The Stillers
show Josh the money:
As is widely
known now, Josh Miller received a 5-year extension at $5.6M.� That figure includes a $1.1M bonus.� Miller was in the last year of a deal that
was superceded by this new agreement.�
In essence then, Josh�s deal is for 6 years (including 2001) at
$6.425M.� While this seems like huge
money for a player you�d rather never see on the field, I�m okay with this
agreement.�� Let�s do the numbers:
This figure,
insane as it may be, is roughly market for a top rank punter.���
Miller�s deal, overall, is +$6M; Mitch Berger (Vikings), Chris Gardocki
(Browns) and Craig Hentrich (Titans) all are in that range.� Dan Stryzinski just got a $5.7M/5 year deal
from the Chiefs; Ex-Giant Brad Maynard�s new deal with the Bears is comparable.
High priced
punters are no harbinger of success in the NFL.� By the same token, paying the punter doesn�t signify doom.� Consider three of the teams listed above:
the Browns are so awful that Gardocki was their MVP in 2000.� The Browns stink on ice but this is not
because they�ve lavished cash on their punter.�
It is because they can�t run the ball; they haven�t stopped the run;
they can�t protect their franchise QB and they field dwarves at CB.�
The Browns don�t
have enough anywhere; in contrast, the Vikes have more than enough O-side
talent.� Sure Mitch Berger got a $1.65M
bonus to go with his +$6M deal; despite that, the Vikes have been able to pay
Culpepper, Carter, Moss, Smith and the rest.�
The Berger bucks could have gone to the D-side but, given their
deficiencies there, this wouldn�t have been nearly enough.� Better they had passed on Underwood and
Bioreau.
Craig Hentrich
punts for big money down in Music City and the Titans, unlike the Vikes, have
difference makers on both sides of the ball.�
It is early but I�d bet the Titans, Bucs, and Broncos will be the
best-balanced teams in the 2001 season.�
Hentrich�s huge salary has been no handicap to his team; last season,
Tennessee extended Eddie George; last winter, they acquired Kevin Carter and
soon, very soon, they will clear some cap space by extending Steve McNair.
The Titans
haven�t risen because they have Hentrich any more than the Browns are
flat-lined because they�ve overpaid Gardocki.��
The Miller signing is in the same category; the Stillers are ahead of
the Browns because they have more players and they are behind the Titans
because they have fewer difference-makers.�
Given that, the Stillers do need the field position advantages that
Miller affords.� Let�s face it, this
team is only a couple editions removed from the �99 assemblage and, that year,
Miller should have been the Stillers MVP.�
In that respect, the �99 Stillers looked like the �00 Browns; in �01,
the Stillers� fate will depend much more on Stew, Toy, Spike and the DE than
any terms extracted by Josh�s agent.
This deal is
not a cap killer.� Evidently Miller will play; or
rather punt, in 2001 for $825K (6.425M-5.600M).� Last year, his cap hit was $815K; that was comprised of a $575K
salary and a $240K bonus.� Reportedly,
his 2001 base was to $650K; if so, his 2001 cap hit would have been $890K.� That�s more than $825 though, in fairness, a
sixth of his new $1.1M bonus could factor this season.� Even if so, his maximum new hit would be
just a bit over $1M.� In sum, this new
deal puts Miller in the 2001 fold for something between -$65K and +$120K of
previous.� Cap-wise 2001, that�s beer
money.
Miller will be
31 through the 2001 season; if he punts out his contract, he will retire at
36.� Punters don�t take a lot of hits;
Josh has a reasonable chance to complete his term.� In contrast, the Bus will be 29 when this season begins; he has a
6-year deal and so will be 34 when that closes in 2006.� Kimble Anders is older than that now; Larry
Centers is about that age but neither are every-down backs and neither have
2461 career carries.� The Bus won�t make
it and, if you want to talk dead money, this hit, circa 2004, is the place to
begin.�
This deal
should have no impact on the Stillers ability to sign their D-side FA:�
Tennessee is about to extend McNair and, aside from the wisdom of tying
up this man long-term, the Titans have seized an opportunity to clear cap space
in 2001.� Reportedly, McNair�s new deal
will be for 7-8 years at $7-8M/season including something like a $12M
bonus.� In essence, the Titans will pay
Steve his 2001 base (+$4.6M) in new bonus bucks.� As a result, McNair�s hit will be much reduced (say $12M/8years +
vet min.= about $2M.).�
That�s the way
to do it.� Following that model, the
Stillers might pay bonuses to Holmes, DW and Scott, reduce their hits and
therefore be in the game when the camp cuts begin in July.� This isn�t impossible, in 2000, Earl, DW and
Chad had a combined base of� $3.940M
(look it up).� No doubt, these men went
up in 2001 but, probably little more than $300K each.�� That would put them in around $4.8M and that is McNair
territory.� It is Kordell territory too
but that�s another article.
I�ve written
about the D-side Diaspora since 1/1/01; I remain convinced that this is job #1
for the Stiller FO.� However, the 2001
difference in Miller�s deals is inconsequential to that task.� Bonus allocation is the key and, presumably,
bonus flow is what Heinz Field is all about.�