THE GRID: VOL. IV

By Brian Palmese, NFL Draft Bible

For a while, June 1 was a key date for organizations around the NFL. It was yet another cog in the machine, which helped facilitate putting a successful team on the field -- June 1st cuts. Teams that had not managed their salary cap very well would trim the bloated contracts that were impeding the team from putting a winning product on the field, while other teams that needed a piece here or there could swoop in and land a veteran presence that they previously couldn’t fill through free agency.

Why June 1? That is the date set in the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) in which players can be cut from teams and allows the salary cap hit to be spread over two seasons rather than just one season. Just to complicate this a little more, when the CBA was extended in 2007, a loophole was added to make things a little more interesting.

Each team is now allowed to designate two players as “June 1 cuts” and release players pre-June 1. For example, those that were watching the 2007 draft might remember Keyshawn Johnson’s rave reviews of the Carolina Panthers’ 2nd round pick, Dwayne Jarrett. I guess the University of Southern California apple doesn’t fall too far from the Trojan tree, because a few days later Johnson was released in a salary cap move. Though it was the first week of May, Carolina was able to spread out the former number one pick’s salary over the next two seasons.

June 1 used to be a huge day because, unlike the other sports leagues, trades are rarely made in the NFL. The last major player-for-player trade that had a serious impact was the deal between Denver and Washington in 2004. Clinton Portis, who tore through defenses in the Mile High City, got shipped off to the Redskins for shutdown cornerback Champ Bailey. Both teams have done well with the trade. If a trade does go down involving players, it’s usually a player going one way, with draft picks coming back the other way. For example, the Falcons traded Matt Schaub this past off-season for moving up two slots in the ’07 draft plus the Texans’ second round picks in 2007 and 2008. Teams are very hesitant to pull of trades primarily because of the money being pumped out from the respective players’ contracts.

However, this mentality has morphed over the past five to ten years and June 1st has been a rather quiet day around the league. Gone are the days of circling the calendar and waiting for the influx of veteran players to flood the market on the first day of June. This past June 1st was no different. One of the main reasons for this lack of activity is the jump in salary cap over the past couple of seasons--an estimated $25 million increase. This huge allotment of money has allowed teams to become more fiscally responsible.

The New England Patriots have been the blueprint for success in the NFL for the past decade. The dynasty that has been molded in New England has never been one that dipped their proverbial toes into the expensive veteran player pool. Many organizations around the league have adopted this mode of thinking and are better for it. It’s much easier to fill out your roster with the $109 million salary cap that is currently in effect through free agency and the draft.

The structure of contracts and the depth of cheaper options also play a huge role in limiting the June 1st transactions. Roster bonuses and the ability to restructure deals have enabled franchises to spread out salaries over more time, thereby lessening the initial hit to that current years’ salary cap. The combination of frontloading deals (which is offering a player more guaranteed money in the first years of the contract) along with incentive-laden deals (certain goals that are met by the player will determine accelerations in salary) give management flexibility when it comes to decision making.

Then you have the bargain basement route. Teams will bring in players that have been cut by other teams’ practice squads, non-drafted free agents, and the now-folded NFL Europa League (NFLE). Antonio Gates, Priest Holmes, Rod Smith, and Willie Parker are just a few of the players that have blown up on the NFL stage since going undrafted. NFLE has sent the NFL some solid talent across the big pond as well. Kurt Warner and Jake Delhomme have done more than just crack an NFL roster. Scouting for organizations is such a huge responsibility now. The next Super Bowl MVP or leading rusher could go undrafted or be buried on some other teams’ depth chart.

For what it’s worth, there have been some steals on June 1st. Two names that come to mind are former wide receiver Cris Carter and running back Stephen Davis. The latter had a productive career in Washington but went under-appreciated when Steve Spurrier took over the reins in DC. The “Old Ball Coach” felt Davis’ running style wouldn’t fit with his “Fun and Gun” offense so Davis was cut from the roster. Carolina found the back that fit their smash-mouth running style and Davis found himself as one of the top rushers in the league. His legs helped propel the Panthers to Super Bowl XXXVII in 2004.

Wide receiver Cris Carter was drafted by the Eagles in 1987, but fell out of graces with Coach Buddy Ryan in 1989. The Vikings grabbed Carter and inked him to a $100 contract. That’s not a typo --a $100 contract. There were alcohol and drug issues that led to the tough decision by Ryan. Carter turned his life around and the rest is history as Cris Carter set several receiving records on his way to the Hall of Fame. He also was a solid mentor for Randy Moss when the Vikings drafted him.

So, June 1st is nothing more than a day sandwiched between May 31 and June 2 now in the NFL. Its initial logic is still conducted, but it’s done prior to that date and afterwards in training camp.

You can reach Bryan Palmese at: bryan@nfldraftbible.com