NFL Free Agency: Players With 4 or More Years of Service Likely to Be Unrestricted

by Rich Langford on Jun 21, 2011 3:13 PM PDT in News

Among the details coming to light in the leaked details of the potential new CBA is some of the rules regarding NFL free agency. It looks like an almost certainty that all players with four or more years in the league will be unrestricted. It also looks like franchise tags will be retained. Here is the quote:

If and when an agreement is reached, all players whose contracts have expired and have four or more years of experience are expected to be unrestricted free agents, sources familiar with the talks told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Certain tags will be retained but that still is being discussed.

So, let's take a look at how this effects the Raiders—after the jump....

Most of this is lifted from an article I already posted, but with it becoming even more relevant, I thought it was worth revisting.

If all players with four or more years are unrestricted than Zach Miller, Samson Satele, and Michael Bush are going to slide from restricted to unrestricted free agents.

Under these circumstances I would fully expect Zach Miller to be one of the first players inked to a long term deal. By all accounts Miller seems to like being in Oakland and Oakland seems to enjoy having him, and he is certainly a vital part of the offense. The Raiders will pay him well.

This would likely be the end of Satele's tenure. He is good enough to start at center for an NFL team, and the Raiders are unlikely to match any starter level salary for a player whose replacement they just drafted. Hopefully the Raiders will then use some of the money earmarked for Satele in his restricted tender to sign a guard.

Michael Bush will be the biggest question from this group.

I have no doubt that the Raiders want Bush to return, and they showed their appreciation for Bush by placing the highest possible tender on him. However, he is a backup for the Raiders, and he is going to be a prized free agent.

Bush is arguably the best free agent back on the market—although he may lose that argument to Ahmad Bradshaw. A team is likely to offer Bush a deal worth more than the Raiders are willing or allowed to pay.

I say allowed because the other side of this is that the I have to believe that the new CBA is going to contain a salary cap. And after Al Davis went on a pre-lockout, front-loaded spending spree the Raiders already have a big chunk of coin devoted to 2011. I couldn't find an official number on this, but I did see that prior to any of the signings made this offseason the Raiders team salary was at just over $85 million.

The Raiders have since added on, for 2011, Seymour's $15 million, Routt's $10 million, Wimbley's $10-11 million—if signs his franchise tag—and then approximately $2 million apiece for Loper and Eugene. That takes the Raiders to roughly $125 million. In 2009 the salary cap was $128 million.

we still have no idea what the cap will look like when teams return, other than there is likely to be one. Maybe the new CBA will allow teams a one-year cushion to prepare to get back to the cap, but there is almost certainly going to be on in 2012.

If there is a one-year grace period or something similar then that would allow the Raiders an opportunity to re-sign him. If there is a hard cap in 2011, then I am afraid Michael Bush is history. Let's poll the Nation again. Last time this question was asked 80 percent felt he would be back.

Poll

Will Michael Bush be a Raider in 2011?

Yes

204 votes

No

83 votes

287 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 13 comments | 0 recs |

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Comments

If Al wants his guys, it makes little difference whatsoever what their free agency status is

He will do what it takes to get it done. Furthermore, if I’m a Raider, and I was able to bear witness the displays of pure power and domination of which we merely scratched the surface last year, not even Green Bay will pull me away from the great thing we have going thus far.

Green Bay has been highly touted as a team for whom the lockout has been “beneficial.” I have grown quite tired of that nonsense. All in all, we are all under the same disadvantages, and for sure, for the Pittsburghs and GBs who played well into February this year can use the rest, but in reality, the great teams care not about extra time off, and instead focus on getting to the next level.

This Raider team is there, and will hit the ground running in camp. I do still have questions if we’ll make a few necessary additions to key areas, namely the O line, but I’m confident we address the biggest areas of need to the best of our ability.

Mike Bush will remain. No one out there will offer him anything better than what Al will. The free agent running back class will be deep, and teams never have much trouble filling that need, and it’s unlikely many teams would look to Bush primarily for that reason. He’ll remain the complement to Thunder and Lightning. Taiwan just gives us a spell back who can hit home runs as well. Also, do not be surprised to see looks with all three guys on the field at once on occasion. Be afraid, DCs of the league. Be very afraid.

"tough times call for perseverance and a tough mind. I have been told that I can't play football before. We all know what happened with that. #neverquit"--Mark Herzlich

""The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled."--Hunter S. Thompson

by brhynno on Jun 21, 2011 3:28 PM PDT reply actions 1 recs

I wish i had your confidence that bush will remain a raider

I can’t be certain that if he gets offered a single back starter somewhere that he wouldn’t take it. However there are not many of those out there and I don’t think bush would leave to be in a two back situation elsewhere. Maybe the colts or the cowboys could steal him but as long as we cannot afford to pay him what’s he is worth we will probably keep him. I hope so but if not I’d expect marcel the beast to carry the power back role pretty well

"We want to win. The Raider fans deserve it. The Raider players deserve it, even my organization deserves it. You have to win and you have to win with a vision for the Super Bowl. That's our passion here."--Al Davis

"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."--Vince Lombardi

by Marcus Allen Krause on Jun 21, 2011 5:10 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

lol opps as long as we can afford him* not cannot

"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."--Vince Lombardi

by Marcus Allen Krause on Jun 21, 2011 5:11 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

I think the Broncos may offer him a No. 1 contract.

No info or anything…just a hunch

I was the walrus, but now I'm John

by Rich Langford on Jun 21, 2011 5:43 PM PDT up reply actions

Those guys that let that one guy, what was his name.... Peyton Hillis? get away?

and signed some dude named Knowshon? Maybe in Shanny days, but I don’t think Bush would ever defect to the enemy.

"tough times call for perseverance and a tough mind. I have been told that I can't play football before. We all know what happened with that. #neverquit"--Mark Herzlich

""The massive Raider Nation is beyond doubt the sleaziest and rudest and most sinister mob of thugs and wackos ever assembled."--Hunter S. Thompson

by brhynno on Jun 21, 2011 5:49 PM PDT up reply actions

Hell, they should do it just so he doesn't plow them twice a year.

I hope you are right, and I can’t see Bush in anything but the silver and black. However, enemies seem a lot less enemy like when they come with a buttload of cash and opportunity.

I was the walrus, but now I'm John

by Rich Langford on Jun 21, 2011 6:36 PM PDT up reply actions

i agree and that number 1 status can be very friendly too along with the cash

"Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is."--Vince Lombardi

by Marcus Allen Krause on Jun 22, 2011 12:13 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions

umm

Miller will be signed…..Bush has only 3 years of service…He didnt play in 07..http://www.nfl.com/players/michaelbush/profile?id=BUS277873

I thought satale was re-signed? And there is always the franchise tag for bush or huff or who ever…

by RAIDER_FAN15 on Jun 21, 2011 5:13 PM PDT reply actions

in the eyes of free agency it doesn't matter if he played or not—he will be considered in the 4 year group

Satele was offered a tender that won’t remain in place under these proposed rules. Wimbley was franchised.

I was the walrus, but now I'm John

by Rich Langford on Jun 21, 2011 5:40 PM PDT up reply actions

what about

the tenders offered to bush and miller? Will those not work also?

by RAIDER_FAN15 on Jun 21, 2011 6:20 PM PDT up reply actions

yup, they will be void and both will be unrestricted

I was the walrus, but now I'm John

by Rich Langford on Jun 21, 2011 6:34 PM PDT up reply actions

I would love to keep Bush

But I can’t help but feel that it would be irresponsible to pay him number 1 back money especially when we have Marcel Reece on the roster who has proven he can run the ball effectively and also Taiwan jones coming in.

Let me make this clear: I want Michael Bush back, but the bigger picture must be taken in to account.

I know absolutely nothing about this guy but if he is fast I say sign him up.
Long live Al

I think it's about time we all just agreed that NaS is the greatest of all-time.

by Ozraider on Jun 21, 2011 5:39 PM PDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs

I Question Things Here About A New CBA...Namely How Rapidly It Takes Effect...

I got the feeling that this season would be under the radar so to speak and any team who was already above a Cap in funds shouldn’t fret because allowances would be made to accommodate it…I think that may also apply to "FA"s this season and take effect in 2012…Thus they are available to their teams for one more season and if signed to longer contracts than not at all…I think this was the premonition Mr Davis was acting upon by not waiting to sign his players or offer tenders…Nam was the only one who was unquestionably free due to a stipulation in his contract…I think this is the way it will take place now simply due to all the pressure clubs will be under with such a shortened “FA” period and prep time for the season…At lease I hope this will be the case…

by PantyRaider on Jun 22, 2011 1:10 AM PDT reply actions