Nnamdi Asumogha Cap Implications

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Keith

Your first mistake is taking salary cap insights from McClain.

Originally Posted by WMH

Take it for what its worth........

But Jabba McClain reported thru his chat that the Texans were right at the $120MM cap figure already, and will have to cut or restructure several contracts in order to have cash to spend in FA.

One more note on McClain.... I really don't have an axe to grind with him or anything, but he is reporting what he hears, not what he knows or understands. And the Texans and McClain are chummy as the Texans use the paper as their unofficial megaphone and McClain gets to fill his columns and blogs. Point being, the Texans don't want to hurt their negotiating position by advertising how much space they can possbly have.

It'd be like going to buy a car and telling the seller the absolute most you could ever possibly pay for their product. The Texans are just fine posing themselves as cap-poor instead of saying, well we could extend Mario, cut Amobi and Slaton and whoever and create $25MM more in cap space...

[edo783]

Both Shefter & LaConfor are reporting that teams will be able to spend well above the CAP. Not sure how that will work, but I THINK some of it will be that dead money wont count, just real money. That way when teams spend the 90% of CAP room it will have to be real dollars. Plus, I think there is some sort of exemption. LaConfor made the statement that "The rich will get richer". Meaning the teams that have CASH will be able to spend it. Going to be interesting to see what the heck the deal really is.

[Arky]

Ya, McClain was on 610 this morning saying, due to the Texans high cap, "NO WAY" could they sign Aso much to the chagrin of Vandermeer and Lopez. Lopez countered that it sounded like the Texans couldn't sign anyone (no Joseph, no Taylor, etc.)... To this, McClain hemmed and hawed a bit and said well they could probably sign one of the lower tier CB's.... 610 used McClain's speculations as a point of conversation all day all the way into the afternoon show with Rich Lord and Doofus Boy. (I would also like to say I respect McClain's work - he does a lot of work, most of the time he furnishes info that checks out fine. I also respect the way he deals with his many, sometimes unfair critics.....JMO).

McClain may end up being right but I've heard and read an equal amount to the contrary. Lance Zierlein has said the Texans "are a lock" to sign a top CB. There was the Peter King comment urging the Texans to go after Nnamdi although PK may not know a thing about the Texans cap.... There was Kubes grinning like a possum on NFLN when asked about AJ contacting Aso to come play for the Texans.... All this puts me in the camp that says they are going to make a strong bid for Nnamdi Asomugha.... They may not end up getting him, but maybe they'll do better than projected and get a Joseph or a Taylor....

I would go for this one and only one big signing and go with a bunch of vet minimum guys to fill out the roster... Try to hang onto Leach, restructure here, let one of JJ/Butler go there, yada, yada.... Aso would be so good for the young secondary....

[Keith]

Originally Posted by Arky

Ya, McClain was on 610 this morning saying, due to the Texans high cap, "NO WAY" could they sign Aso much to the chagrin of Vandermeer and Lopez.

McClain tweeted this earlier today:

@McClain_on_NFL John McClain
As expected, Texans are pursuing Nnamdi Asomugha. They'll have to redo almost every contract to free up cap dollars to be in the running.

"As expected"?? As in expected by everyone but you??

[Arky]

Originally Posted by Keith

McClain tweeted this earlier today:



"As expected"?? As in expected by everyone but you??

Yeah, I saw that....McClain *can* backslide with the best of 'em....

Just saw this posted at the Mothership (first mention of Aso at ht.com):

“According to a person connected to Nnamdi sweepstakes, it’s his understanding that Texans, 49ers & Jets now bidding for him most heavily,” Glauber said early on Wednesday evening.



Yesterday, ESPN insider Chris Mortensen said that in regards to Asomugha, the “Texans will go hard; you have to believe their offer will top all; that’s a Super Bowl contender if they land him.”



Other reports have said that the Jets’ interest in Asomugha is serious. Michael Lombardi of NFL Network makes it out to be a two-horse race between the Jets and 49ers, who are “in it strong.”



The Texans want to improve their secondary in free agency, but they have made no indications one way or another as to whether they’re pursuing Asomugha. He can’t sign with anybody until Friday at 5 p.m. CT, so it might be another long couple of days before we find out.

I'm not as optimistic as I once was but it ain't over till it's over.....

[TheMatrix31]

Personally think the Jets "hype" for Asomugha is somewhat media-driven.

[itssharif]

Originally Posted by Keith

McClain tweeted this earlier today:



"As expected"?? As in expected by everyone but you??

In McClain's defense and I read all the chat transcripts and try to listen in on 610 as much as possible he did say that the Texans would pursue Asumogha but not get him. My only problem with McClain is how grossly wrong he was about our cap figure situation. When that report came out it broke my heart that the Texans had the cap situation they did. But now the off-season has hit and we haven't made one cut, resigned 3 of our guys and are still going after the highest priced free agent. We were most definitely under and that guy attempted to lead us to believe otherwise.

Either way I'm still here just hoping and wishing that this Nnamdi thing somehow some way happens. I truly do feel like that would put it over the top for us.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by itssharif

In McClain's defense and I read all the chat transcripts and try to listen in on 610 as much as possible he did say that the Texans would pursue Asumogha but not get him. My only problem with McClain is how grossly wrong he was about our cap figure situation. When that report came out it broke my heart that the Texans had the cap situation they did. But now the off-season has hit and we haven't made one cut, resigned 3 of our guys and are still going after the highest priced free agent. We were most definitely under and that guy attempted to lead us to believe otherwise.

Either way I'm still here just hoping and wishing that this Nnamdi thing somehow some way happens. I truly do feel like that would put it over the top for us.

The McClain tweet right after the one above:

"I never thought the Texans would even be in the running for Asomugha because of cap situation. They'll have to get very creative. "

Like you say, I think his big mistake was just taking the not-so-accurate "internet" cap numbers and rolling with them... Perhaps also underestimating that the Texans could "get creative"..

[Fonz the Boss]

NFL Network has been mentioning Aso and Jets all day. Saying how Asomugha will end up taking less money to go for a Super Bowl contender. Revis even put some influence in there by saying that playing with the best CB in the league Nnamdi would be awesome. Also earlier Schefter said that if Jets end up getting Asomugha then the Texans would land Cromartie.... I think Texans are offering more money but eventually Nnamdi will go for less money for a greater chance to win

[Arky]

Per SR610 radio: Michael Lombardi announcing that Texans are in the lead in the Nnamdi sweepstakes with a 12-14 mil offer....

(one must be careful not to assume anything till the race is over...)

[WMH]

Interesting.......

Tweet from @michaelombardi
@michaelombardi: Hearing Houston has moved into the lead for Nnamdi Asomugha?money will be in the 12-14 mill per year range...Revis makes 11.5 per year

[Keith]

@McClain_on_NFL John McClain



Texans intensified efforts for Asomugha once they realized they could redo contracts 2 free enough cap space.

Ok, I'm trolling the guy now, but seriously... like the Texans *just* figured this out.

I think news of Mario's extension would be coming soon, obviously a couple cuts by the 8/4 deadline like Okoye, Orlovsky, and Slaton (or whenever that deadline is now). Wouldn't surprise me if Schaub got an extension in short order too.

[WMH]

Originally Posted by Keith

Ok, I'm trolling the guy now, but seriously... like the Texans *just* figured this out.

I think news of Mario's extension would be coming soon, obviously a couple cuts by the 8/4 deadline like Okoye, Orlovsky, and Slaton (or whenever that deadline is now). Wouldn't surprise me if Schaub got an extension in short order too.

Yep, its definitely not a can we or can't we, its just whether or not he wants to come here. I just wish he would shit or get off the pot. If its not gonna happen, their wasting a whole lot of time for nada, while letting a couple other quality DB's slip by. Still a couple out there, but I just worry about too much focus on 1 guy.

We STILL need a true S.....

[TheMatrix31]

Man.....this needs to get done.

We're "in the lead" for him, according to most everyone. 12-14 mil a year.

[popanot]

49ers just cut Clements freeing up ~$15MM off their cap. Texans better get this Aso deal done soon if they really want him.

[cadams]

Originally Posted by Keith

Ok, I'm trolling the guy now, but seriously... like the Texans *just* figured this out.

I think news of Mario's extension would be coming soon, obviously a couple cuts by the 8/4 deadline like Okoye, Orlovsky, and Slaton (or whenever that deadline is now). Wouldn't surprise me if Schaub got an extension in short order too.

i am no fan of smith, nor am i going to say he is one of the sharper pencils in the box, but i would be willing to be a lot that they already knew they could restructure contracts to get where they need to be.

my guess is that the idiot mclain "just" figured out that they could do that. for someone who has been reporting on the nfl for so long, his lack of understanding as to how the league works is amazing.

[cadams]

Originally Posted by WMH

Yep, its definitely not a can we or can't we, its just whether or not he wants to come here. I just wish he would shit or get off the pot. If its not gonna happen, their wasting a whole lot of time for nada, while letting a couple other quality DB's slip by. Still a couple out there, but I just worry about too much focus on 1 guy.

We STILL need a true S.....

my guess is none of the other top 2-3 corners that are free agents are going to agree to anything until they see what Asumogha gets. they will use his contract to set the market for the rest.

[painekiller]

Originally Posted by cadams

my guess is none of the other top 2-3 corners that are free agents are going to agree to anything until they see what Asumogha gets. they will use his contract to set the market for the rest.

That is my thinking also. And I have been seeing that the Texans have been in talks with Joseph, they are looking at all there options, Aso is most likely the 1st one to fall.

[Arky]

Originally Posted by cadams

my guess is none of the other top 2-3 corners that are free agents are going to agree to anything until they see what Asumogha gets. they will use his contract to set the market for the rest.

I think part of it is that the Texans have contacted Joseph, et al and their agents and said something like "don't sign anything until we find out if we get Nnamdi - if we don't, we will make you a better offer than you currently have".

Also I think that the agents are strongly encouraging their clients to go where the money is regardless of any other side benefits (media center town, acting schools/Broadway, close to home, etc.). Because..... the more money the client makes, the more money the agent makes. A "good" agent just wants the $$$$.

Eeesh, this kinda resembles Beltran '05. I think the difference is, I don't think anybody is going to outbid the Texans.... But, they (the Texans) are going to have to bid a significant amount over whatever side benefits NY and SF (or whomever) can offer to sway the decision to their side. And you know agents just hate leaving money on the table...

[Fonz the Boss]

I'll be inconsolable if this does not happen.