Calvin Has Officially Retired

[atxlion82]

On a side note, one year in and the Dolphins have already had to restructure Suh's contract.

 

[atxlion82]

That is my understanding as well. We are somewhere between $41Mm and $44Mm under the cap depending on the final numbers with Calvin. If he returns any of the signing bonus before we have to sue for it, ala Barry, then the number could be as high as $44Mm.

You are correct. I forgot we resigned Walker

 

[brewer229]

Not in this case. This was no hollow threat to retire and they knew it. His $24Mm cap hit would have become official tomorrow at 4pm. There was no way the team could accept a cap hit that big for a player who may retire.

They would have cut him before 4pm tomorrow to take $13Mm off that hit no matter what.

By giving them the news today, he didn't force that cut, and now he's not a free agent if he decides to come out of retirement and play.

I Still think with the lack of quality FA and our core being pretty much under contract they could of let it ride with CJ and "only" had 30 million in cap space for the year. It's not like there is a #1 WR out there waiting to be signed.
If he decided to play than great you got CJ for another year. If he retired mid summer than you can carry over the 13 million to 2017 when you have guys like Slay, Ansah, Riddick and tons of other quality FA from other teams.
If he didn't retire but didn't play you fine him and withhold game checks. I believe that money could then be recouped into the 2017 cap year.

If that last sentence isn't true, than I agree they may have had to cut him.

However this is the cleanest, best and most professional way for this to go down.

 

[brewer229]

On a side note, one year in and the Dolphins have already had to restructure Suh's contract.

I think this was the plan Dolphins plan all along. You don't put that much of base salary in one year unless you plan on restructuring.

 

[inkfreq]

On a side note, one year in and the Dolphins have already had to restructure Suh's contract.

That was actually 100% expected. Everyone knew that after the first season they would have to kick money down the road. It has to happen again after year 2, which makes year 6 crushing on their cap.

In the final year of his deal, he will account for about $35Mm against their cap if he remains on the team, and about $28Mm against the cap if he's cut.

 

[atxlion82]

That was actually 100% expected. Everyone knew that after the first season they would have to kick money down the road. It has to happen again after year 2, which makes year 6 crushing on their cap.

In the final year of his deal, he will account for about $35Mm against their cap if he remains on the team, and about $28Mm against the cap if he's cut.

We all knew it was coming it is just nice to not have to watch the Lions kick the can down the road multiple times in free agency.

 

[brewer229]

That was actually 100% expected. Everyone knew that after the first season they would have to kick money down the road. It has to happen again after year 2, which makes year 6 crushing on their cap.

In the final year of his deal, he will account for about $35Mm against their cap if he remains on the team, and about $28Mm against the cap if he's cut.

With the way the cap is increasing in 6 years 28 million will probably be the equivalent of a #2 WR.

 

[inkfreq]

I Still think with the lack of quality FA and our core being pretty much under contract they could of let it ride with CJ and "only" had 30 million in cap space for the year. It's not like there is a #1 WR out there waiting to be signed.
If he decided to play than great you got CJ for another year. If he retired mid summer than you can carry over the 13 million to 2017 when you have guys like Slay, Ansah, Riddick and tons of other quality FA from other teams.
If he didn't retire but didn't play you fine him and withhold game checks. I believe that money could then be recouped into the 2017 cap year.

If that last sentence isn't true, than I agree they may have had to cut him.

However this is the cleanest, best and most professional way for this to go down.

I am far from a cap expert. I tried to read the cap rulebook once and fell asleep on page three... no kidding. Not even that far into page 3. And it's something like 1200 pages.

But based on an article I read in January, we would not have been able to recoup the money in 2017. Money that can be recouped is a percentage of unspent cap. Calvin actually accounts for spent cap if he retires on or after March 9.

You are 100% right. They had the cap room to gamble, but it would not have been a wise gamble at all. $13Mm in cap room is a ton of room when you just lost your best offensive weapon and you have 16 free agents to replace.

Smart move would have been to let him walk, which I believe they would have done at 3:58 tomorrow afternoon.

He obviously wasn't playing games here. People speculated he wanted more money, more years, to be a free agent, what have you. He did nothing to obtain any leverage at all. He walked away.

That alone tells me his mind is 100% made up. That can always change later, but for now, his mind is made up.

 

[Mitchrapp]

One thing I don't get.. He's been counting well over 20m of the cap but now that he retired we only gain 11m of cap space?

 

[brewer229]

I am far from a cap expert. I tried to read the cap rulebook once and fell asleep on page three... no kidding. Not even that far into page 3. And it's something like 1200 pages.

But based on an article I read in January, we would not have been able to recoup the money in 2017. Money that can be recouped is a percentage of unspent cap. Calvin actually accounts for spent cap if he retires on or after March 9.

You are 100% right. They had the cap room to gamble, but it would not have been a wise gamble at all. $13Mm in cap room is a ton of room when you just lost your best offensive weapon and you have 16 free agents to replace.

Smart move would have been to let him walk, which I believe they would have done at 3:58 tomorrow afternoon.

He obviously wasn't playing games here. People speculated he wanted more money, more years, to be a free agent, what have you. He did nothing to obtain any leverage at all. He walked away.

That alone tells me his mind is 100% made up. That can always change later, but for now, his mind is made up.

I hear you on that. I tried reading the CBA on this, I probably misinterpreted the section on forfeitures. Too much lawyer speak in it for me to completely understand.

 

[inkfreq]

One thing I don't get.. He's been counting well over 20m of the cap but now that he retired we only gain 11m of cap space?

Signing bonus. Only his base salary can be shed from the cap.

Now, he's got $3Mm in bonus for this season, which if it's returned, we can apply to the cap. The rest was previously accrued bonus, so it's already on the books from previous years.

 

[inkfreq]

With the way the cap is increasing in 6 years 28 million will probably be the equivalent of a #2 WR.

Punter money by 2025.

 

[brewer229]

One thing I don't get.. He's been counting well over 20m of the cap but now that he retired we only gain 11m of cap space?

Here is an article that explains it well:
http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2016/01/how_calvin_johnsons_potential.html

Basically what ink said. 8 Million is what is left over from an option bonus from 2013. There is a few million left over from restructuring also in 2013. And another 3.2 million in signing bonus. Only the signing bonus can be recouped. That will be credited if and whenever Calvin pays it back. The other bonuses we technically already got the benefit from and the lions decided to take the cap hit over 5 years instead of in one. Since he retired the prorated bonus in 2016 and 2017 gets accelerated to 2016.

 

[brewer229]

Punter money by 2025.

That's why I have my 3 year old practicing kicking now!

 

[kalinecountry]

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2016/03/full_calvin_johnson_statement.html#incart_river_index
Calvin Johnson 'at peace' with retirement, thanks Detroit Lions and fans.
Mlive

 

[Mitchrapp]

At least it's over. Now once we get a new QB we can turn around this puppy.

 

[kalinecountry]

http://www.mlive.com/lions/index.ssf/2016/03/quick_update_on_detroit_lions.html#incart_river_index
Calvin Johnson's retirement pushes Detroit Lions' cap space over $40 million.
Mlive

In detail.

 

[mhughes0021]

I'm sure we can find a 7 yd possession wr somewhere with 40 mil to play with.

 

[biggunsbob]

Thanks calvin !!!!! -shame because he will miss a deep playoff run next season!!!!

 

[atxlion82]

Thanks calvin !!!!! -shame because he will miss a deep playoff run next season!!!!

Maybe he can come out of retirement for the playoffs.