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The NFL's salary cap is very similar to a math problem you'd see on an exam in high school or college. You'd look down at the equation, kick back, put your pencil down and say to yourself, "You know what, I'll take the -2 on that one."
After finding themselves with just $3.69 million in cap space Tuesday -- which didn't include the signings of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Mario Manningham or Trindon Holliday -- the New York Giants now sit $4.57 million under the cap, according to updated numbers from the NFLPA. That number includes all signings from Tuesday and there have been no additional reports of contract restructures since Mathias Kiwanuka's days ago.
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The $4.57 million in space theoretically puts New York in position to bring in several other free agents, potentially depth along the offensive and defensive lines. The Giants will get an additional $5 million in space on June 2, when the cut of David Baas becomes official, but that money is expected to be used to pay New York's 2014 rookie draft class.
The Giants have been busy this offseason, as was expected when 26 players had their contracts expire at the end of the year. When each new face that has put pen to paper on a new deal, questions have instantly been raised on what it means for the salary cap.
Now, when a player signs a contract, their "yearly salary" does not necessarily reflect the money that will be taken off of the salary cap. Take Stevie Brown for example. The safety will be making $4 million this year, but count just $2.75 against the cap.
Below you will find the cap hits (money taken off salary cap) for each of the Giants' acquisitions this offseason. Numbers are courtesy of OverTheCap.com and the NFL Players' Association.
Re-signed:
LB Jon Beason: $3.14 million
K Josh Brown: $1.35 million
FS Stevie Brown: $2.75 million
LB Mark Herzlich: $1 million
RB Peyton Hillis: $855k
FB Henry Hynoski: $1 million
QB Curtis Painter: $635k
CB Trumaine McBride: $1.3 million
LB Spencer Paysinger: $1.43 million
Free-Agent Acquisition
CB Walter Thurmond: $3 million
SS/KR Quintin Demps: $1 million
RB Rashad Jennings: $1.31 million
LB Jameel McClain: $1.79 million
G Geoff Schwartz: $2.32 million
C J.D. Walton: $1.825 million
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: $2.73 million
WR/KR Trindon Holliday: $700k
WR Mario Manningham: $635k