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According to a source speaking to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Chiefs have restructured their contract with running back Spencer Ware.
Source: Chiefs RB Spencer Ware has restructured his deal, with $725K of his $1.45M base salary being converted into incentives. Ware has a very real shot at hitting those incentives and making the full $1.45M.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 24, 2018
What does this mean, exactly? It all hinges on language in the collective bargaining agreement the players have with the league - whether an incentive is “likely to be earned.” Cap experts call this “LTBE.”
So for example, let’s say that the new deal with Ware says his base salary is $725,000, but if he plays in eight games in 2018 (which seems likely to everybody right now) he gets an additional $725,000.
However, what seems likely to everybody right now isn’t how LTBE is determined. Instead, it’s based on what happened in the previous year. In our example, since Spencer Ware didn’t play last year, under this new deal, his cap hit for 2018 has been reduced by $725,000. If he were to play in eight games - thereby earning his bonus - then the $725,000 shows up on the Chiefs salary cap for next year.
Does this signal that the Chiefs are making cap room to sign Bashaud Breeland - who visits the Chiefs today after leaving Oakland without a contract? Considering this report, that might be the case.
More interest in Breeland. He has visits scheduled with the Colts and Browns this week, a source said. https://t.co/wWSmFmpVrv
— Rob Demovsky (@RobDemovsky) July 24, 2018
It’s possible the Chiefs are hoping to be able to sweeten the pot, so they can snag Breeland before he visits the Colts or Browns. Or maybe this move is opening the way for another deal that isn’t on our radar.