The Final Eight teams (1 Viewer)

[Sammy Traveller]

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Cowboys victory means win for 'Skins

Posted by Mike Florio on January 12, 2010 7:59 AM ET

In less than two months, and barring an unlikely agreement between the NFL and the players union on a new CBA, the salary cap will disappear.

Since the salary floor also will evaporate, it's believed that more teams will spend less, not more, in 2010.

The exceptions are expected to be the Cowboys and the Redskins, teams many believe will launch a Red Sox-Yankees-style spending spree in the hopes of buying the Super Bowl that will be played in, of all places, Dallas.

But with the Cowboys winning a postseason game for the first time since 1996, they now fall within the "Final Eight Plan," a measure aimed at ensuring competitive balance in an environment with no spending limits.

Under Article XXI, Section 3 of the CBA, the Cowboys, Cardinals, Vikings, Saints, Jets, Ravens, Chargers, and Colts will be limited in their ability to sign unrestricted free agents in 2010.

First, the Final Eight teams may sign any unrestricted free agent who obtained that status by being released and clearing waivers.

Second, the Final Eight teams may sign any unrestricted free agent who was under contract with that team at the conclusion of the 2009 league year.

Third, one unrestricted free agent may be signed for each unrestricted free agent that a Final Eight team loses, but only at the same first-year salary the departed player receives elsewhere, with limitations on future growth of the deal.

Fourth, the Final Eight teams may sign one unrestricted free agent at a first-year salary of $4.925 million (plus the annual percentage increases in total football revenue since 2006), and an unlimited number unrestricted free agents at a first-year salary of $3.275 million (plus the percentage increases of total football revenue since 2006), with limitations on future growth of the deal.

The teams that win this weekend will be further limited, with the fourth option explained above disappearing.

So, basically, Redskins fans should be rooting for the Cowboys to win this weekend, and then to be "blowed out" in the NFC title game.

this whole uncapped-year thing is getting crazier by the day...

 

[David Yudkin]

There are also differences in who can become RFAs and UFAs this year. IIRC, teams also get an extra tag to keep players from hitting free agency.

 

[Sammy Traveller]

There are also differences in who can become RFAs and UFAs this year. IIRC, teams also get an extra tag to keep players from hitting free agency.

this will be an interesting offseason.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

The think with the UFA now being classified as RFAs the talent pool will not be that deep, unless teams want to give up 1st n 3rd rounders.

for SD players that lost UFA status - Marcus McNeil, Shawne Merriman and Vincent Jackson.

I dont think the spending spree is coming

 

[Buffaloes]

The think with the UFA now being classified as RFAs the talent pool will not be that deep, unless teams want to give up 1st n 3rd rounders. for SD players that lost UFA status - Marcus McNeil, Shawne Merriman and Vincent Jackson. I dont think the spending spree is coming

My understanding is this year's UFA pool will be pretty shallow sans an extended CBA.

 

[AB in DC]

With an uncapped year, though, teams may be cutting a lot of veterans who would otherwise be a huge cap hit.

(Then again, players who are UFA because they are cut are exempt from the "Final Eight" restrictions, so never mind.)

 

[flranger]

We are going to see some seriously pissed off players this year. Pretty smart strategy by the owners to get these clauses into the "last year" of the contract. It sure makes things attractive to the players to get it fixed. I'm not surprised the owners are willing to let the cap run out considering all the gravy they are getting.