Rasul Douglas contract restructure... saves $2.5 mill

[BillsFan130]

35 minutes ago, Billl said:

He's already got 3 void years on his contract.  They're likely just converting as much of his base salary to a bonus as possible and spreading that amount over 4 years instead of just 2024.

Ahh ok thanks. I didn't know you could do that with only one year left on the deal 

[Billl]

9 minutes ago, BillsFan130 said:

Ahh ok thanks. I didn't know you could do that with only one year left on the deal 

That's the beauty of accounting.  Technically, it's not his last year in the deal.  He has "4" years left.

[Matt_In_NH]

1 hour ago, Mango said:

Can somebody explain to me how a restructure works in the last year of a players contract? 

Add void years like they did with McGovern?   Or possibly they added a year or two.

[Mat68]

Tough decision.  But on the field and cap wise.  Keeping Douglas over White is the right move.  

[billrooter]

1 hour ago, SoonerBillsFan said:

I still say if the new DB coach feels he can get Elam up to speed, move Douglas to Safety.  Then do an extension at a safety rate of pay.

The guy plays the position (CB) IMO opinion as well as any Bill has recently, not sure id risk moving him to safety. Id be more open to Elam being moved honestly.

[HurlyBurly51]

But but but...Beane talked about him in the past tense at his presser🤣 jfc

[GunnerBill]

2 hours ago, Mango said:

Can somebody explain to me how a restructure works in the last year of a players contract? 

 

Void year.

[The Jokeman]

2 minutes ago, HurlyBurly51 said:

But but but...Beane talked about him in the past tense at his presser🤣 jfc

Cuz Beane liked what he did for us last year we brought him back for another year.

[Mango]

2 minutes ago, GunnerBill said:

 

Void year.

 

Yeah, that is what I thought. 

I am being super pedantic, but I wish it was reported as "added a void year" rather than "restructure". 

I get it. It is a restructure....but also it kind of isn't. 

[HurlyBurly51]

Just now, The Jokeman said:

Cuz Beane liked what he did for us last year we brought him back for another year.

No, people were running with the quote that Beane said he liked what he "brought to the defense" instead of what he brings, so of course that was interpreted as past tense and meant he was getting released to save the cap space.  smh

[Aussie Joe]

7 minutes ago, HurlyBurly51 said:

But but but...Beane talked about him in the past tense at his presser🤣 jfc

How’s that looking now …? 😀

 

I got a gut feel that Douglas is on this team come Week 1
 

 

 

[HurlyBurly51]

1 minute ago, Aussie Joe said:

How’s that looking now …? 😀

 

I got a gut feel that Douglas is on this team come Week 1
 

 

 

It was so dumb, but people ran with it🤣  smh  

[BADOLBILZ]

11 minutes ago, HurlyBurly51 said:

But but but...Beane talked about him in the past tense at his presser🤣 jfc

 

 

Everything is a negotiation.........I expect Beane was working on his agent for a pay cut.

 

 

[BillsFan130]

1 hour ago, Billl said:

That's the beauty of accounting.  Technically, it's not his last year in the deal.  He has "4" years left.

But wouldn't that fall under "void year's " technically though?

 

 

[Maynard]

I was worried we’d let him go. Definitely want him around, even if for one year.

[Billl]

2 hours ago, BillsFan130 said:

But wouldn't that fall under "void year's " technically though?

 

 

As I understand it (and that’s a massive disclaimer), the whole point of void years is that they are real years contractually, but both parties have the right to opt out of them and they’re written such that there is effectively a 100% chance that one of the parties will exercise that option.  For example, Rasul is (was) allowed to agree to play for $850,000 a year in 2025 through 2027 as long as both he and the Bills agree to it.  There is just nothing that binds either side to adhere to the deal.

[Matt_In_NH]

So no extension for Douglass, do you guys think that is what the Bill wanted, what Douglass wanted?  I assume they tried an extension but could not agree on numbers so they reduced his cap by adding void years.   I was hoping for an extension  guess.

 

Also, can someone explain his void money, same thing existed with Leanard Floyd. SPotrac has restructure  bonus as 0.812.5M for the next three years but a cap hit of all of that, 2.4375M next year.  I think if he is not signed longer term, they take the entire void hit next year?  I don't understand why they show additional void money in 26 and 27.  I am nearly positive it is not all additive.  Is that to average down the salary to bonus conversion or something?

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/rasul-douglas-21841/

[Jerome007]

Of course we all don't mind when cap space is freed up, and the player gets his salary as a signing bonus. But do these restructures simply free up cap space... or kick it down the road in future dead cap space?

[Aussie Joe]

 I see Douglas still has $6m counting as a “base salary” for 2024… couldn’t more of this figure been converted to a “restructure” freeing up more space this year ? 

[BuffaloBillyG]

6 hours ago, Matt_In_NH said:

So no extension for Douglass, do you guys think that is what the Bill wanted, what Douglass wanted?  I assume they tried an extension but could not agree on numbers so they reduced his cap by adding void years.   I was hoping for an extension  guess.

 

Also, can someone explain his void money, same thing existed with Leanard Floyd. SPotrac has restructure  bonus as 0.812.5M for the next three years but a cap hit of all of that, 2.4375M next year.  I think if he is not signed longer term, they take the entire void hit next year?  I don't understand why they show additional void money in 26 and 27.  I am nearly positive it is not all additive.  Is that to average down the salary to bonus conversion or something?

 

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/buffalo-bills/rasul-douglas-21841/

This is just my guess based on absolutely nothing other than how I look at it.

 

I would think the Bills approached him about an extension. Especially with shedding Tre White. But I think the Bills wouldn't want to invest too many years into a guy his age. I'm guessing the two sides didn't agree on length and/or compensation. 

 

One reason I believe the Bills wouldn't want to invest too long into Rasul (aside from his age) is wanting to see if Elam takes a leap this year much like we have seen in the past from guys in their 2nd and 3rd year. They may or may not have something in him...but if they do it wouldn't make sense to have a guy like Douglas getting big money as an aging CB.