Cap Cost to Trade Brown

**SidSmythe** · 01-02-2019, 06:22 PM

Omar Khan better watch out for Flippy - He might be coming to take his job.

**Buzz** · 01-02-2019, 06:27 PM

brothervad posted this link: https://www.post-gazette.com/sports/...s/201901020122

it explains how an AB trade is doable.

**Northern_Blitz** · 01-02-2019, 06:29 PM

Originally posted by flippy

We still owe Brown ~$21m over the next 2 years. What if we restructured his contract to $22m over 21 years including a $1m signing bonus as a thank you for restructuring.

Then couldn't his trade cost $1m vs the cap and his new team can re-do his deal once they sign him?

This is an extreme example, but isn't there a way to re-do the contract to eliminate the Cap hit?

I'm not sure I understand this 100%.

I think if we trade AB, we should seriously consider just blowing it all up (i.e. trading Ben too).

I think AB is our only elite player. It's too bad he's a head case (and apparently getting worse by the year).

**steeler_fan_in_t.o.** · 01-02-2019, 06:59 PM

Originally posted by flippy

We still owe Brown ~$21m over the next 2 years. What if we restructured his contract to $22m over 21 years including a $1m signing bonus as a thank you for restructuring.

Then couldn't his trade cost $1m vs the cap and his new team can re-do his deal once they sign him?

This is an extreme example, but isn't there a way to re-do the contract to eliminate the Cap hit?

I'm not sure I understand this 100%.

Sorry Flip, in a word...no. There is a pro-rated signing bonus amount remaining of $21M+ and it accelerates to now if he is traded, cut, or retires. The only alternative if you move him is to do so after June 1 and then $7M is counted against the cap in '19 and $14M in '20. That also means that the Steelers are on the hook for a $2.5M roster bonus in March so best to trade him before that if that's the plan.

**Buzz** · 01-02-2019, 07:51 PM

According to Bouchette:

If he plays in 2019, his salary cap figure will be $22,165,000. If they trade him, his salary cap figure will be $21,120,000.

But there’s more than that. What isn’t being taken into account is his 2019 salary of $12,625,000 that won’t be paid and will be wiped from their cap, even though Brown’s individual cap figure will technically remain the same. Also, Brown is due a $2.5 million roster bonus five days after the new league season begins March 13.

That’s a real AND cap savings of more than $15 million in salary and bonus that won’t be paid or count if they trade him before March 18. (No trades are permitted before March 13, so they would have a five-day window to do so.)
Mike Tomlin speaks to the media Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019.
Gerry Dulac
Mike Tomlin: Once Antonio Brown skipped meetings, 'playing wasn't on the menu'

That brings his realistic salary cap hit down to $6 million if they trade him by then, although technically on the books it will be that $21 million-plus in “dead money.” Plus, it would eliminate him from the books forever after 2019.

Of course, they will have to use some of that $15 million to replace Brown with another wide receiver, whether that’s via trade, free agency or the draft. They could do plenty with that amount.

It’s what they should have done with Le’Veon Bell a year ago rather than commit $14.5 million of their cap to him, preventing them from using that money elsewhere to find another back and shore up their defense.

They have that Bell money and cap space back because he skipped the 2018 season, but they really are not awash in cap space. Despite the Bell situation and an increase in the NFL’s salary cap by at least $10 million, the Steelers are projected to have $28.6 million in space by Overthecap.com. But that number counts just 38 players under contract.

Still, there is plenty of room to work. Their cap space won’t be reduced if they trade Brown. They want to work out a new contract for Ben Roethlisberger, but any new deal for him would actually save them more cap space in 2019. He has a $12 million salary and $5 million roster bonus due this year and all of that can be reduced through a signing bonus in a new contract with a reduced 2019 salary.

Surely, they can get at least a first-round draft choice this year for what may be the best receiver in the NFL, despite his recalcitrance. Maybe more. The Dallas Cowboys traded a first-round pick to Oakland for wide receiver Amari Cooper, who can’t carry Brown’s luggage. In 2017, Cooper caught 48 passes for 680 yards. He flourished with the Cowboys this year but still had 75 receptions for 1,005 yards and seven touchdowns, pale by Brown’s standards and his production this season — 104 catches; 1,297 yards; and a league-high 15 touchdowns despite missing the final game.

But would the Steelers really trade such a receiver, and where would that leave them at the position? One NFL personnel man said he does not see how the Steelers can keep Brown after what he did last week.

First, forget about trading him after June 1 to save more cap room this year by pushing two-thirds off into 2020. They would need the draft choice now and would be out the $2.5 million signing bonus they must pay him March 18. Plus, his salary would count on their cap until June, preventing them from making other moves.

No, if they are going to trade him it must be during that five-day window beginning March 13, when trades are first allowed — to save the roster bonus, salary and to get the draft pick(s) this year.

**pittpete** · 01-02-2019, 08:03 PM

Trade him for a #1 this year and a #1 the year after.
Theres no way this mental case can play for the Steelers again

**Northern_Blitz** · 01-02-2019, 08:07 PM

Originally posted by pittpete

Trade him for a #1 this year and a #1 the year after.
Theres no way this mental case can play for the Steelers again