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Saints attempted a sign and trade for Clowney
Posted on 9/6/20 at 2:24 pm
Posted on 9/6/20 at 2:24 pm
Making a final push late Saturday to land star pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney, the Saints got creative, attempting to pull off a move believed to be the first of its kind in NFL history – but couldn’t get final clearance from the league.
The Saints were working with another team towards a unique sign-and-trade deal that would’ve maneuvered around salary cap constraints to bring the free-agent Clowney to New Orleans. But talks fell apart over the NFL’s willingness to approve such a deal, and Clowney wound up agreeing to terms with the Tennessee Titans on a one-year deal late Saturday night.
According to sources informed of the talks, the Saints didn’t feel they could compete financially with the Titans’ offer – $12 million, plus $3 million in incentives – given budgetary reasons. So, they approached another team to find a workaround. (Sources didn’t confirm the other team, which hereafter is referred to as “Team X”, but it is believed to be the Cleveland Browns, who have ample cap space and a front office known for having a propensity for creativity, most memorably on display in their 2016 trade for quarterback Brock Osweiler.)
The sides discussed parameters of a deal in which Team X would’ve signed Clowney to a one-year, $15 million contract and paid him a $5 million signing bonus. Then, Team X would’ve immediately traded Clowney to the Saints, who would’ve sent Team X a second-round draft pick, as well as a player to take additional salary off New Orleans’ books. The Saints would’ve paid Clowney’s remaining $10 million salary.
Just one problem: The teams got word late Saturday the NFL was unlikely to approve such a deal.
Other teams have, in essence, paid cash for picks in the past, including the Browns, who agreed to take on Osweiler’s $16 million guaranteed salary in a deal that netted them a second-round draft pick. Last year, the Dolphins paid Ryan Tannehill a $5 million signing bonus on a restructured contract to send him to the Titans. And Clowney himself received a $7 million signing bonus last August from the Texans to help complete a trade to Seattle.
But several executives from different NFL teams said they couldn’t recall any other team executing such a deal involving a free agent who was literally only signed to trade him. One exec summed up the interpretation of the league’s bylaws as: “Fundamentally, you can’t trade cash.”
The Saints have long been willing to convert large base salaries to signing bonuses or add voidable years to contracts to free up short-term cap space. But there is great uncertainty about the 2021 salary cap, given a projected multibillion-dollar revenue shortfall related to COVID-19 that could cause it to drop from $198.2 million per club in 2020 to as little as $175 million. Entering this weekend’s cuts, the Saints had over $260 million in cap commitments for 2021, according to NFL Players Association records.
The Saints continued to try to rework their offer late into Saturday night, but without help, they couldn’t match the Titans’ offer. And after 5½ months on the free-agent market, Clowney decided to head to Tennessee instead.
LINK
The Saints were working with another team towards a unique sign-and-trade deal that would’ve maneuvered around salary cap constraints to bring the free-agent Clowney to New Orleans. But talks fell apart over the NFL’s willingness to approve such a deal, and Clowney wound up agreeing to terms with the Tennessee Titans on a one-year deal late Saturday night.
According to sources informed of the talks, the Saints didn’t feel they could compete financially with the Titans’ offer – $12 million, plus $3 million in incentives – given budgetary reasons. So, they approached another team to find a workaround. (Sources didn’t confirm the other team, which hereafter is referred to as “Team X”, but it is believed to be the Cleveland Browns, who have ample cap space and a front office known for having a propensity for creativity, most memorably on display in their 2016 trade for quarterback Brock Osweiler.)
The sides discussed parameters of a deal in which Team X would’ve signed Clowney to a one-year, $15 million contract and paid him a $5 million signing bonus. Then, Team X would’ve immediately traded Clowney to the Saints, who would’ve sent Team X a second-round draft pick, as well as a player to take additional salary off New Orleans’ books. The Saints would’ve paid Clowney’s remaining $10 million salary.
Just one problem: The teams got word late Saturday the NFL was unlikely to approve such a deal.
Other teams have, in essence, paid cash for picks in the past, including the Browns, who agreed to take on Osweiler’s $16 million guaranteed salary in a deal that netted them a second-round draft pick. Last year, the Dolphins paid Ryan Tannehill a $5 million signing bonus on a restructured contract to send him to the Titans. And Clowney himself received a $7 million signing bonus last August from the Texans to help complete a trade to Seattle.
But several executives from different NFL teams said they couldn’t recall any other team executing such a deal involving a free agent who was literally only signed to trade him. One exec summed up the interpretation of the league’s bylaws as: “Fundamentally, you can’t trade cash.”
The Saints have long been willing to convert large base salaries to signing bonuses or add voidable years to contracts to free up short-term cap space. But there is great uncertainty about the 2021 salary cap, given a projected multibillion-dollar revenue shortfall related to COVID-19 that could cause it to drop from $198.2 million per club in 2020 to as little as $175 million. Entering this weekend’s cuts, the Saints had over $260 million in cap commitments for 2021, according to NFL Players Association records.
The Saints continued to try to rework their offer late into Saturday night, but without help, they couldn’t match the Titans’ offer. And after 5½ months on the free-agent market, Clowney decided to head to Tennessee instead.
LINK
Posted on 9/6/20 at 2:26 pm to Lsujacket66
Loomis was trying to make some magic happen
Posted on 9/6/20 at 2:29 pm to Lsujacket66
I wonder why the NFL wouldn’t give clearance for the deal
Posted on 9/6/20 at 2:31 pm to Lsujacket66
2nd round pick? For a likely 1 year player. frick that shite. League saved us from a bad deal.
Posted on 9/6/20 at 2:43 pm to D011ahbi11
Because it’s never been done before and would have been effectively a deal for cash which isn’t allowed.
Posted on 9/6/20 at 3:08 pm to Lsujacket66
Hasn’t this Clown been available for months? This 2020 team will be the ultimate shite show. Watch... or don’t.
Posted on 9/6/20 at 3:08 pm to Lsujacket66
Woulda been approved for the Pats or Cowboys!
Posted on 9/6/20 at 3:13 pm to Fun Bunch
I get why the league would be hesitant but sign and trades would add an interesting element to the league.
But it feels like it got rejected because the NFLs people dont understand contracts as well as Loomis
But it feels like it got rejected because the NFLs people dont understand contracts as well as Loomis
Posted on 9/6/20 at 3:23 pm to Sauce Castieaux
quote:
But it feels like it got rejected because the NFLs people dont understand contracts as well as Loomis
Agreed. They might even make some new rule b/c of this.
This post was edited on 9/6/20 at 3:24 pm
Posted on 9/6/20 at 3:42 pm to Lsujacket66
This team is in trouble. They're ability to kick the cap can down the road is coming to an end. Every year; ALL IN, ALL IN, ALL IN, ALL IN, ....
What exactly do they have to show for it?
What exactly do they have to show for it?
Posted on 9/6/20 at 3:42 pm to Fun Bunch
Well...unless it’s the Patriots. .
Posted on 9/6/20 at 3:44 pm to Lsujacket66
If the Patriots attempted a trade like this, it may have been allowed.
Posted on 9/6/20 at 4:11 pm to Lsujacket66
What's wrong with the deal?
The player receives all his money and the entirety of the contract is allocated to the NFL Cap
The player receives all his money and the entirety of the contract is allocated to the NFL Cap
Posted on 9/6/20 at 4:17 pm to IOU
Yeah, the 36 mill over the cap is an issue next year. The 90 they have the following isn’t. At least know what you’re talking when spewing bullshitt for the entire world to see
Posted on 9/6/20 at 4:17 pm to Fun Bunch
It would have been buying a pick. The league would not allow that.
Posted on 9/6/20 at 4:19 pm to IOU
quote:
This team is in trouble. They're ability to kick the cap can down the road is coming to an end. Every year; ALL IN, ALL IN, ALL IN, ALL IN, ....
What exactly do they have to show for it?
The best record in the nfl over the last 3 years
Posted on 9/6/20 at 4:29 pm to Lsujacket66
No thanks!! Go to Tennessee
Posted on 9/6/20 at 4:31 pm to Lsujacket66
Clowney has never had a double digit sack season
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