DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Pure Football Forum Browns sign Ben Tate.

Exactly. Look at the names JAX and OAK are able to "attract".

Money >> two to tango imho

Breaking down Ben Tate's contract

Ben Tate's contract with the Cleveland Browns is a “show me” deal that rewards him for staying healthy, but puts off his big payday until 2016.

The deal is for two years and $6.2 million, and breaks down this way, according to ESPN's Roster Management System:

Tate received a signing bonus of $1.5 million.
He will be paid $1 million in base salary this season, a figure that is fully guaranteed.
That gives him $2.5 million in guaranteed money.
After the season, Tate will receive a roster bonus that pays him $46,875 for every game he’s active. If he’s active for 16 games, he’ll receive $750,000, which is the maximum bonus. This clause clearly is a protection for the team against Tate’s injuries. He has been injured in every season he’s played.
The roster bonus is counted in an interesting way against the salary cap. Likely to be earned money counts against the cap. Because Tate played in 14 games in 2013, it’s considered likely he’ll play in 14 in 2014. That means $656,250 of the roster bonus counts against the 2014 salary cap (14 games times $46,875).
Tate is due a base salary of $2.2 million in 2015.
He also is due the same roster bonus.


Tate’s salary cap cost in 2014 is $2.406 million -- $750,000 for the prorated signing bonus ($1.5 million divided by two years on the deal), $1 million for the base salary and $656,250 for the roster bonus. His salary cap cost in 2015 is $2.95 million.

The deal is extremely team friendly, but Tate will get a great opportunity to prove he can and should be a starting running back. If he succeeds he’ll cash in two years from now, or in a year if he’s good enough to demand an extension from the Browns.


Good deal and team friendly enough to sign MJD too

I think Tate was promised the option to be the feature back, prove his worth and make whatever name for himself here in Cleveland when the talks were going on. I think Tate would be instantly offended if we brought in a top back as that would put him back into the role of being in someone's shadow. People shouldn't underestimate a young kid that actually has "drive" and a reason to beast mode it...

JMO

Teams like us usually don't get to sign players like MJD unless we grossly overpay. And that was the case before the Tate signing.

MJD is 28(he'll be 29 in a week) so he's barely under the magical 30 number, and he's got a LOT of miles on those legs. I'm not saying he's done, he may play very well for his next team.... but it is a concern.

Awesome pick up.

not only did we sign the BEST free agent running back on the market, we got him on the cheap!

tate is a BEAST who will fit perfectly in the AFC north.

he is a one-cut, north-south power back, ala jamal lewis.

tate is 25 and has fresh legs; he hasn't been a feature back since his senior year at auburn.

and i LOVE the zone blocking scheme. we used it in 2009 with jerome Harrison and it turned him into a pro-bowl caliber back! it also features our o-line and their skill sets. instead of road-graders, they are technicians.

great signing!!!

My main concern about Tate is his ability to stay healthy. He has shown a pattern of having problems in that area. IF he can remain healthy, he will be a great addition.