Over the last week or so we've seen a number of published reports show the Kansas City Chiefs salary cap space at a whopping $63 million. We didn't pay a whole lot of attention to that number because we knew it would change pretty quickly once some updated bonus numbers came in. Guys receive bonuses and escalators based on their play in 2011 that will be reflected in their 2012 cap number.
Once you take those numbers into account, the Chiefs salary cap is pegged at $37 million. Adam Teicher of the KC Star has the complete story on the Chiefs salary cap and explains it all there. They even show their math.
The Chiefs have a few ways they'll be spending that money in the coming weeks and months.
First, the franchise tag. The Chiefs are now allowed to use the tag and Brandon Carr or Dwayne Bowe each seem like perfect candidates for the tag. Roughly speaking, the receiver tag will be around $9.5 million and the cornerback tag will be around $10.5 million.
Second, the Chiefs will sign some of their own free agents. They have 21 of them now and will bring a lot of them back.
Third, the Chiefs will sign other teams free agents. Free agency starts March 13 and I already can't wait. KC should be players in the free agency market.
Fourth, the draft picks. The Chiefs will need to sign their draft picks with the rookie pool money.
0 recs | 69 comments
Why I don't take everything I read at face value.
Tarkus - February 20, 2012
So you're saying Teicher is possibly wrong?
GenericBrand - February 20, 2012
I don't think so
They show their math here.
Joel Thorman - February 20, 2012
What he has listed there is 2012 salaries
Which doesn’t necesarily translate to 2012 cap hit. I still think the number is probably much lower then 62 that Clayton reported but higher then 37. Just quick logic of 21 players coming off the books and us only being 13M$ under cap when we were 24M$ under last year doesn’t make alot of sense.
GenericBrand - February 20, 2012
One column is base salary, the other is cap hit
Joel Thorman - February 20, 2012
Other sites have different numbers for cap hits
Significant differences too. I’m curious what his source is for his math. But doesn’t it seem odd that we’re only 13M$ under at the start of the league year without the carry over?
GenericBrand - February 20, 2012
thats what i was thinking
thats really low , specially for the chiefs
chiefsman! - February 20, 2012
Make sure they're talking about cap hits and not base salaries
Two different things that a lot of people interchange (because the cap is confusing as hell).
Joel Thorman - February 20, 2012
$37 million with the carryover of about $24 million applying to only one year, Mmmmmmm.....
That means that any FA signings to long term deals will have to be front loaded and will have to take into account the later years. Since only the top 51 salaries are counted towards the CAP we have to assume that many in house players will sign and get an upgrade in salaries this year and in next few years. If The Chiefs sign a couple of prominant FAs, the average salaries will be going up at the top and the bottom of the list of Top 51 Player Salaries. That $37 million looks big now but one bad signing and Chiefs will have no room for error or future additions going forward. It looks like they have room for signing two prominent current players (Bowe and Carr) and maybe two prominent players from other teams. (Perhaps OG Nicks and a NT) Mid level aquisitions may cancel out when Chiefs replace similar mid level salary from current roster.)
CatChief - February 20, 2012
I'm sure the team will come out at some point and clear this up
Or give us a general idea.
GenericBrand - February 20, 2012
yeskabrink - February 20, 2012
rightTarkus - February 20, 2012
Yeah, because the Clark Hunt and Scott Pioli love giving specifics about team spending.
MtHammer - February 20, 2012
That's what this KC Star article is
This is the team coming out and laying it out there. They included a breakdown by player.
Joel Thorman - February 20, 2012
Just out of curiosity where do they say that? Is it just implied through some sort of press speak?
I’m scanning the article and seeing where they say the numbers were provided to them but not by whom. Does that mean it was the Chiefs because they didn’t say otherwise? I’m just really sure how all this works.
MtHammer - February 20, 2012
Not combing through all the names because im too lazy
but I have two other sources with different numbers for Cassel and TJax and Flowers.
GenericBrand - February 20, 2012
Yes.
Along with everyone else who is reporting other figures.
Tarkus - February 20, 2012
Salary cap is difficult to understand, yes
Joel Thorman - February 20, 2012
so does that 37 mill still put us at the top of the nfl or the middle now?
kcchiefs2782 - February 20, 2012 via Android app
Top
Joel Thorman - February 20, 2012
thanks great post btw
kcchiefs2782 - February 20, 2012 via Android app
I don't think the 62M$ that Espn reported was right and I don't think the 37M$ is right either.
I’m sure the actual number lies somewhere in between.
GenericBrand - February 20, 2012
I think they're both right...
True that as of today the Chiefs have $62 million in space? Yes. True that when bonuses and escalators hit the real number will be $37 million? Yes.
You see what I’m saying?
Joel Thorman - February 20, 2012
That I'm easily confused?
Tarkus - February 20, 2012
So that means without the $24 million carry-over, we'd only be about $13 million under the cap.
With it being widely reported that the cap hit of guys like Cassel, Johnson, and Charles was going way down this year, I take it that Flowers and Tamba are eating up giant amounts of the cap this season?
MtHammer - February 20, 2012
You can only Tag one play
But can’t you Tender another to max potential? Tender Carr or Bowe for 2 1st picks or something? Kinda like how Wilberry was tendered for a 2nd round pick…can that work?
Mitul V. Patel - February 20, 2012
IIRC the tenders are only for restricted FAs
Carr and Bowe are both unrestricted FAs
BAMFSpecialOps - February 20, 2012
Doh!
Mitul V. Patel - February 20, 2012
I think where Teichers math fails is when he added it all up he used 2012 salaries
Which doesn’t necesarily represent the actual cap hit.
GenericBrand - February 20, 2012
Most shocking expense is...
… what we are paying Succop (who is average) and Colquitt (who is awesome) = $4.68m.
Only 11 players on our roster earn more than Succop!
Tony Moeaki on $600k and Kendrick Lewis $540k must be pissed!
Tom Wildman - February 20, 2012
Pretty sure TonyM is not complaining about that paycheck after being out all year
If I was Lewis I would be happy SOMEONE took a shot on me that late, and not complain about money until the contract is over
BAMFSpecialOps - February 20, 2012
Rookie Contracts
they will earn theirs soon enough. Hopefully we will have a solid team and make the playoffs consistently enough to where they will want to stay.
Mitul V. Patel - February 20, 2012
They're on rookie contracts so I'm sure they arent that pissed.
The only reason that number might be shocking is that we have so much talent on this team and it’s all pretty inexpensive at the moment.
GenericBrand - February 20, 2012
Succop was not "average" last year.
Between weeks 3 and 16 Succop didn’t miss a single field goal. And the field goals he “missed” in the Raiders game weren’t really misses, they were blocks.
He’s earned that contract, if you ask me.
MtHammer - February 20, 2012
Yep
Dude had some early struggles, but he was clutch the rest of the season.
cheapham - February 20, 2012
He almost single handedly won us a couple of games, too.
He was 5/5 against Minnesota, 4/4 against Green Bay, and 3/3 a couple other times.
MtHammer - February 20, 2012
It's crazy to think...
…even the NFL scrubs get paid easily three times what I do.
JoMo Chiefs fan - February 20, 2012
It's crazy to think...
…we don’t pay Sabby what we pay Berry for his steller on field play
BAMFSpecialOps - February 20, 2012
I think you're math's off, hermano.
The league minimum for a rookie is $285,000.
joplin chiefs fan - February 20, 2012
Spend on who?
The big question is who will they spend the money on to make this team a whole lot better.we dont need a one year wonder,we need somebody for a few seasons.
chiefsfool - February 20, 2012
Carr and Flowers
BAMFSpecialOps - February 20, 2012
uh oh
HIV2Elway will be along soon to call Joel a mouth breather.
kabrink - February 20, 2012
Good thing most of us could give two shits about what that guy thinks :-)
ArrowSpread - February 20, 2012
well that doesn't seem as high
still makes us higher in the league in cap space ? plus im thinking that number is probably more inbetween . 46-48 million maybe ?
chiefsman! - February 20, 2012
jackson and dorsey MAY BE a little over paid ...
chiefsman! - February 20, 2012
A function of when they signed their rookie contracts.
Tarkus - February 20, 2012
o i know
and there not bad players , just wish they weren’t making so much money .
chiefsman! - February 20, 2012
Their second contracts wont be nearly that high
nateforchiefs - February 20, 2012
Teichers matt on Jackson is wrong.
It’s only 8M$+$250,000 work out bonus. But ya starting next year I’ll be Jackson gets restructured.
GenericBrand - February 20, 2012
thats not as bad . Still alot thoe lol
chiefsman! - February 20, 2012
Compared to what he's worth and what 1st rounders get now? For sure.
GenericBrand - February 20, 2012
Love the new rookie wage scale .
and their contract will for sure be reconstructed probably next year lol
chiefsman! - February 20, 2012
The new CBA prevents this from happening to a certain degree now
That way you don’t have guys like Jason Smith (Rams RT, drafted to play LT) being the highest paid player at their position and hasn’t proved anything just to be a bust and maybe not even be in the league anymore.
KingChief - February 20, 2012
thats a dang good thing
chiefsman! - February 20, 2012
as of February 7, 2012 and were compiled courtesy of the NFLPA "unofficial"
salary cap for 2011 was set at approximately $120,375,000
2012 figure, range between $121 Million and $125 Million
So far the NFLPA split the difference and use an estimate of $123 Million
Kansas City Chiefs 3rd best in the NFL with current players under contract and bounces..
$27,155,800.80 not giving the roll over from last year….
Keep in mind that these numbers change day by day until the CAP number is released to the Teams
AngryKitty - February 20, 2012
so you're saying we're closer to 47 mil than 37 mil right?
Brad-KC - February 20, 2012
my guess would 46-48 million
chiefsman! - February 20, 2012
51*
Because the number we know for sure is the 24 carried forward.
GenericBrand - February 20, 2012
Oh, I thought we were carring over 20 mil
thanks for the correction
Brad-KC - February 20, 2012
I hope it's the right $53M.
Tarkus - February 20, 2012
lol i see what you did there
nice
chiefsman! - February 20, 2012
HIV may flag you later, but for now you're getting a rec.
MtHammer - February 20, 2012
You mean the guy who insults people's baby daughters?
Tarkus - February 20, 2012
Hey man, that little girl had it coming.
She knows what she did.
MtHammer - February 20, 2012
thats why 37 sounds so low
only 13 mil for this year ? that doesnt sound like the chiefs at all
chiefsman! - February 20, 2012
Im thinking around 42mill
Sounds about right… The next 2 years is looking good for the Chiefs with contracts and bounces. But remember there are player incentives during the year too… so as fans we will never the total truth from either side the players union or NFL teams…
AngryKitty - February 20, 2012
Is Pioli Committed To Winning or Only To Remaining in Control?
I looked at the list of free agents & only 4 out of the 21 players are worth resigning (Bowe, Carr, McClain & Belcher). Why didn’t Pioli spend any of last year’s salary cap money last year to sign a quality back up QB. offensive tackles or strong safety or tight end? Because Pioli wanted Haley to fail due to the lack of depth. Everyone in the NFL knew that Pioli wanted to fire Haley after the successful 2010 season but could not because Haley was successful & had the loyaltyof the players. Why would a quality offensive coordinator want to come to work for Haley 12 months ago if he knew there was a dysfunctional relationship between the GM & head coach? In the long run the only thing that matters is that Pioli has successful drafts & makes successful trades & FA signings and that Pioli does not interfere with the coaches. Pioli now has the coaching staff that is 100% loyal to him. Any lack of success going forward should lead to Pioli’s immediate firing as it was Pioli’s decision to bet the bank on Matt Cassel’s $63 million contract.
Chief Fan from DFW - February 20, 2012
Because he came in with nothing.
The fact that he has playmakers at all in every position and signing most players before they go to FA is amazing after a few years.
The only thing he had was a good draft class before he came in (That didn’t get tainted by the bad work ethic, losing mentality), most of the team was pretty bad.
Now it’s about getting the right value playmakers and backups and fill holes over time.
MichaelMantastic - February 20, 2012
tbh 37m doesn't sound like alot
with trying to resign bowe and carr. and having to sign all our draft picks, and re-sign quite a few players. that doesn’t leave a lot of extra spending money to get a very good o-lineman like everyone is hoping. and taking a run at trying to get a guy like manning seems completely out of place with those #’s. but i dont really know anything
TheMainEvent - February 20, 2012
You must Login with your SB Nation account and be a member of Arrowhead Pride to post a comment.