Teams to Receive an Extra $1.6 Million in Cap Space: AFC North Implications

In 2010, thanks to the expiration of the old NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, the league had an uncapped year.

Despite numerous warnings from the league office about front-loading contracts and dumping off money pits, four teams—the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, Oakland Raiders and New Orleans Saints—apparently violated the policy, and punishment for those four teams came down today.

The Redskins were the most serious violators and have been stripped of $36 million in cap space in 2012 and 2013; the Cowboys are down $10 million over that time. As a result, all remaining teams (except the Saints and Raiders, whose scofflaw tactics weren't enough to warrant punishment) will receive an additional $1.6 million in cap space for 2012.

In the AFC North, the team that benefits most from this is the Pittsburgh Steelers, who before the ruling, were $10.5 million under the cap.

Now, they have $12.1 million to work with, which gives them a bit more leverage when it comes to counter-offering any deal given to restricted free agent wide receiver Mike Wallace as well as make an additional, low-cost free agency addition should they so choose.

For the Cincinnati Bengals, the additional $1.6 million puts them above $50 million in cap space, a jaw-dropping number that means the team can do practically whatever they want once free agency formally kicks off tomorrow at 4:00 pm.

An additional $1.6 million dollars for the Cleveland Browns puts them at an even $19.0 million in cap space. Though team GM Tom Heckert has already confirmed the Browns won't be making a splash in free agency, it does mean they can make a few more moves if they wanted to.

The Baltimore Ravens have a number of priorities among their own free agent class and want to sign quarterback Joe Flacco to a long-term extension this offseason.

While $1.6 million isn't a huge amount of additional money, bumping them up to $16.05 million in cap space, it does provide them with more wiggle room to tender a deal to cornerback Lardarius Webb, perhaps retain offensive guard Ben Grubbs and have enough money to make the deal with Flacco they've been looking for.

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