A (Sort of) Grand Finale: Cavs-Lakers, Behind the Box Score
March 11, 2016Browns talking with 49ers about Kaepernick
March 11, 2016Happy Friday WFNY. Here’s what I’m thinking…
Cleveland Browns Cash Flow Versus Cap Spending…
One of the things I’ve brought up over the last few days is the Cleveland Browns cash position. It’s something I brought up previously when talking about Paul Kruger’s contract as well. We get so obsessed with the salary cap in the NFL – and rightly so – that sometimes we might not think about cash. Even as the Browns said goodbye to four free agents on the first day of free agency, that also meant that the Browns didn’t create new cash obligations for its owner. Even as NFL teams get to spread out signing bonuses across multiple years, it hits them hard from a cash perspective when the deals are signed and those signing bonuses are due. So, what was the (lack of) impact created by yesterday’s signings?
Alex Mack got a five-year contract for $45 million with $28.5 million guaranteed. From a cap perspective he’ll only cost the Falcons $4.05 million in the first year. But from a cash perspective he’ll cost them $13.25 million for the $11.5 million signing bonus and the $1.75 million base salary in 2016.
Mitchell Schwartz got a five-year deal for $33 million with $20.7 million guaranteed. Mitch will count only $4.5 million against the cap in 2016, but his cash haul is considerably more. His signing bonus is $7 million, his salary and roster bonus are $3.1 million, so his cash requirement in 2016 is $10.1 million.
Tashaun Gipson got a five-year deal for $36 million with $12 million guaranteed. He will cost $4.6 million on the cap in 2016 after roster and workout bonuses. With his $4 million signing bonus and assuming he hits all first-year numbers, his cash requirement in 2016 is $7.8 million.
Lastly, Travis Benjamin signed a four-year deal for $24 million with $13 million guaranteed. His cap hit in 2016 is $5 million. His signing bonus is $5 million and assuming he earns all first-year bonuses including a roster bonus, the cash requirements in 2016 are $8.75 million.
So regardless of the cap money the Browns have available, and regardless of what these guys are worth in the environment, by not signing them the Browns saved their owner from spending $39.9 million in cash versus adding a cap value of $18.15 million.
I also don’t know anything about the Browns’ books in terms of cash flow, so I have no idea if they’re cash flow positive already. But I do know that none of this takes into account former coaches and executives that the Browns have paid not to work, while also bringing in guys like Paul DePodesta. You would presume that the $226.4 million in national TV money plus whatever the Browns get locally off of its loyal fans is enough to cover most everything. We know that the Packers revenue was more than $375 million in 2014, so it helps put a ballpark number together. But even if the Browns are perfectly solvent and without issue financially, it would grow tiresome to lose poorly, not get better, and also not grow your cash reserves year-in and year-out.
Shawn Parker bringing theater movies to your home…
The guy who Justin Timberlake played in the Facebook movie is working on another project. This time he’s trying to disrupt the movie industry a bit, and if it works, I love the prospect.
A company called The Screening Room, founded by Parker and Prem Akkaraju (who is also CEO), is making the rounds at Hollywood studios pitching $50 rental fees for movies still in theaters. The service would use the company’s secure anti-piracy set-top boxes, according to Variety, which broke the story Wednesday evening.
I know that’s a hefty price point, and I would hope that, depending on the film, it would be somewhat variable, but I want this very badly. The cost proposition for a movie is pretty crazy for me as it is with two kids in need of a babysitter. Sometimes I can get the free babysitting from grandparents, but more often than not, I need to pay someone when my wife and I do a dinner and movie. So, with dinner ($30-50), a movie ($20-30,) and the cost of a babysitter ($30-50 depending on how long,) I’m spending far more than $50 anytime I want to go out and see a flick.
As for variable pricing, I think it would depend on the expected theater gross. Obviously a kid movie from Disney or Pixar should cost full-fare because you’re probably watching it at home as a family. But like a film that’s bombing at the theater like Zoolander 2 would be significantly less and entice more people to see it than normally would anyway.
I know it’s complicated as you split profits between the movie producers, the theaters and Sean Parker’s company, but this new outlet should not be a complete cannibalization. It should raise the overall revenue flowing to the movie industry. That’s an accounting problem that should be worth figuring out.
Joe Banner trolls the Browns hard…
Joe tried to cover it up saying he was talking about the media, but we all know what he’s actually saying here about the Browns and their beginning (or lack thereof) to NFL’s free agency in 2016.
Let's be clear about analytics.I know of no study that says lose quality young starter to get a comp pick in 18 months at the end of 5th rd.
— Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) March 10, 2016
Last tweet is directed at media that is going to blame or credit every move they make to analytics, which will only be true some of the time
— Joe Banner (@JoeBanner13) March 10, 2016
Of course on this point, Joe Banner is right. As I said yesterday, you can get into nuanced conversations about each individual player, but at the end of it, when you have four players at varying levels of worthiness to be kept, it’s bad to lose them all in one day. It creates a headwind for your team, regardless of what you’re trying to do.
Your weekly moment of soccer zen…
Love you Alex Morgan. You’re our favorite.
That’s it from me this week. I have nothing else new to talk about and I didn’t hear any great new music, so enjoy your weekends.
43 Comments
How much of our salary cap is still being eaten up by Holmgren’s ribs and mai-tai tabs?
“I didn’t hear any great new music”
Muncie Girls – “From Caplan to Belsize”
Bent Shapes – “Wolves of Want”
Mind Spiders – “Prosthesis”
Into It. Over It. – “Standards”
I suppose the word “great” is being applied loosely on a couple of these, but I’ll let you decide for yourself.
I’ll be annoyed if it turns out Haslam, in addition to being a crook, is as cheap as the Dolans. At least the Dolans are decent dudes.
I wish Haslam would start to seriously consider that he wasn’t cut out for this, he’s terrible at it, and he’s not going to get any better.
Please sell the Browns and go back to enjoying the free hors d’oeuvres in the luxury box at Heinz Field on Sundays.
Something tells me that the only way Jimmah is getting back into Heinz Field is if he buys a ticket.
Incredible touch and finish from Morgan. And after absorbing a borderline cheap shot from the goalie (I know she was just trying to defend the shot, but the hit came a little late), she just bounced right back up and walked away. Like I always tell younger players, act like you’ve been there before.
I actually don’t think Banner was trolling. He was making the point that, IF you are going to rip the Browns for their current moves, you CAN’T blame those moves on the Browns being too committed to analytics. It’s a good point that elevates the conversation. Almost every critique of the Browns now begins with some lazy potshot at Analytics.
One other thought: I think a lot of the negative “feedback” that is (apparently) coming from agents and other “football men” about the Browns new front office is driven by “football men” not liking the Browns “non-football” men. It may prove to have actual substance, but I would take it with a grain of salt for now. I think any “football men” who don’t like the outcomes of their dealings with the Browns will now just blame it on the FO’s inexperience, whether that is true or not. Let’s see where the roster ends up by August, and then I think we will have a better sense of what the FO is up to.
i just don’t get it … many on these pages believe the browns need to be going hard after free-agents & spend that cap money … why , so we have “the appearance” they are trying to be competitive ??
now , if our FO would’ve come out & said publicly : “we are not going to spend on free-agents … we are going to build through the draft … we will draft well & then sign players to 2nd contracts ” … would you be okay with that ??
and how long should the HBT be allowed to execute their plan ?? … if they aren’t given a minimum of 4-5 years , then why bother ? you can’t only give them 2 years if their plan is to build through the draft.
i just don’t wanna see us be happy for one year , with a quick fix , spending big on free-agents , only to follow that up with a 3 or 4 win season … exactly like we did after our only 2 winning seasons since 1999. do you want a quick fix , or do want it done right with sustainablity for the long haul ?
until a regime is allowed more than 2 years to execute a plan , it will never happen.
I would have expected some trolling from La Canfora by now.
Agreed. I read it that way as well.
“we will draft well & then sign players to 2nd contracts.”
That’s the rub, I haven’t seen anyone on these boards or in the media say the Browns should have ACQUIRED player XXX. The narrative is they should have RETAINED player 1, 2, 3, 4.
We have failed the philosophy by not resigning our own. Whether we could or not is another issue (I think Mack was walking regardless).
My weekly moment of soccer zen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg-6GXsrCHA
hi HOP … the current FO is just getting started , they haven’t even had their first draft yet & they didn’t draft the players that are currently leaving. maybe , just maybe , they think we can do better for the money , or maybe they aren’t worth the money they’re being paid by the current / new teams.
i am sure they have a plan … maybe we should wait until after the draft to judge it.
Schwartz was the only one that hurt, especially because of that weird pull the offer sheet thing. I agree that Mack was walking. Benji is not that good a player, IMO. And Gipson had one good year so I’m not really sure what he is.
hi BEN … i too at least wanted to see them retain schwartz.
HOP – to take it a step further , go back & look at all the browns 1st round picks since 1977 … you will find yourself scratching your head on how we whiffed on so many. so obviously , many don’t come anywhere near a 2nd contract.
hi BRYAN … they did the same thing in baseball & other sports. i’d rather see us jump on it right away than being the last one on board.
We’ll find out when they go full Moneyball mode, and they replace the training table with vending machines and start charging the players for pop and snacks in the locker room.
“hi , MrC … that’s why i’m in charge now … hang in there.”
love ,
Dee Haslam
After the play: Unsportsmanlike Conduct – Group Celebration on the Offense. Number 10… 4… 27… 2… 20… aww hell… everyone! 15 yard penalty. First Down.
Dee’s ascendancy must mean that they know Jimmy’s going to prison. The New Orange is the Old Orange. Or something.
He is limited by his lack of size, but Benjamin is a legit outside NFL WR with great speed. Those are not the easiest to find. He is Mike Wallace, not Calvin Johnson, but there is still great value in being Mike Wallace.
Biggest issue with Parker’s project (and love the idea) is you need to have the set top box in home. Those things are cheaply made and can fall apart. So, how do you transport things that people will treat poorly and ensure no one can open them up to hack?
This idea has been around in a few forms at CES (Vegas Consumer Electronic Show) and there are just some big obstacles even outside the money I am curious to see how he intends to overcome.
If they believe they can do better in 2016 than Schwartz and Mack and Gipson, then we have already lost. When you have as many holes as we do, then you plug the ones you got, you don’t drill new ones too.
They are amazingly ripping the whole thing up, again. Disappointing, frustrating, angering.
hi MG … i agree. i am frustrated as well. everyone knows i supported farmer … not that he was the greatest GM to come down the pike , but i supported the fact we need to leave someone in there longer than 2 years to execute a plan.
now that he got the boot , the new regime has my support … i can only hope they get the time they deserve.
we all liked benjamin … in san diego he will be a #2 or #3 WR … keenan allen is definitely their best WR … then stevie johnson & dontrelle inman … yes, he might return kicks but , is he worth the money ?
the lions made bademosi the highest paid ST player in the nfl … seems crazy to me.
… if they can do better “for the money” … if they go get someone like C stefen wisniewski or draft a rookie to play center & they play as well as mack , who is 30 (31 ?) years old & being one of the highest paid centers in the league … isn’t that smart ?
if i. campbell takes over for gipson & outplays him , which i think he will , is that not smart ?
at this point in time . how do we know , for sure, that letting go of these 4 guys was a dumb or smart move ?? … we don’t.
… and why fret over guys that more than likely didn’t even want to be here ?
Totally agree, I think C Stefen Wisniewski would be better, and he is 4 years younger!
“But even if the Browns are perfectly solvent and without issue financially, it would grow tiresome to lose poorly, not get better, and also not grow your cash reserves year-in and year-out.” Yes, but … There is value, even when losing poorly, to providing your rookie QB a chance to set his feet before throwing into double coverage rather than a jittery flinching survival mode where whatever capacity a young guy has to figure it out is swamped by non-stop beat downs. Think Couch and David Carr and others that make you say “we’ll never know.”
As for Banner, dude, get a life. You intentionally denuded the roster of all weapons Chud and Norv might use, then whacked them. Karma is a thing. Go on, add the Richardon trade to your brilliant Andy Reid discovery in your job interviews, and maybe that’ll be enough to overcome your personality. But please, it’s over here, whether you are ready or not. Move on and go be happy.
new Loretta Lynn is worth a listen.
uptick for the correct usage of “down the pike”.
You also have to consider that if it is their philosophy to retain their own talent, then they will likely resign them before they hit free agency and have their price bid up. They didn’t really have that opportunity here.
I think most of us agree about Schwartz. It’s hard to know exactly what happened that caused them to pull their offer. However, I kind of wonder if they are trying to send a signal to agents that they will no longer be an open vault for free agents.
Except they did because Sashi was in charge of contract negotiations last year and he didn’t get it done.
Yeah, my gut feeling is that is what they are doing. No more Jordan Cameron using us for leverage type thing.
The Braylon Edwards $900 bottle of water?
Well, the guys who replaced his guy are now gone too.
It IS! She’s working with John Carter Cash this time. The stuff with Jack White was good too. Hard to believe she is 83.
I am getting a salary of 5800 dollars each week…op Over a year ago I was in a horrible condition , jobless and no bank credit . Thanks to one of my friends who showed me a way where I was able to gather myself and making average of 56 d/h. So it can change your life as it has changed mine.
Look here for details
ewq…
Does the goalie get a card there? Total D move
Once a penalty is called, what is the harm of getting another 15 yarder. They don’t add up. Same thing in basketball, once a guy is fouled, what is the harm of clobbering him during his “continuation” as long as you don’t get T’d up