Mathis or Levitre

What's too high? Aren't we paying Levitre over $6mil a yr with a cap hit in the 8's?

I'd sign him as long as we are only locked in for a year or two and get rid of Levitre. We have the cap space and not sure why we aren't using it to dump future cap for players that are sub-par but overpaid so we have MORE cap next year!

 

Why do people want to get rid of the third best offensive lineman we have? I understand he is badly overpaid but there is no significant advantage to releasing him now.

 

Let me be more specific. Levitre will earn $6.5mil in base salary with a cap hit of $8.6mil for 2 seasons of BELOW avg play.

Mathis was a Pro Bowler just 2 years ago and was still one of the top 10 OG's last year though he missed 7 games due to a knee sprain.

Would I sign him to a 5 year contract? NO. But I sure as heck would cut Levitre right now and sign Mathis for a 1 yr prove it deal at $7mill or 2 years for $13mil. And I'd do one better to make him wanna come here. First, I guarantee the first year of the contract (either one) and second, let him know the moment he signs Levitre will be released and he will be starting.

He was in a legit contract despute considering they told him he'd get an extra mil tacked on to his 2015 and 216 salaries (to boost them from 5.5 and 6.5 to 6.5 and 7.5) and then Kelly demoted Howie and renegged on the promise though he did pay Barwin this bonus which you could imagine, would really tick him off.

And BTW, by avg $/yr, Levitre is the 3rd highest paid LG in the League and Mathis was 10th. Who would YOU pay???

Can you say instant upgrade to the OL (although it's likely a short term solution...but let Poutasi develop or challenge for RT)? I CAN!!!

SIGN MATHIS NOW!!!!!

 

Yes there is. Here's a list...

First, when you have several examples of overpaying bad players, you set the WRONG culture in the building. Namely, you can make it big without having to be good or great and that translates into a culture of losing and individual play instead of the focus on team and winning.

Second, it's poor management to overpay bad players and then not have enough to sign GOOD or GREAT players. I'd rather overspend on a good player than overspend on a poor player!

Third, we have the cap room now and not a lot to do with it. When you are in THIS situation, you can make GOOD use of the cap space by using it now (by cutting him) to alleviate future cap hits. It's called being smart. Use cap to either improve now (sign better players), keep good players longer (sign good young players to extensions), or get rid of future cap burdens of poor players who can be replaced!!!

Fourth, a much better option is now available for likely a LOWER cost! It's a no brainer to pay less and get a better player!!!

 

And you missed the point. Should have cut him and spent the money earlier in the offseason. There is no advantage to cutting him now as opposed to cutting him next offseason.

 

That's what I thought, I remembered him being hurt last year, but didn't recall anything this year. Such a bad contract. He was the shiny toy we all wanted and blew up in our faces.

 

His contract forces them to keep him. His cap hit (if cut) is about the same as if they keep him

 

But...... If we cut him now and absorb the cap hit, we dont have to deal with paying him for years... If I were GM I'd gladly pay him to go away...

 

He is a good guy. He does try hard and say the right things. He is very likely someone they want around all these young guys in camp. They sorely lack experience on the OL.
Before Mariota was picked, they had the lowest paid QBs in modern NFL history and some unusual cap room. He doesn't make a truckload of $ so it's mostly still there for now.
They have to plan for the rainy day when they are going to have to overpay QBs like the other 31 teams do. I imagine their plan is to clear up stuff like this by that time.
I figure it'll be cut down day and they'll discuss this again. We'll all figure Levitre is cut after being beaten out by someone but after last year's debacle, they'll want Levitre around as a backup. Then we'll complain that some good youngster at another position was cut to keep Levitre.
It's frustrating that they have so much cap space and don't fill it with gems in free agency. I absolutely want Mathis but I think it's going to take a new GM to get me confident in OL moves again.
Whenever David Stewart got hurt, I wanted Stevens to play RT. As Stevens gets older and loses a step of (little) speed, I want him to play RT more. My hair-brained idea is for him to play RT and them to tell everyone else they're competing for Levitre's spot so they better play their heart out. I simply have no confidence in this OL coach or this GM toward the OL.

 

There's no differing monetary benefit to cutting him now, in late august, or january. Once we cross a point in the spring, it starts the new league year.