Capology 101

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     The Eagles are undeniably a cash-poor team. Lurie blew most of his

wad buying the team and will be paying out the kazoo for the next several

years.



     On the other hand, the Eagles have been able to land some big-name

free agents, and transition players at that, the last few years... how

on earth did they do that?



     First you need to look at how different teams handle the cap.



San Francisco method #1:

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     Sign big-name free agents to one-year, playoff-incentive layden

contracts (assuming the players are willing). The incentives will only

count against the *next* years salary cap meaning you get them for dirt

cheap in the current year... and pay for a player you likely wont have

the next.



     This only works for teams with legitimate Championship shots,

signing players who are looking for a Championship ring before they

can no longer play.



     The pluses: if you dont do well in the play-offs they dont count

much against the cap for the next year. They dont count much against

the current year regardless. You're probably signing guys who would

do anything for a Championship.



     The minuses: You will be paying next year, for a players performance

this year. Players are liable to be older veterans who only have a few

seasons left at best. High roster turn-over at skill positions.



The Dallas method (San Francisco method #2):

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     Sign players to contracts with exorbitant signing bonuses, which

are pro-rated over the life of the contract. Back-load the contracts

so that the players receive more base salary later on, so they dont

count as much against the cap now.



     This works for teams with big bucks to spend. With a long enough

contract, and a big enough signing bonus players can get a whole lot

of money up front, to carry them through to the supposedly "uncapped"

years at the end of the contract.



     The pluses: almost unlimited funds to attract star talent.



     The minuses: *Potentially* mortgaging the future. If the NFL and

players Union agree to extend the cap system, teams will be in 

trouble. If a player is off the roster for whatever reason, his whole

signing bonus (or what-ever left over pro-rated portions are left)

counts against the current cap. Creates wide disparity in pay scales

on the same team.



The Philadelphia method:

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     This method depends on other teams not being very good at managing

the cap, which has been the case so far. And the team having an initially

relatively large pool of cap money to work with, such as an expansion team.



     Philadelphia managed this by gutting the team when Rhodes took

over. The Eagles had very few players under contract, and thus had

oodles of 'cap' money. In fact, the Eagles had more new players on 

their team in 1995 than any team except the expansion franchises.



     The Eagles, not having the money for bonuses, structure contracts

such that they are *front* loaded cap-wise. They keep the signing

bonuses low while garunteeing large base salaries over the first year

or two of the contract. This means the Eagles spread out paying all

that "up-front" money over a whole year or two, and allow the remaining

part of the contract to be *below* the average value of the contract,

thus reducing the the cap value of the contract over the life of the

contract.

     

     pluses: the Eagles can sign players to offer sheets that other 

teams simply cant match by making a players cap value so high for the 

current year that the other team cant possibly retain him without going

over the cap.  Miami and San Francisco did their best to match the

Eagles offers, but were too 'cap' (not cash) poor in the current year

to match the deal. Cap impact is *reduced* over the life of the contract,

insuring that the process is self-continuing.



     minuses: Still can't offer huge money in a lump sum. High turnover

in backup personnel.



     Of course, different teams mix-and-match elements of all three

styles.



     For Philadelphia though... they can easily target other teams

restricted and transition free agent players, sign them to front

loaded contracts that other teams cant or wont match, and acquire

developing young talent without worry about how we will be able to

sign players down the road... it will be just as easy because most

of the cap affect will be in the first year, or two.



     The Eagles wont be depending on the salary cap going up with

new TV contracts, etc, just to meet contracts already signed by their

players... they can use the increased cap room to continue their 

process of front loading contracts.



     Thats how to handle the cap... best of all, it is in the spirit

of the rules the cap was meant for. Although teams who over spend on

signing bonuses and are are beginning to feel the cap crunch probably

dont think so. Too bad... if they knew what they were doing to begin

with and didnt try to break the spirit of the rules, they wouldnt be

in the situation they are headed for.