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Why NFL rules require Jets to spend on players like crazy the next 2 years
Dom Cosentino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Dom Cosentino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
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on February 20, 2015 at 2:09 PM, updated February 20, 2015 at 2:40 PM
INDIANAPOLIS — One of the consequences of the Jets' lack of player spending under former general manager John Idzik is that they have a lot of catching up to do.
To be blunt: In order to comply with the NFL's cash spending rules, the Jets in the next two years have to spend like they're on a bender at a Vegas bachelor party.
"They've got to make up a lot of ground this offseason," an NFL Players Association official said. That person spoke to NJ Advance Media on condition of anonymity.
The league's collective bargaining agreement requires that all teams spend 89 percent of the combined salary cap totals from 2013 to 2016. (The salary cap is in place to restrict what players can earn and owners have to spend; the 89-percent cap floor exists to keep cheapskate owners from purposely not spending at all. Jets owner Woody Johnson has said he never instructed Idzik not to spend.)
The Jets' average cash spending for 2013 and '14—salaries, non-prorated signing bonuses, additional bonuses, grievance awards, injury settlements, basically anything not benefit-related—was only at 80 percent of their obligation, according to a presentation made Friday morning during an NFLPA meeting at the Scouting Combine. Details of that presentation were provided to NJ Advance Media by a person who attended the meeting.
The NFLPA estimates that the 2015 salary cap, which the league is expected to announce sometime in the next two weeks, will be $143 million. The cap is expected to climb even higher in 2016, and assuming that number keeps going up at the same rate, the NFLPA estimates the Jets are required to get caught up the next two years by spending an average of $140 million.
MORE NFL COMBINE: Complete coverage from Indianapolis
Now consider: The Jets' average cash spending number for '13 and '14 , according to an NFLPA projection provided to NJ Advance Media, was just $106,230,662. Only the Panthers and Raiders spent less.
Per the CBA, if the Jets don't reach the league's spending floor by 2016, they are required to allocate that shortfall to any players on the roster between 2013 and 2016.
All of this is good news for a talented player with an expiring contract like defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. Idzik's replacement, Mike Maccagnan, is meeting with Wilkerson's agent this week in Indy to discuss a contract extension. A new Wilkerson deal is long overdue, but expect him to collect a windfall.
The Jets are also expected to have $45 to $50 million in salary cap space this offseason. And that cash can't just be stuffed into Johnson's pillow.
Earlier this week, Maccagnan said the Jets "will be active in free agency. Whether that's with the high-dollar guys, the first wave of free agency, I would think we'd be potentially in that market, but we'll be in the middle and lower-tier market, too."
Maccagnan was referring to the spending he intends to do to improve the Jets. But according to NFL rules, he also doesn't have much of a choice.
Dom Cosentino may be reached at dcosentino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @domcosentino. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
Dom Cosentino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com By Dom Cosentino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Email the author | Follow on Twitter
on February 20, 2015 at 2:09 PM, updated February 20, 2015 at 2:40 PM
INDIANAPOLIS — One of the consequences of the Jets' lack of player spending under former general manager John Idzik is that they have a lot of catching up to do.
To be blunt: In order to comply with the NFL's cash spending rules, the Jets in the next two years have to spend like they're on a bender at a Vegas bachelor party.
"They've got to make up a lot of ground this offseason," an NFL Players Association official said. That person spoke to NJ Advance Media on condition of anonymity.
The league's collective bargaining agreement requires that all teams spend 89 percent of the combined salary cap totals from 2013 to 2016. (The salary cap is in place to restrict what players can earn and owners have to spend; the 89-percent cap floor exists to keep cheapskate owners from purposely not spending at all. Jets owner Woody Johnson has said he never instructed Idzik not to spend.)
The Jets' average cash spending for 2013 and '14—salaries, non-prorated signing bonuses, additional bonuses, grievance awards, injury settlements, basically anything not benefit-related—was only at 80 percent of their obligation, according to a presentation made Friday morning during an NFLPA meeting at the Scouting Combine. Details of that presentation were provided to NJ Advance Media by a person who attended the meeting.
The NFLPA estimates that the 2015 salary cap, which the league is expected to announce sometime in the next two weeks, will be $143 million. The cap is expected to climb even higher in 2016, and assuming that number keeps going up at the same rate, the NFLPA estimates the Jets are required to get caught up the next two years by spending an average of $140 million.
MORE NFL COMBINE: Complete coverage from Indianapolis
Now consider: The Jets' average cash spending number for '13 and '14 , according to an NFLPA projection provided to NJ Advance Media, was just $106,230,662. Only the Panthers and Raiders spent less.
Per the CBA, if the Jets don't reach the league's spending floor by 2016, they are required to allocate that shortfall to any players on the roster between 2013 and 2016.
All of this is good news for a talented player with an expiring contract like defensive end Muhammad Wilkerson. Idzik's replacement, Mike Maccagnan, is meeting with Wilkerson's agent this week in Indy to discuss a contract extension. A new Wilkerson deal is long overdue, but expect him to collect a windfall.
The Jets are also expected to have $45 to $50 million in salary cap space this offseason. And that cash can't just be stuffed into Johnson's pillow.
Earlier this week, Maccagnan said the Jets "will be active in free agency. Whether that's with the high-dollar guys, the first wave of free agency, I would think we'd be potentially in that market, but we'll be in the middle and lower-tier market, too."
Maccagnan was referring to the spending he intends to do to improve the Jets. But according to NFL rules, he also doesn't have much of a choice.
Dom Cosentino may be reached at dcosentino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @domcosentino. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.
