The Cost of Cutting Bart Scott
Rod Boone of Newsday reported on Twitter tonight that the Jets are going to cut ties with Bart Scott this year. If true it is not surprising since anyone with two eyes saw a guy who couldn’t play at an acceptable level this year. I don’t even think he plays 75% of the snaps and can’t be on the field on passing downs. But there are financial implications to cutting him.
The Jets saw the decline coming in Scott this year. In August the team renegotiated his deal and lowered his 2011 salary by $1 million and his 2012 salary by $1.4 million. In return the Jets gave Scott a full guarantee on his 2011 salary and his 2012 salary, which is $4.2 million. According to a source with knowledge of the Scott deal the salary is fully guaranteed for skill, injury, and cap considerations. What that means is if the Jets cut Scott they owe him a check for $4.2 million. Everyone remembers that same situation when the Jets cut Alan Faneca and owed him a sizeable sum of money as well.
The difference here is that Faneca has a no offset clause in his contract, meaning if he was cut the Jets paid him his salary regardless of whether or not another team signed him. Scott does not have such a clause. If Scott is cut and signs a 1 year contract for $2 million the Jets will only owe Scott $2.2 million. So here is where the financials stand right now:
If the Jets keep Scott he will count for $5.95 million against the cap.
If they cut Scott his cap charge jumps to $7.2 million, a net loss of $1.25 million
So if the Jets are moving on my guess is they believe a team will sign Scott and he will be willing to play for at least $1,25 million next season. If he makes that much money the Jets end up breaking even in cap dollars of either keeping him or cutting him. Had they not renegotiated his deal he would have only had a $3 million dead cap hit in 2012 and the Jets would have lost $1 million in their 2011 cap space. So for the renegotiation to end up breaking even from a cap perspective, which is all that concerns the Jets, Scott would need to earn $3.2 million from another team next year. If he gets more it paid off for the Jets. Less and it did not.
Another option is that the Jets could hedge their bets and designate Scott a June 1 cut.Under that option Scott would count for $5.7 million in
2012 cap space, a slight savings over the charge to stay on the team, and $1.5 million in 2013. If Scott decides to retire or no team wants him
that allows the contract to play out the same exact way
it would have had he stayed on the team in 2012 from a cap perspective. Any offset creates more space in 2012 and because
it can be carried over year after year it can balance out the 2013 cap charge. This is probably the smartest option for the team if they are going to cut him.
It protects them from the worst case scenario and gives them a chance to create some added space in June and July when they need it to sign rookies.
If I obtain anymore information on Scott’s deal I will be sure to pass it along either here or via Twitter.
Can the Jets sign the Packers back up QB Flynn, who is now a free agent? It seems like cutting Scott wont help. Maybe restructure his contract so he plays for less this year, but gets guaranteed money to offset that in 2013.
How much cap space do the Jets have available in 2012?
This may be insane, but if Flynn is better than Sanchez, then cut Sanchez and sign Flynn. I don't know enough about the game to make that judgment.
But a bad QB ruins any chance of winning.
Let Sanchez hang out with the Victoria Secret models, and get someone else.
I know I did a little bashing of Mark Sanchez myself, but to be realistic, replacing Mark Sanchez is not going to fix the offensive line, nor speed up the inside linebackers, nor make the prima donna wide receivers stop crying to the press or from being benched for quitting when the game is on the line, nor establish a sound running game, nor keep the special teams players from fumbling a kick return.
There is a lot of fixin' needed to be done to this team. When these areas are remedied, I think you will see what a good fit Sanchez will be for the Jets.
You don't recruit a Tom Brady or Brett Favre for a run oriented, smash mouth, clock control offense. You recruit a QB who is content with supplementing the run game with a few passes here and there; much like Phil Simms of the Giants in the 80s. Phil was no Joe Montana, but he was the perfect fit for that style of offense.
Sanchez certainly has his good points. He's really dangerous when he's on the move. In my mind, the smart coach would design his offense to run option plays; something that would cater to the strengths of your QB, regardless of who that QB is.
In my mind, the offensive line should be priority 1. I don't care what superstars you have in the back field. They are not going to do squat without a solid offensive line.
Monetarily, I don't think it makes much sense to replace Sanchez............not yet, anyway.
Oh, and Jason? I really did want to eat crow this year. I really did want the Jets to make the playoffs this year, though another part of me thinks they would have been embarrassed in the playoffs.
I will be keenly interested in seeing what changes are made during this offseason. Will you be posting offseason updates, Jason?
I agree with keeping Sanchez for a year and letting the new OC see what he can do. But I think he's just not very good. A big disappointment.
Cut down on the bone headed interceptions an he is still inaccurate.
PS - watching the Coyboys - Giants - fun game. Victor Cruz was pretty good
A UDFA. They Jets need a UDFA like that!
Brandon- Most teams would like a UDFA like that. Boy can that guy run.
That said Tanny made a HUGE mistake in restructuring him the way he did!
Seems like we need everything except CB, C and LT, have a mid 1st round pick, and will be in salary cap purgatory for at least another year.
I understand the injury issue, but he's not that old and he's not a cripple. Not the same situation as Kris Jenkins, where they had a respectable backup (Pouha) and consective knee injuries are killer on a guy that big. Plus Jenkins played only 6 games in his last two years, Leonhard played 24 games. Plus Leonhards injuries are different (though on the same leg), an patella and a broken tibia.
They can not let this guy go like so many other talented players who were also positive influences in the clubhouse over the past few years.
I think we just might have enough cap room to cut Bart BEFORE the end of this fiscal year. I believe that all the charges would then be against the 2011 cap. Is this possible or am I missing something?