In Boston, Ben Volin wrote an "interesting trend is starting to develop, spearheaded by the Buccaneers and Jaguars -- neither team awarded signing bonuses in their many free agent contracts signed last week, preferring instead a pay-as-you-go approach." Teams "usually award signing bonuses as a way to keep cap numbers low," but bonuses "also can make it tougher to cut a player when he still counts ... against the cap." The Bucs paid $99.25M in contracts to DE Michael Johnson, OT Anthony Collins and CB Alterraun Verner, "but $0 in signing bonuses, allowing the team to move on from each player without penalty after each season." The Jaguars "did the same" with the $72M they awarded to QB Chad Henne, DE Red Bryant and Chris Clemons, RB Toby Gerhart and DT Ziggy Hood. Both teams "designed their contracts with roster bonuses due on one of the first few days of the league year, and guaranteed base salaries" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/16).
CHOSEN SON: In Michigan, Kyle Meinke wrote Lions Vice Chair Bill Ford Jr. showed during his "courtship" of WR Golden Tate that he "plans to have a more active role in major moves" than his father, late Lions Owner & Chair William Clay Ford. Tate said, "One thing that really stood out to me is that Mr. Ford found some time to meet with me. ... I know he's been going through a lot lately with family issues, so for him to find time in his busy schedule to meet with me and have a conversation, that meant a lot" (MLIVE.com, 3/16).
CAT IN THE HEADLIGHTS: In Charlotte, Joseph Person noted Panthers GM Dave Gettleman last year "talked a lot about the salary cap," specifically his "challenge in keeping the Panthers under it." Gettleman "needed ... a cap increase." Person: "Well, they got one this year, a $10 million spike up. ... And based on how the Panthers fared during the first week of free agency, there's some question as to whether they were prepared for it" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/16).
A "HOLE" NEW WORLD? In S.F., Ann Killion wrote the Raiders’ signings of DE Justin Tuck and LB LaMarr Woodely interrupted “what had been a couple of long days of general misery” for the team. For more than two years during GM Reggie McKenzie's tenure, the start of free agency in '14 was "supposed to be magical.” Instead, up until the Tuck and Woodley signings, Raiders fans “received nothing but coal.” Killion: “Will landing Tuck and Woodley be enough to change McKenzie’s reputation?" Or will the "fiasco" of signing OT Roger Saffold only to fail his physical be "remembered as his signature free-agent move?” (S.F. CHRONICLE, 3/14).
FISHY FINANCE: In Miami, Armando Salguero wrote the Dolphins are “watching every penny and making certain it matches up with every ounce of talent they get in return.” That “sounds good and works well sometimes.” But “not all the time.” It is “impossible to say they’re cheap when they gave” OT Branden Albert $20M in guaranteed money. But in “declining to extend themselves to address the offensive line, they are sending their fans a message.” That message is that they are “going to take a thoughtful, careful approach in judging value.” Fans in return “should take thoughtful, careful approach in judging the value of buying a game ticket” (MIAMI HERALD, 3/16).
