Some veteran players the victims of cuts with new NFL salary cap limits

Umaru Lamin, Sports Writer DGT Sports Writer

With the new salary cap limits set in stone for the NFL, veteran players with lofty salaries will be the victims with teams that are currently over the cap. With teams forced to work under the 120 million dollar cap, and rookie salaries under more control with the new CBA deal, veteran players with high price tags are sure to be the victims with teams needing to trim down on salaries.

The Dallas Cowboys, and Baltimore Ravens were two examples of teams that were over the salary cap who cut high salary veteran players to make room under the new salary figure. A couple of veterans that the Cowboys released included, wide receiver Roy Williams, running back Marion Barber, and offensive lineman Leonard Davis.

The Ravens cut key veteran members from their 2010 team, which include running back Willis McGahee, tight-end Todd Heap, and wide receiver Derrick Mason. The moves by both teams saved the teams 15 to 20 million in cap dollars for the upcoming season. With teams forced to make a number in such a short time, other high priced veterans around the league will soon become cap casualties.

Other veterans that will either be released or traded include Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett who finished last year on the injured reserve list. Barnett met with Packers General Manager Ted Thompson earlier in the week after arriving for training camp to begin workouts with the team. The New York Giants also released veteran lineman Shaun O'Hara in attempts to get under the salary cap. The Giants were about 6 million dollars over the salary cap coming into the 2011 season.

With dollars a premium for teams above, or near the salary cap threshold veteran players with large dollar figures who don't produce as they once did will ultimate be the victims with how the league operates. Other names that may be part of this list shortly include high priced running back Reggie Bush, and quarterback Donovan McNabb. The Washington Redskin quarterback signed a large deal during the end of the 2010 season, and his salary number is around 14 million for the 2011 season. The Redskins are surely not going to pay McNabb that number so they're currently in trade talks with the Vikings on trading McNabb for a 6th draft pick. The Vikings want to have McNabb restructure his salary before they make the trade with the Redskins. Saints running back Reggie Bush is another veteran who has a salary number of 11 million dollars for this coming season. The Saints drafted rookie running back Mark Ingram out of Alabama in this year's draft, and the Saints definitely don't want to commit to Bush's 11 million dollar salary. If the two sides aren't able to come up with a restructured salary for 2011 Reggie Bush will probably be the next veteran cut before the season starts.

Veterans will have to focus even more on their guaranteed signing bonus when signing contracts because in a league with a stringent salary cap for all teams across the board. Once production drops for a veteran, or a team is able to sign a younger player for a lot less money the veteran with the high salary cap number will be the first option for a team trim off its roster.

The NFL Lockout is finally over after 134 days of uncertainty

Umaru Lamin Sports Writer, DGT Sports Writer

It was a very drawn out process between the NFL Players, and Owners but the two sides finally came to an agreement on Monday to end the 134 day lock-out. A process that seemed to be up and down throughout finally ended with both sides giving up a little, and getting a little to reach an agreement. The new collective bargaining will last 10 years in duration with no opt out clause for either side. The final points that caused a frenzy by the NFLPA on Friday after the Owners agreed on their own proposal deteriorated after it came to light that the players didn't even have the chance to review the drafted document. The weekend was somewhat of a cooling off period for the NFLPA to evaluate their documents and also come up with their own revisions of key points that they felt needed to be addressed.

The two sides were finally able to iron out the minor points that enabled both sides to put pen to paper and officially finalize the agreement. Teams will be officially able to start speaking with players on Tuesday and they can begin to sign players as early as Friday. Training camps will start to open this Wednesday, and teams can begin waiver players as early as Thursday. The players still have to vote to recertify as a Union, and after that process they'll have to have a final vote on the new CBA.

The major framework of the new agreement were finalized about a week ago but with the salary cap, and minimum spending agreed that teams were required to spend. The minor hiccup that caused the last minute rift may never fully be revealed but it was major enough to cast doubt into the eyes of the players. But whatever those hiccups where they were quickly alleviated in time to make an announcement early Monday morning. Roger Goodell, and DeMaurice Smith were all smiles on Monday with the news that football is back.

One of the key milestones that must be stated with the new CBA is the 10 year duration of the new pact between both sides. Their will be a decade of labor peace in the most prosperous sport in the U.S. for the next ten years and now the activities will move from the negotiating table to the football field which is what the fans truly enjoy the most.

NFL Owners vote 31 to 0 to ratify new Labor Deal

Umaru Lamin Writer, DGT Sports

The NFL Owners voted unanimously to ratify the new labor agreement between the League and the Players today. The vote was 31 to 0 in favor with the Los Angeles Raiders abstaining from a vote. The agreements duration is 10 years in length without any cutoffs.

The next steps are now for the Players to vote on ratification. The labor deal calls for a salary cap of 120 million, with a 99 percent cash spend in 2011. Roger Goodell announces Hall of Fame Game to be cancelled.

No Player vote today on new CBA. Owners to meet in Atlanta on Thursday.

Umaru Lamin, Sports Writer DGT Sports

It was thought that today the NFL Players would vote on the new CBA agreement that the two sides have been ironing out the last couple months. But the players didn't take part in any vote to decide if they would ratify the collective bargaining agreement. The President of the NFLPA, and former player Kevin Mawae informed NFL.COM that the players aren't operating on any July 21st deadline. Mawae stated that the goal of the NFL Players is to see what's on the table, and to get the best deal possible for the players.

From the Owners perspective NFL Lead Negotiator Jeff Pash stated that he expects the Owners, and Players to vote on an agreement Thursday with a new pact in place shortly after. The Owners are scheduled to meet in Atlanta for meetings tomorrow where a vote could take place. Atlanta is the same place where the Owners voted in 2008 to end the CBA that was in existence between both sides. With 32 teams holding a vote in the CBA ratification process 3/4 or 24 teams are needed to vote in favor of the new CBA for the Owners to be in agreement. Roger Goodell was at the Atlanta airport on Wednesday meeting with 9 of 10 members of the NFL Labor Committee ironing out the final details of the proposed agreement.

From the looks of things it looks as if the Players may have a few issues they need to iron out before they feel a deal meets their liking. The lawsuit against the Owners has 10 named plaintiffs that must sign off the agreement to throw out the lawsuit. A couple players who lost the most with the uncapped year in 2010 where Patriots G Logan Mankins, and Chargers WR Vincent Jackson. Both players were 5th year veterans last year who were forced into restricted free-agency, and who were later tendered contracts by their respective teams that were below market value. Jackson, and Mankins may want special considerations attached to their status as free-agents who lost out the most from the prior CBA.

Free Agent frenzy set to take place in the NFL within the next week

Umaru Lamin, Sports Writer DGT Sports Writer

With an NFL labor deal close between the Players, and Owners the league will finally be set to open for business. With the new labor deal set to allow unrestricted free agency to players with expired contracts with at least 4 years of service in the league teams will have to have a master plan to sign players on the market starting with their own free agents. The number of available free agents could be as high as 450 players. Due to the extended lockout the time to sign players will be the shortest during the free agency era.

Owners, Players, and Agents will have to have a master plan to position themselves for the frenzy that will take place shortly. Teams will need to develop a board that itemizes the order in which they go after key free agents while staying at the 123 million dollar salary cap threshold for the up and coming 2011 season. A team like the Pittsburgh Steelers are already roughly 10 million dollars over the proposed salary cap figure. The Oakland Raiders are another team already with a high salary cap number around 100 million with the signing of Richard Seymour, and Stanford Routt before the lockout took place. Teams already over the cap, or close to hitting the cap number will have to be very judicious on who they re-sign or players they attract from other teams.

The week of July 25th will likely officially become the starting period where players can begin to sign contracts. The massive pool of players who will be available during that time will undoubtedly have Agents cell phones ringing from calls by General Managers, and other team personnel. Couple that with teams having to sign their own rookie draft picks, and add to that rookie free agents who weren't drafted creates a position with a lot of moving parts in terms of player signees. Teams that already have a plan in place before the process takes place will prove to be the most successful during the free agency period.

Owners and Players ironed out major issues in yesterday's meeting

Umaru Lamin, Sports Writer DGT Sports

The NFL Players and Owners overcame a major hurdle in the negotiation yesterday by agreeing on the salary cap number for the new labor deal, as well as the salary cap for rookie contracts. The new salary cap for the league looks like it will be around 120 million dollars a year. An additional 21 million dollars will be spent on benefits for players. The salary cap will allow for an additional 3 million dollars in the first year for teams that are already over that figure. That will allow teams like the Pittsburg Steelers, and Dallas Cowboys the opportunity to adjust to the new salary cap figure.

The salaries spent on rookies will be reduced by 50 percent under the proposal discussed by Owners and Players. Owners will have the option of guaranteeing the 5th year of rookie contracts. However rookies will have the benefit of their 5th year salaries averaged against the salaries of the top players at their positions. This will allow for teams to have a little more control over players that are top performers at their position for that 5th year, and also allowing teams to let go of players who haven't performed up to their first contracts.

The next action item between the two sides is Owners wanting right of first refusal for upcoming Free Agents. Players on the other hand want unrestricted Free Agent rights for players with 4 four years of service. This seems like the next major issue that Owners and Players will have to work out. Everything seems to be lining up for a signed agreement in the coming weeks for both sides. If the sides don't come to an agreement the leagues stands to lose hundreds of millions of dollars each week that preseason games are missed.

NFL's Top 100 as voted by the NFL Players rankings (10 to 1)

Umaru Lamin, Sports Writer DGT Sports

We conclude the analysis of the Top 100 players by listing the top 10 players in the NFL today. The list doesn't come as a surprise containing the greats like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, and Adrian Peterson on the offensive side of the ball. And on defense the top players include Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu, and Darrelle Revis. The league's best are consistent Pro Bowl, and All Pro selections who seem to put up big numbers year after year. We keep our eyes open on how these top performers rank in the 2011 season.




10. J. Peppers Bears, DE

Julius Peppers a 9 year Pro had another Pro Bowl season in 2010 after signing with the Chicago Bears. Peppers made his 3rd straight Pro Bowl, and his 6th since he's been in the league. Peppers made a big impact in 2010 with 8 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 2 interceptions, and 54 tackles. Peppers played like a Top 10 player in 2010. Peppers will be in his second year of the big deal he signed with the Bears so he'll have to play with the same motivation, and ferocity to make the Top 10 list again in 2011.

9. D. Brees Saints, QB

Drew Brees is a 5 time Pro Bowler who finished his 10th year in 2010. Brees was the leader of the Saints high powered offense passing for 33 touchdowns in 2010. Surprisingly Brees had a high number of interceptions, 22 in 2010 as well. He'll have to cut down on that number to make the Top 10 in 2011. Brees did throw for 4,600 yards last year, and you can look for the high powered Saints offense to light up the score board again in 2011.

8. D. Revis Jets, CB

Darrelle Revis a 4 year Pro, who has made the last 3 Pro Bowls is the best cover Corner in the NFL today. Revis consistently shut down the league's best Wide Receivers week in, week out in 2010. Revis wasn't able to record any interceptions in 2010 simply because opposing teams didn't throw the football his way. The trend should continue of teams not throwing passing in his direction, and if they do look for an increase in his interception total. Revis should be another Top 10 performer in 2011.

7. A. Johnson Texans, WR

Andre Johnson is an 8 year Pro, who has 3 straight Pro Bowl selections, and 5 total selections during his career. Johnson suffered through a serious ankle injury much of the 2010 season missing 3 full games for the Texans. Johnson is considered the game's best Wide Receiver, and he was still able to receiver for over 1,200 yards, and catch 86 passes in 2010. Johnson was only able to catch 8 touchdowns last year, and he'll have to improve on that number to maintain the title as the game's best Wide-out. Andres Johnson at 100 percent should post big reception, and touchdown numbers for the 2011 season.

6. T. Polamalu Steelers, S

Troy Polamalu is an 8 year Pro who is a 6 time Pro Bowler for the Steelers. Polamalu is one of the game's best safeties. Polamalu was all over the field again in 2010 on run, and passing plays for the Steelers. Polamalu stats included 7 interceptions, 63 tackles, and 1 sack in 14 games played in 2010. Polamalu is one of the best playmakers in the NFL today, and his ranking in the Top 10 is a justified rating. Polamalu's talent, and abilities will keep him in the Top 10 for some years to come.

5. E. Reed Ravens, S

Ed Reed a 7 time Pro Bowler with 9 years in the NFL totaled 8 interceptions with the Ravens in 2010 in only 10 games. Reed was out the first 6 games with a serious hip injury but came back to be a really big playmaker for the Ravens secondary. Reed is one of the biggest playmakers in the history of the NFL at the safety position. Injuries have slowed Reed down over the past couple of years but he continues to be a ball hawk on passing situations.

4. R. Lewis Ravens, LB

Ray Lewis a 15 year Pro, and 12 time Pro Bowl selection continues to put up big numbers at the Linebacker position for the Ravens. Lewis totaled 139 tackles with the Ravens in 2010, leading the Ravens defense in tackling. Lewis is Mr. Consistency on the football field with his uncanny ability to stop running backs in their tracks. Everyone keeps anticipating the day when Lewis slows down but it hasn't happened quite as yet. I look for another strong year from a freakish athlete in his 16th season.

3. A. Peterson Vikings, RB

Adrian Peterson posted a 4th Pro Bowl appearance in his 4th year in the NFL in 2010. Peterson was able to run for close to 1,300 yards, and post 12 touchdowns as the Vikings leading Running Back. Peterson was able to cut back his fumbles to only one during the entire 2010 season. Peterson was a bright spot in what was a rather dismal season for the Minnesota Vikings. Look for Peterson to have another break-out year in 2011 justifying his ranking as one of the best players in the NFL.

2. P. Manning Colts, QB

Peyton Manning a 13th year Pro, and 11 time Pro Bowler makes the list at the number 2 spot. It could easily be argued that Manning is the top player in the NFL today. In 2010 season that saw the Colts lose many key players to injuries, Manning was still able to throw for 33 touchdowns during the year. I didn't like his 17 interceptions during the season but a lot of that was attributed to new Receivers running routes for Colts during the year. Manning will have Dallas Clark back healthy in 2011 and he should rank at either the No.1 or No. 2 spot in 2011.

1. T. Brady Patriots, QB

Tom Brady an 11th year Pro, and 6 time Pro Bowler put up excellent numbers in 2010 to lead the Patriots to the best record during the regular season. Brady threw for 36 touchdowns during the 2010 campaign with only 4 interceptions. Brady was able to put up strong numbers after trading away Randy Moss during the season, and having to play with 2 rookie tight-ends during the year. Brady is a Top 2 talent in the NFL and he will put up strong numbers again in 2011 for the Patriots.