fast enough to go sideline to sideline to prevent huge gains.

Chris Harris just signed a 5 year, 42 million contract recently. That team will be in cap hell.
I'd take D. Thomas and Franklin bit I don't want Julius Thomas. He can't block for shit and I think Green can be just as good in the pass game if they let him participate.

[Stinky Wizzleteats+]

The combo of Rhinehart and Troutman at LG doesn't have me jumping for joy.

I would put Fluker at LG next to Dunlap and flat out steemroll any defender on that side. I'd look for the best pull in guard for RG and try to get Roos from Tenn or draft a RT. Watt at center.

[Fleet]

Id like to take a look at Cris Carters son at WR. Huge target.

[richpjr]

Chris Harris just signed a 5 year, 42 million contract recently. That team will be in cap hell.
I'd take D. Thomas and Franklin bit I don't want Julius Thomas. He can't block for shit and I think Green can be just as good in the pass game if they let him participate.

The Broncos have more cap space than us this offseason.

[Mister Hoarse]

The Broncos have more cap space than us this offseason.

How the fuck does that happen???