As an incentive to reach a new deal before the current CBA expired, 2010 was an uncapped year in the NFL. Teams could operate without salary cap restrictions, but were instructed by the NFL not to abuse the system by loading contracts to pay the majority of a player's salary in 2010 . Two teams, however, did not listen -- the Washington Redskins and the Dallas Cowboys -- and now are being severely punished.
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Washington Redskins will lose $36 million in cap space for the 2012 offseason, and the Dallas Cowboys will lose $10 million in cap space.
Schefter also reports:
What does that mean for the Cincinnati Bengals? They now have EVEN MORE cap room; $51.5 million to be exact.
Only time will tell how Mike Brown and the Bengals plan to use that $51.5 million, but Cincinnati faithful will be enthralled each step of the way. Free agency begins at 4pm tomorrow.