THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, August 20, 1996 TAG: 9608210932
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C1 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: 44 lines
Question: How do the Washington Redskins handle Heath Shuler and the remainder of his original eight-year, $19 million contract now that Gus Frerotte has been named the team's starting quarterback?
Answer: There is nothing the Redskins can do this season. Shuler will receive $1.425 million. Frerotte will earn $208,000.
Their options don't begin until after this season. Although the original contract was for eight seasons, it can be voided at the end of three, assuming Shuler achieves some fundamental incentives, such as being on the Redskins' roster the last game of the 1996 season.
However, the Redskins can ``buy back'' two additional years by giving Shuler a $4 million bonus that would be prorated over three years. That decision must be made by the day before the 1997 Super Bowl.
Here are three scenarios:
If Frerotte plays poorly or is injured and Shuler plays well enough to win the job, the Redskins exercise the buyback option. Shuler's cost against the salary cap would be $3.958 million. As a three-year veteran, Frerotte would automatically become a restricted free agent. By offering Frerotte a 10 percent raise, the Redskins would retain the right to match another team's offer and keep him, or accept draft picks as compensation if he left.
If Frerotte plays well enough to maintain the job and the Redskins don't exercise the buyback option, Shuler becomes a restricted free agent. By offering him a 10 percent raise, Washington would retain the right to match an outside offer or accept first- and third-round draft picks if he left. His cost against the '97 cap would be $3.559 million if he stayed with the Redskins for the 1997 season.
Frerotte keeps the job, the Redskins don't exercise the buyback option in Shuler's contract. Shuler becomes a restricted free agent and signs with another team. He still would count $1.792 million against Washington's salary cap. The Redskins would save about $2 million by letting Shuler go. But remember this: The average salary for a starting quarterback is $2 million. What the Redskins save by dumping Shuler would have to go to Frerotte to bring his pay in line with what other starting QBs are making.
- JIM DUCIBELLA MEMO: [Related stories also on page C1 of The Virginian-Pilot for this
date.] by CNB