NEW ORLEANS - During "Airing It Out" on Monday morning, Charlie Weis criticized the New Orleans Saints for being the only team over the NFL salary cap for the 2025 season despite currently tackling their 2024 salary cap issues.
"I read one thing this morning, Bob, which really shows you how some teams are in some serious, serious trouble," former NFL head coach Charlie Weis told Papa. "They're the only team in the league that right now is already over the 2025 [salary cap]...when are you ever going to get out from underneath the salary cap problems if you keep on pushing everything down the road?"
New Orleans has strategically managed their salary cap issues in the world of NFL salary caps for years. Under general manager Mickey Loomis and vice president of football operations Khai Harley, their intricate strategic decision-making and a master's financial skill have whittled down the Saints' salary caps for years. Through restructured contracts, delayed payments, voidable years, and signing bonuses for the team's players, New Orleans has remained NFL compliant, signed free agents and rookies, and fielded competitive teams.
The 2024 NFL salary cap rose by 13.6% and Bob Papa detailed the essential components of the NFL salary cap, highlighting that each team must allocate $329,400,000 per club for player salaries and benefits, including health insurance, medical benefits, and pension.
This amount is in addition to the $255,000,000 designated for player salaries. "Each team is going to dump $75,000,000 in the player benefits this year," Papa said. Weis responded, "As well, they should with all the money they're making."
Charlie Weis raised concerns about the New Orleans Saints' precarious cap situation. However, with Loomis and Harley in the front office, New Orleans has had very few hard decisions to make while maneuvering through the ever-evolving salary cap dynamics of the National Football League.
Will 2024 or 2025 be any different?
We shall see.
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