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So this release is pretty much unprecedented from a salary cap standpoint so its hard to say exactly what the charge is for the #Patriots for Brown. but Ill offer my opinions in this thread and then try to summarize in a post on OTC.
I do feel pretty confident that they will have to hold a cap charge of $4.75M this year for his signing bonus. He will also be paid for last weeks game and this weeks game.
My assumption is the timing of this release is to avoid actual payment of his bonus which multiple reports have said was supposed to be on September 23. That should not impact the cap this year
Brown will then file a grievance against the Patriots if they withhold the money and how that works out will determine the ultimate cap charges which would most likely be reflected in 2020.
I can not imagine the Patriots have a leg to stand on to initiate forfeiture of the bonus payment. Forfeitures are triggered by suspensions, conduct, going to jail, leaving the team, etc... This is a release because of him being a distraction and accusations
The Patriots only argument could be that they did not know about these pending legal issues or harassment issues when they signed him and Brown did not disclose it and thus that is reason to void the contract
As far as his salary guarantee that they probably have more ground. Many contracts have what are essentially morals clauses are representing the organization and as we saw with his Oakland deal voiding a guarantee isnt difficult
The bigger problem for them though is they used a big signing bonus relative to the size of the contract because they had cap concerns and I guess got sold on the raider thing being an act
