Carolina's highest base salaries for 2009
While the Carolina Panthers continue to search for their defensive coordinator, defensive line coach , linebackers coach and... well, so on... let's take a quick look ahead with an eye toward free agency.
Here are the players with the highest base salaries for the 2009 season, which is money that is not guaranteed to the player and can be applied as salary cap savings if that player is cut.
Of course, there is still the matter of accounting for prorated signing bonuses. For instance, Landon Johnson's base salary is $2 million this year, which would mean a $2 million cap savings if he's cut. However, the Panthers would have to account for the final two-thirds of his original signing bonus. Since he was given a $3 million up front in 2008 the remainder of his prorated signing bonus is $1 million in 2009 and $1 million in 2010. That totals $2 million. Essentially that means cutting Johnson would be a wash, saving the team no cap money this year.
I'm not a teacher, but I hope the helps.
Anyway, here are the base salaries, but just be aware they don't necessarily represent the total cap savings if that player were to be cut:
1. Ken Lucas $5,600,000
2. Jake Delhomme $5,325,000
3. Chris Gamble $4,000,000
4. Maake Kemoeatu $3,900,000
5. Steve Smith $3,400,000
6. Damione Lewis $3,170,000
7. Landon Johnson $2,000,000
9. Tyler Brayton $1,800,000
10. Travelle Wharton $1,700,000
11. Jonathan Stewart $1,743,750
t-12. Chris Harris $1,700,000
t-12. Josh McCown $1,700,000
14. Na'il Diggs $1,650,000
t-15. Muhsin Muhammad $1,500,000
t-15. John Kasay $1,500,000
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