During the 2013 free agency period, I've watched Seattle, Atlanta, Detroit, Denver and San Francisco make massive improvements to their teams. We cannot even afford to re-sign our own key free agents (see Fred Davis). We had to beg players to restructure their contracts so that we can sign our DRAFT CLASS for 2013. The only thing that is keeping me sane is up I-95 in Baltimore, players are defecting their team as if they have political asylum claims.
Here is a look at the 2010 total salary for top spending NFL teams:
The NFL and the other 30 owners bullied the NFL Players Association into accepting a salary cap for 2010 in 2011. Yes that is correct. Instead of grandfathering us in, they applied a penalty to a rule that was created a year later. What is worse is that the other teams agreed to a higher cap for the Collective Bargaining Agreement rather than accept the uncapped year as an anomaly and accept a lower salary cap moving forward.
Imagine if your team were being penalized for a rule that didn't exist. Welcome to our world. The NFL retroactively capped an uncapped year claiming the Redskins took advantage of an uncapped year in 2010 by shifting player bonuses to that year. Meanwhile other teams colluded to obey an "unwritten" cap but the other 30 teams that were not penalized (Dallas was penalized 10 million over 2 years) would be subject to legal action for collusion. In fact, although there was no signed agreement to limit the cap, the Cowboys and Redskins were penalized because "they should have known better."
Nothing illegal ever took place or can be proven by the NFL or the other owners. In fact, every move during the uncapped year in 2010 was APPROVED by the NFL! Suddenly, the NFL with the permission of the NFLPA and at the behest of the other 30 franchises levied the unlawful penalty of 36 million over 2 years before free agency last year.
Privately the Redskins are discussing their legal options and the NFLPA has agreed to join them in a lawsuit. Which is why they have no credibility. However, we have already lost out on potential free agents and the competitive landscape has changed significantly in 2013. The only hope is that a federal court will overturn this penalty and the Redskins will get some of the 36 million in cap room in the next few years. Don't hold your breath.
Miraculously we have managed to keep hold of critical components through a variety of maneuvers by the front office including salary reduction, cutting the fat on the roster (see DeAngelo Hall) and letting players who are fringe starters go via free agency (Lorenzo Alexander was a backup LB and can be replaced on special teams). Bruce Allen (GM) should be commended for the job he has done but none of this happens without RG3. He is the catalyst behind OTHER players willing to sacrifice money for potential playoff success. Unfortunately, for Redskins fans, even after a NFC East division win, Allen will have to wait until 2014 to surround RG3 with more talent unless we hit gold in the draft. In the meantime, we will be in the NFL equivalent of Old Navy, looking for that one shirt we can repeatedly abuse.
Here is a look at the 2010 total salary for top spending NFL teams:
- Redskins: $178.2 million.
- Cowboys: $166.5 million.
- Saints: $145.0 million.
- Vikings: $143.4 million.
- Seahawks: $138.8 million.
The NFL and the other 30 owners bullied the NFL Players Association into accepting a salary cap for 2010 in 2011. Yes that is correct. Instead of grandfathering us in, they applied a penalty to a rule that was created a year later. What is worse is that the other teams agreed to a higher cap for the Collective Bargaining Agreement rather than accept the uncapped year as an anomaly and accept a lower salary cap moving forward.
| Year Applied: | 2011 |
| Salary Cap | |
| 2010 | Uncapped (later changed to 152.2m) |
| 2011 | 120m |
| 2012 | 120.6m |
| 2013 | 123m |
Imagine if your team were being penalized for a rule that didn't exist. Welcome to our world. The NFL retroactively capped an uncapped year claiming the Redskins took advantage of an uncapped year in 2010 by shifting player bonuses to that year. Meanwhile other teams colluded to obey an "unwritten" cap but the other 30 teams that were not penalized (Dallas was penalized 10 million over 2 years) would be subject to legal action for collusion. In fact, although there was no signed agreement to limit the cap, the Cowboys and Redskins were penalized because "they should have known better."
Nothing illegal ever took place or can be proven by the NFL or the other owners. In fact, every move during the uncapped year in 2010 was APPROVED by the NFL! Suddenly, the NFL with the permission of the NFLPA and at the behest of the other 30 franchises levied the unlawful penalty of 36 million over 2 years before free agency last year.
Privately the Redskins are discussing their legal options and the NFLPA has agreed to join them in a lawsuit. Which is why they have no credibility. However, we have already lost out on potential free agents and the competitive landscape has changed significantly in 2013. The only hope is that a federal court will overturn this penalty and the Redskins will get some of the 36 million in cap room in the next few years. Don't hold your breath.
Miraculously we have managed to keep hold of critical components through a variety of maneuvers by the front office including salary reduction, cutting the fat on the roster (see DeAngelo Hall) and letting players who are fringe starters go via free agency (Lorenzo Alexander was a backup LB and can be replaced on special teams). Bruce Allen (GM) should be commended for the job he has done but none of this happens without RG3. He is the catalyst behind OTHER players willing to sacrifice money for potential playoff success. Unfortunately, for Redskins fans, even after a NFC East division win, Allen will have to wait until 2014 to surround RG3 with more talent unless we hit gold in the draft. In the meantime, we will be in the NFL equivalent of Old Navy, looking for that one shirt we can repeatedly abuse.
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