So I was reading about the new CBA negotiating and I learned something I didn't know about the guaranteed money. Apparently back in the day, players were worried that owners wouldn't have the money to pay their guarantees so they worked into the CBA that all guaranteed money must be put into a separate account at the time of signing. I guess it makes sense. And thats why owners with less money (like the Raiders) say they just don't have the money to pay guys like Mack. Its not the salary. Its the fact they need to put whatever they put in guaranteed money into a separate account.
So take Goff's contract for example: Last year he signed a 4 year extension with 57m in guarantees at signing. So not only does Kroenke pay Goff 10.6m last year, but he also has to squirrel away 57m in a separate banking account. He'll have to add another 21m after 3/3 after a roster bonus kicks in guaranteeing him 21m more.
I found that interesting. Maybe its just me. So the next time you hear an owner like Spanos say he just cannot afford to sign so and so, its likely because he doesn't have the funds to store in a separate account.
Don't waste your time looking back, you're not going that way. - Ragnar Lothbrok