2009 Cap

[cland]

The uncapped year is still a bit of a mystery to me. But to those who know more than I do, what prevents Mr. Mcnair setting this team up for the next 5-7 years in 2010?

My understanding is that 'signing bonuses' are amortized over the length of the contract. However 'roster bonuses' come directly out of the year in which they are given. Typically signing bonuses are used more often to spread the cap hit out over the ~5 years of the contract, however in the uncapped 2010 why not get all the cap hit out of the way?

So imagine next year:

Mario Williams - $50 million guaranteed + minimum salary over 7-year contract.
Demeco Ryans - $30 million guaranteed + minimum salary over 7-year contract.
Owen Daniels - $25 million guaranteed + minimum salary over 7-year contract.
Dunta, Schaub, Johnson, etc.

Don't worry about the numbers they can move up or down, but if that guaranteed payment is a roster bonus (and the value of the contract is what you would pay for those players down the road anyways) haven't you freed yourself of any meaningful cap restrictions that may come back in later years.

It's takes an early investment, but Houston is one of the most valuable franchises in the league. Assuming the cap comes back in 2011 in it's current form, the above players now cost you nothing.

Anyways, maybe there are some rules to prevent this type of activity. But it's interesting regardless.