Dalvin Cook

[EDGECRUSHER]

I think there was a report a few weeks back that Cook was working with Tua's trainer at the time.

He clearly wants Miami, but he wants the most money now and in the future. His best shot at a Superbowl this year is with us, but with 2 capable backs and a highly touted rookie already in the mix, how many touches will he get? That will hurt his future money unless someone gets cut or injured.

[CF DolFan]

He clearly wants Miami, but he wants the most money now and in the future. His best shot at a Superbowl this year is with us, but with 2 capable backs and a highly touted rookie already in the mix, how many touches will he get? That will hurt his future money unless someone gets cut or injured.

He's backed off the earlier talks about getting all the carries. In his interview this week he said this before he went into how much the Dolphins are a perfect fit for him.

I want to go and be the piece that can just help somebody win and get over the hump, and whatever that situation when it comes to me taking less reps but me being in the perfect situation. To hold up that trophy, I don't mind. I just want to go somewhere. I just get the ball and just help somebody win and turn the next page.

[EDGECRUSHER]

He's backed off the earlier talks about getting all the carries. In his interview this week he said this before he went into how much the Dolphins are a perfect fit for him.

I want to go and be the piece that can just help somebody win and get over the hump, and whatever that situation when it comes to me taking less reps but me being in the perfect situation. To hold up that trophy, I don't mind. I just want to go somewhere. I just get the ball and just help somebody win and turn the next page.

I would like to think he means that, but the truth is our budget is limited like many teams, so our offer is what we can afford, not what we think he is worth. If he truly means all these statements, he would sign right now. What more can he squeeze from us, an extra $200k? The cap is the cap.

[Brian Fein]

fundamental question:  Do incentives and bonuses count against the salary cap?

I think they do not, but that's a way they could get him into an agreement he likes, financially, while getting him paid for performing not just getting hurt and sitting on the bench.

However, I do not think he will end up here.  In the end, he has to decide if he wants the cash or the experience, and if history and other free agent RB's follows, he will choose the money.

[Spider-Dan]

fundamental question:  Do incentives and bonuses count against the salary cap?

They have to.  If they didn't, every single contract in the league would be structured as a league minimum salary, with a signing bonus and additional incentives for every game you remain on the roster.  Even if you required the incentives to be performance-based, you could sidestep the cap by giving your QB a minimum salary contract with a huge "performance-based incentive" attached to 1 successful completion.

[EDGECRUSHER]

They have to.  If they didn't, every single contract in the league would be structured as a league minimum salary, with a signing bonus and additional incentives for every game you remain on the roster.  Even if you required the incentives to be performance-based, you could sidestep the cap by giving your QB a minimum salary contract with a huge "performance-based incentive" attached to 1 successful completion.

"Tyreek Hill restructures his contract to make $9.25 an hour plus a $90 Million signing bonus."

[pondwater]

"Tyreek Hill restructures his contract to make $9.25 an hour plus a $90 Million signing bonus."

I could be mistaken but I think a signing bonus is prorated yearly over the entire length of the contract. I'm not 100% sure

[Spider-Dan]

That sounds about right.

[fyo]

fundamental question:  Do incentives and bonuses count against the salary cap?

I think they do not, but that's a way they could get him into an agreement he likes, financially, while getting him paid for performing not just getting hurt and sitting on the bench.

However, I do not think he will end up here.  In the end, he has to decide if he wants the cash or the experience, and if history and other free agent RB's follows, he will choose the money.

Incentives count against the cap if they are "likely to be earned", which is the case if the player met the criteria in the previous season. Pure participation criteria are, IIRC, always considered likely to be earned. (Obviously, if incentives are not "likely to be earned" and wind up being paid out anyway, they still count against the cap - just in the subsequent year - or, if you want to get really pedantic, it applies to the end-of-season cap adjustment for each team, determining the individual team cap for the following season.)

Signing bonuses are prorated across the length of the contract, so a $5 million roster bonus on a 2 year deal would count $2.5 million against the cap each year, despite being paid out on signing.

Roster bonuses are *not* prorated, but count in the year they are paid. The same applies to per-game roster bonuses.

[Brian Fein]

OK, right, so how does one plan a cap scenario when you have a guy with a contract that, let's say, gets 10 million bonus for 20 TD receptions....   There's no way to know if he will reach that.  So, if he gets the 22 TD's, are we suddenly over the cap?  Or does it go against next year's number?

Who is to determine likelihood of achievement....?  Or is this just a GM's responsibility to save room under the cap for it?

[Phishfan]

https://www.fieldgulls.com/2023/2/15/23600828/how-when-contract-incentives-count-against-salary-cap-nfl-geno-smith-contract-nltbe-ltbe-per-game

I only glanced but it appears if the bonus is likely to be achieved based on last year's numbers. Likely bonus goes against the cap and unlikely does not.

[Spider-Dan]

OK, right, so how does one plan a cap scenario when you have a guy with a contract that, let's say, gets 10 million bonus for 20 TD receptions....   There's no way to know if he will reach that.  So, if he gets the 22 TD's, are we suddenly over the cap?  Or does it go against next year's number?

Who is to determine likelihood of achievement....?  Or is this just a GM's responsibility to save room under the cap for it?

fyo answered both of these:

Incentives count against the cap if they are "likely to be earned", which is the case if the player met the criteria in the previous season. Pure participation criteria are, IIRC, always considered likely to be earned. (Obviously, if incentives are not "likely to be earned" and wind up being paid out anyway, they still count against the cap - just in the subsequent year - or, if you want to get really pedantic, it applies to the end-of-season cap adjustment for each team, determining the individual team cap for the following season.)

[CF DolFan]

We know Miami's offer isn't enough to get him to sign but apparently Cook has been offered at least 7 million from Minnesota. I honestly didn't see anyone doing that but I guess its true.

https://dolphinstalk.com/2023/07/esiason-cook-has-7-mill-offer-from-minnesota-using-jets-to-get-more-money-out-of-miami/
Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason, on his highly rated WFAN morning radio show, stated that free agent running back Dalvin Cook currently has a $7 million contract offer from the Minnesota Vikings on the table. Even though the Vikings released him, they are interested in bringing Cook back and have sent a deal to him.

According to Boomer, Cook is using the Jets as leverage to get more money out of Miami, and Cook would like to sign with the Dolphins.

[EDGECRUSHER]

We know Miami's offer isn't enough to get him to sign but apparently Cook has been offered at least 7 million from Minnesota. I honestly didn't see anyone doing that but I guess its true.

https://dolphinstalk.com/2023/07/esiason-cook-has-7-mill-offer-from-minnesota-using-jets-to-get-more-money-out-of-miami/
Former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason, on his highly rated WFAN morning radio show, stated that free agent running back Dalvin Cook currently has a $7 million contract offer from the Minnesota Vikings on the table. Even though the Vikings released him, they are interested in bringing Cook back and have sent a deal to him.

According to Boomer, Cook is using the Jets as leverage to get more money out of Miami, and Cook would like to sign with the Dolphins.

I would really like to know what our offer is and what he will take. If it's just another million, get it done. If we're offering $4 Million and he wnats $8 Million, then it looks like it won't happen.