As the first week of free agency slows down, we now have time to fill in some of the gaps from a crazy few days of visits and signings and terminations.
One of the first terminations came right after the checkered flag was waved, with the Bills cutting quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. The move was no surprise, given that he was due to receive a $3 million roster bonus on the second day of the new league year.
The Bills processed the termination as a so-called post-June 1 designation, we’re told, which allows the Bills to spread the ensuing cap charge over two years.
With the post-June 1 designation, $3 million will count against the cap in 2013 for Fitzpatrick, and $7 million will apply in 2014. By rule, the Bills will still carry Fitzpatrick’s $4.25 million base salary on the books until June 1, getting a cap bump in that amount thereafter.
The move also results in cash savings of $7.45 million for the Bills in 2014, which means that they opted to declare defeat and surrender after paying Fitzpatrick more than $20 million since signing him to his new contract in October 2011.
Hey, at least they didn’t also have to give up a second-round pick and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.