Should the overpaid stars restructure?

[TecnoGenius]

I wonder how much WM's stepping in to force the overpay of Brady is costing us right about now.  I wonder if that was KW's "emergency reserve" rainy-day fund.

I think it was around a $30k overpay forced onto KW?  Ya, that $30k would go a long way right about now to signing a real 5th WR or DL.

We need to keep this in mind before laying all the blame on KW.  And in no way am I saying having Brady isn't a good idea: I'm just pointing out the opportunity cost and the strange and rare micromanagement from above.  And it goes back to the original title of this thread...

[TecnoGenius]

From what I understood KL89 took a $30K pay cut to start the season.

That's the first I've heard of that.  Have that documented somewhere?

That would be precisely what I'm talking about!  And if he did do it, he should say he did it for the good of the team to afford upgraded players and get the ball rolling.  It shouldn't be something done in shadows.

[Pigskin]

That's the first I've heard of that.  Have that documented somewhere?

That would be precisely what I'm talking about!  And if he did do it, he should say he did it for the good of the team to afford upgraded players and get the ball rolling.  It shouldn't be something done in shadows.

You also didn't know AB4 was injured in TC.

[TecnoGenius]

You also didn't know AB4 was injured in TC.

Hey what can I say, I get 100% of my CFL info from this forum, and for some reason I didn't keep up with the TC thread until 2 weeks later.  But you guys set me straight, that's why I'm here.  Even if I read it all, I can't keep 100% of it in my head.  A lot, yes, but 100% no.  TBH I would have thought "Biggie hurt" deserved its own thread.

I hope y'all are right about Kenny as it could get any "help our team" SMS collection-plate endeavor kickstarted!

[Waffler]

From what I understood KL89 took a $30K pay cut to start the season.

He took a pay cut but it doesn't hurt him. He had his contract restructured to save taxes.

he's expected to net more on his new deal as signing bonuses are taxed at a lower rate for American players.

https://3downnation.com/2024/01/16/kenny-lawler-restructures-contract-with-winnipeg-blue-bombers/

It did help the football club.

[Pigskin]

KL89 is a outstanding player, however he's just not on the field enough for the money we are paying him.

In his first 4 seasons. 53/72 regular season games. 21 TDs, only 1, 1000 yard season.

DS83: First 2 seasons, 34/36 regular season games. 26 TDs, 1441 and a 1222 yard season.

[TecnoGenius]

He took a pay cut but it doesn't hurt him. He had his contract restructured to save taxes.

$310->$285 cap hit?  Then yes, that's precisely what I'm asking for here!  Kenny and The Mafia should be screaming this restructure from the rooftops to the other players.  Just a wee bit of % of SMS from each top player would go a long way.

It's just too bad he did this before the other huge-names re-signed, as it doesn't have as much "look at me, I'm sacrificing" effect when done in January.

Good for Kenny!!  Every tiny cut he takes will also help him stay employed here whilst his on-field production doesn't live up to expectations.  It's a win-win for everyone.

[TecnoGenius]

KL89 is a outstanding player, however he's just not on the field enough for the money we are paying him.

In his first 4 seasons. 53/72 regular season games. 21 TDs, only 1, 1000 yard season.

DS83: First 2 seasons, 34/36 regular season games. 26 TDs, 1441 and a 1222 yard season.

Yes,

Kenny:
2021 out 5 games
2022 out 6 games
2023 out 6 games
2024 out at minimum 6 games

Why do we do signing bonuses for him when we know for a near fact he'll be on 6GIR every year, and thus we get less than half the SMS relief we should be entitled to?  I know it gets better tax treatment somehow in wacky ol' USA: but surely there's some other solution the CFL can use that gets us both SMS relief and player tax relief?

Why doesn't the CFL just make any signing bonuses SMS-relievable on the 6GIR on a pro-rated basis?  Seems simple enough.  Why should the league care in what form we pay players?  Why should the US tax system dictate anything at all to how the CFL teams run their operation?

And it's not some imaginary problem: this issue right here right now, by itself, probably means the difference between being able to bring in a low-middling vet vs being stuck with the TC-cuts ELCs.

I'm not saying we cut Kenny in '25 FA... I'm saying it would be nice if we could take realistic account of him missing a lot of games, and protect ourselves from the SMS fallout.

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

$310->$285 cap hit?  Then yes, that's precisely what I'm asking for here!  Kenny and The Mafia should be screaming this restructure from the rooftops to the other players.  Just a wee bit of % of SMS from each top player would go a long way.

It's just too bad he did this before the other huge-names re-signed, as it doesn't have as much "look at me, I'm sacrificing" effect when done in January.

Good for Kenny!!  Every tiny cut he takes will also help him stay employed here whilst his on-field production doesn't live up to expectations.  It's a win-win for everyone.

I think the topline for other team's best receiver has been established at $225k now, so even at $285k Lawler is still getting paid $60k above that.  2 maybe 3 receivers earning above $225k, Lawler, Tim White and Gino Lewis, I would not rank their performance among the top 10 receivers so far this season.  When will they ever learn? I say, when will they ever learn???  Don't overpay receivers!!!!!

[Blue In BC]

Yes,

Kenny:
2021 out 5 games
2022 out 6 games
2023 out 6 games
2024 out at minimum 6 games

Why do we do signing bonuses for him when we know for a near fact he'll be on 6GIR every year, and thus we get less than half the SMS relief we should be entitled to?  I know it gets better tax treatment somehow in wacky ol' USA: but surely there's some other solution the CFL can use that gets us both SMS relief and player tax relief?

Why doesn't the CFL just make any signing bonuses SMS-relievable on the 6GIR on a pro-rated basis?  Seems simple enough.  Why should the league care in what form we pay players?  Why should the US tax system dictate anything at all to how the CFL teams run their operation?

And it's not some imaginary problem: this issue right here right now, by itself, probably means the difference between being able to bring in a low-middling vet vs being stuck with the TC-cuts ELCs.

I'm not saying we cut Kenny in '25 FA... I'm saying it would be nice if we could take realistic account of him missing a lot of games, and protect ourselves from the SMS fallout.

I've always argued that early bonus money is still part of a players salary. It should be pro rated on a per game basis if an injury occurs. Why create what amounts to a penalty for teams trying to do what makes sense for a player and the team due to a tax loophole.

Otherwise, teams should just stop paying early money IMO.

[Jesse]

I've always argued that early bonus money is still part of a players salary. It should be pro rated on a per game basis if an injury occurs. Why create what amounts to a penalty for teams trying to do what makes sense for a player and the team due to a tax loophole.

Otherwise, teams should just stop paying early money IMO.

If they don't want the risk, teams don't have to pay any bonuses. But but "playing it safe" with contracts, you run the risk of players choosing other team over you.

There are pros and cons to every way to structure a contract or salary cap option.

[Blue In BC]

If they don't want the risk, teams don't have to pay any bonuses. But but "playing it safe" with contracts, you run the risk of players choosing other team over you.

There are pros and cons to every way to structure a contract or salary cap option.

That's not the point. What a player is paid is a finite number. It shouldn't matter when it's paid. Some bonus's are paid at year end due to achieving certain goals. That counts against the SMS.

It should be pro rated to a per game basis. As I said, the league should eliminate it and then all teams are on equal basis.  It's a two fold problem. The team loses a top starting player and then can't afford to add another player somewhat as a result.

Noting that you can't necessarily replace a Lawler but OTOH you might have another $100K-$120K to upgrade the roster elsewhere.

I don't remember exactly what his signing bonus was and we don't know if he'll be back early or be gone for longer.

[theaardvark]

Bonuses save money, but are not recoverable when the player is injured.  KL is going to have 100% of his bonuses count against the cap, regardless time on the 6 game.  So, while it helped the team, its now hurting the team.

Rolling dice...

[Throw Long Bannatyne]

That's not the point. What a player is paid is a finite number. It shouldn't matter when it's paid. Some bonus's are paid at year end due to achieving certain goals. That counts against the SMS.

It should be pro rated to a per game basis. As I said, the league should eliminate it and then all teams are on equal basis.  It's a two fold problem. The team loses a top starting player and then can't afford to add another player somewhat as a result.

Noting that you can't necessarily replace a Lawler but OTOH you might have another $100K-$120K to upgrade the roster elsewhere.

I don't remember exactly what his signing bonus was and we don't know if he'll be back early or be gone for longer.

Walters mentioned quite awhile ago, he doesn't like paying bonuses for achievements and was was trying to avoid including them in contracts.  The reason being it can alter the game plan if players are trying to pad numbers instead of win football games.  Makes sense.

[Sir Blue and Gold]

That's not the point. What a player is paid is a finite number. It shouldn't matter when it's paid. Some bonus's are paid at year end due to achieving certain goals. That counts against the SMS.

It should be pro rated to a per game basis. As I said, the league should eliminate it and then all teams are on equal basis.  It's a two fold problem. The team loses a top starting player and then can't afford to add another player somewhat as a result.

Noting that you can't necessarily replace a Lawler but OTOH you might have another $100K-$120K to upgrade the roster elsewhere.

I don't remember exactly what his signing bonus was and we don't know if he'll be back early or be gone for longer.

Never going to happen for exactly the reason you described. That IS the system working effectively. The SMS is designed to control costs and keep all player salary expenditures even. The league doesn't want teams to be pressured into major SMS expenses based on how many injuries they get. It's already expensive enough.