Donald Butler is a Very Bad player

[ArtistFormerlyKnownAsBKR]

If he had played at the level he had been in the past, it wouldn't have been a bad contract.

The levels that had him play 0 games in 2010, 12 in 2012, 13 in 2013 and 14 in 2014? He has been true to form.

Maybe he'll play in 15 next year...

[Panama]

What the fuck were the Chargers thinking? He was never worth that.

He definitely showed the potential. But the Chargers were smart in the way they structured the contract, so that he is really easy to let go without too huge a hit. I think the Chargers will keep him next season, because as badly as he has played this season he is still a talented individual and they have money sunk into him. But if he doesn't pull his head out of his ass, next season will be his last season.

[Panama]

I don't like the draft picks. Too injury prone. And some just haven't been good. Allen is probably the best pick, but even he hasn't been good with consistency. I can't think of another era in which wide receivers have been this bad at getting open. Fluker is overrated. I'm trying to think of another draft pick who plays in many games. Maybe Watt? Looks like he might still need time on the practice squad.

Thank you. Your views are rather amusing, and it is nice to be able to smile.

[thelightningwill]

Thank you. Your views are rather amusing, and it is nice to be able to smile.

Amusing because they are true. Party on, opera style.
Do you think you can bring San Diego Super Chargers to the Opera House?

[Panama]

Do you think you can bring San Diego Super Chargers to the Opera House?

You don't think that's one of the first things I did when I got a chance to be in a theatre?

(Of course, I can't do that when there's an audience in the house.)

[Bolt-O]

C'mon Panama... get one of your blokes to record you for a YouTube viral!

[Panama]

C'mon Panama... get one of your blokes to record you for a YouTube viral!

Trust me, operatic renditions of "San Diego Super Chargers" do not work.

[Mister Hoarse]

Make it work

[Yubaking]

He definitely showed the potential. But the Chargers were smart in the way they structured the contract, so that he is really easy to let go without too huge a hit. I think the Chargers will keep him next season, because as badly as he has played this season he is still a talented individual and they have money sunk into him. But if he doesn't pull his head out of his ass, next season will be his last season.

I agree that Butler has demonstrated potential in the past. He looks slower and much less athletic this year for whatever reason. There have not been any of the big plays that he would produce from time to time in the past.

I also agree that they will not likely dump him next year because his contract has more dead money for next year than it does cap hit, so if the team took the full hit in 2015, they would lose somewhere around $3.5M. Also, at nearly $9M in dead money, it is a pretty big hit even spread over two years.

Also, while his play has been disappointing, he has not been a total liability. Even at his current level of play, he is worthy of an NFL roster spot. In other words, he has not reached the Meachem or Cox level of crappy player status.

I think barring an extraordinary performance on Butler's part in 2015, that will be his last year as his cap figure jumps up to about $9.3M in 2016 and his dead money comes down to about $6.7M, making him a stronger candidate to become a salary cap casualty. My best guess is that the team would choose to spread the dead money over two years.

[SFW]

I know spotrac or rotoworld do not mention the specifics of his contract but from what I understand the last four years (2017-2020) of Butler's contract only kick in if the Chargers pick up the option before the league year of 2017 starts (five days after 2016 SuperBowl). If that is true, Butler will have two seasons left here and then be gone with no cap hit.

This is from rotoworld.........

2/28/2014: Signed a seven-year, $51.8 million contract. The deal included an $11.15 million signing bonus. Another $4.2 million is available through incentives. 2014: $750,000, 2015: $3.25 million, 2016: $4.65 million, 2017: $4 million (+ $12 million option bonus), 2018: $4.65 million, 2019: $5.35 million, 2020: $6 million, 2021: Free Agent

[Yubaking]

I know spotrac or rotoworld do not mention the specifics of his contract but from what I understand the last four years (2017-2020) of Butler's contract only kick in if the Chargers pick up the option before the league year of 2017 starts (five days after 2016 SuperBowl). If that is true, Butler will have two seasons left here and then be gone with no cap hit.

This is from rotoworld.........

2/28/2014: Signed a seven-year, $51.8 million contract. The deal included an $11.15 million signing bonus. Another $4.2 million is available through incentives. 2014: $750,000, 2015: $3.25 million, 2016: $4.65 million, 2017: $4 million (+ $12 million option bonus), 2018: $4.65 million, 2019: $5.35 million, 2020: $6 million, 2021: Free Agent

Spotrac says that Butler's 2016 cap hit of $9.28M includes a base salary of $4.65M, a prorated signing bonus of $2.23M and an option bonus of $2.4M. They identify his dead money as $6.69M (three years of prorated signing bonus) for 2016. This suggests that the option kicks in in 2016, but spotrac has been wrong before.

[Mister Hoarse]

As have some of we.