2009 Cap

[Keith]

Originally Posted by dalemurphy

Keith,

In a conversation at texanstalk.com, it became clear that TJ will actually be a FA after this season. He signed an initial 5 year deal in 2005 and hasn't been re-upped. Apparently, the Chronicle story about his deal simply listed his base salaries wrong- starting them in 2007 instead of 2005.

I'm not 100% on this, but you may want to look into it. If he is a FA after this year, it certainly opens up the possibility of him not making this year's roster.

If you have links on any of this, send them my way or post them here. I honestly do not keep up regularly at tt.com, so I have no idea what's been discussed there.

That all said, here is what I know....

When Travis signed, it was widely reported as a 5-year contract. With his rookie year being 2005, that would logically mean that 2009 would be the final year of his deal. Technically, not true. Travis actually signed a 7-year contract with the final two years being voidable.

Travis' rookie contract has given me fits since the beginning, but I received some solid info on it a little over a year ago. What I had not known though, until your post, is that apparently those final two years (2010 and 2011) have been voided. In fact, the NFLPA still lists 2010 and 2011 as active for Travis... so either they are late in updating (not a first if so) or Travis has not had those last two 'dummy' seasons officially voided.

If they were voided, that could certainly explain why there was a sudden decrease in available cap room that I noted in an earlier post. Looks like it might account for about $1.4 million of it at least if that money needed to be accelerated.

The reason the Texans signed Travis to a 7-yr deal that was reported as a 5-yr deal was so that the team could prorate his option bonuses (yes, he had two of them with no true signing bonus) over those last couple years (2010 and 2011), thereby saving themselves some cap space up until this year. In case anyone is interested about voidable contracts, click here.

So hopefully that explains ItB.com's understanding of Travis' contract situation a little more. I imagine Travis would want the final two years voided because it might seem appealing to hit the potentially uncapped year as a free agent, especially if he turns it on this year. I am guessing he expects to earn much more than his contracted base salaries of $1,352,500 in 2010 and $1,675,000 in 2011.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Keith

If you have links on any of this, send them my way or post them here. I honestly do not keep up regularly at tt.com, so I have no idea what's been discussed there.

That all said, here is what I know....

When Travis signed, it was widely reported as a 5-year contract. With his rookie year being 2005, that would logically mean that 2009 would be the final year of his deal. Technically, not true. Travis actually signed a 7-year contract with the final two years being voidable.

Travis' rookie contract has given me fits since the beginning, but I received some solid info on it a little over a year ago. What I had not known though, until your post, is that apparently those final two years (2010 and 2011) have been voided. In fact, the NFLPA still lists 2010 and 2011 as active for Travis... so either they are late in updating (not a first if so) or Travis has not had those last two 'dummy' seasons officially voided.

If they were voided, that could certainly explain why there was a sudden decrease in available cap room that I noted in an earlier post. Looks like it might account for about $1.4 million of it at least if that money needed to be accelerated.

The reason the Texans signed Travis to a 7-yr deal that was reported as a 5-yr deal was so that the team could prorate his option bonuses (yes, he had two of them with no true signing bonus) over those last couple years (2010 and 2011), thereby saving themselves some cap space up until this year. In case anyone is interested about voidable contracts, click here.

So hopefully that explains ItB.com's understanding of Travis' contract situation a little more. I imagine Travis would want the final two years voided because it might seem appealing to hit the potentially uncapped year as a free agent, especially if he turns it on this year. I am guessing he expects to earn much more than his contracted base salaries of $1,352,500 in 2010 and $1,675,000 in 2011.

If Player participates in 60% or more of the offensive plays (excluding special teams) during any one of the 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 Regular Seasons,


AND


Player is on the active 80-man roster on the 23rd day preceding the first day of the 2004 League Year, then Player"s 2004 contract becomes null and void, at the Player's discretion. Player must notify the Club of his void decision on or before the 24th day preceding the first day of the 2004 League Year, through written notice via certified mail.

************************************
I'd thought these years were voidable at the option of the team, but guess in
some situations it's the player under contract who has the option to void a
year(s) in an existing contract ?

[Keith]

The earlier part nunusguy quoted is from sample contract language taken from the link I provided on voidable contracts. It is not Travis' contract, but it is possible that it might be very similar if you update the years appropriately.

Originally Posted by nunusguy

I'd thought these years were voidable at the option of the team, but guess in
some situations it's the player under contract who has the option to void a year(s) in an existing contract ?

Yes. Remember, that this was a first round contract signed, so it's not like it is normal relative to other rookie contracts.

Also, recall that the Texans' decision to bring back Carr before the 2006 season was because they executed a 'buyback' option ...after Carr had voided the end of his contract due to performance.

The difference here from Carr is just that there is no buyback option for the voided years.

[Roy P]

Originally Posted by Keith

The difference here from Carr is just that there is no buyback option for the voided years.

The Shaun Cody signing is looking better and better.

[Bigtinylittle]

Originally Posted by Roy P

The Shaun Cody signing is looking better and better.

I'm not particularly concerned about whether TJ stays or he goes. I know a lot of fans are mad at him and want him gone because we essentially wasted a first round pick on him. But that was then and this is now, as the saying goes.

To me, the players who really hurt a franchise are those who get seriously overpaid. Like Carr, Green, Weaver, Greenwood, etc. Those guys eat up a lot of cap and make it hard to bring in free agents. Guys like TJ are not putting us in that situation.

The player who by far concerns me the most right now is Dunta. He hasn't shown yet that he can come back to his earlier form. If we gamble that he can, we may end up overpaying him by millions and millions. That's why I can't understand why there's a single Texans fan who believes we ought to sign him right now. Even if he gets back to his former level he won't exactly be a bargain. The kind of money he's reportedly asking for should buy pro bowl type talent.

[NBT]

IIRC we traded down with NOLA and got an extra 3rd the year we took TJ. He has never been on my favorites list, that's for sure. Unles Kolar can do something with him it wouldn't bother me any if we put TJ in our rear view mirror.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by NBT

IIRC we traded down with NOLA and got an extra 3rd the year we took TJ.

With which we used to draft Eric Winston in 2006, who some might argue would by himself become a first round or near first round value in his own right ?