Players to the rescue as Detroit Lions restructure contracts to save cap space - NFL News

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Players to the rescue as Detroit Lions restructure contracts to save cap space - NFL News
Detroit Lions needed cap space to delve into free agency and the franchise got some welcome relief from their players who agreed to restructure their contracts.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford and wide receiver Nate Burleson have agreed to restructure their contracts that will help the franchise save upwards of $ 10 million in salary cap while defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is also said to be open to restructure his
own deal.
This is the second time that Stafford and Burleson have agreed to take the bulk of their base salary in the form of bonuses as Detroit looks to get below this year’s cap space of $ 120.6 million.
Burleson was happy to help out the franchise.
"I told them I'd do whatever it took. I'm still in a great position financially and I don't have to worry about the threat of them getting rid of me. It was just another confirmation that I made a great decision to come to Detroit."
The wide receiver helped the franchise save $ 2.2 million in cap space and will receive a base salary of $ 875,000 this season.
Stafford’s restructuring though provides the bulk of savings as the franchise saved more than $ 7 million with his new contract deal.
Suh’s agent also confirmed that the defensive tackle is going to restructure his deal to save a reported $ 6 million for Detroit and they are just waiting for the paperwork to arrive from the franchise to seal the deal.
“We should be getting the paperwork in today. It’s quite a bit. It’s a significant amount.”
The deals would allow the Lions to delve into free agency and resign some of their players whose contracts have come to an end.
Even though restructuring player contracts is a short term solution and the Lions will face more cap hits in the coming seasons the increased cap space in the future will offset that.
The Lions are looking to resign most of their free-agents before the start of the new 2012-13 season while also making sure to sign star wide receiver Calvin Johnson to a new deal.
Detroit reached the playoff wildcard rounds for the first time since 1999 in 2011 and will be looking to progress further in the new season.