The hidden reason behind the Giants' decade plus of futility

[MightyGiants]

The 2011 CBA contained a change in salary cap spending that drastically changed the Giants 'fortunes. Prior to the 2011 CBA, teams were not required to spend a minimum amount on players. Many owners routinely underspent on players and pocketed the savings.

Then, in 2011, the CBA changed that and added a minimum percentage of spending on players, which is referred to as the salary cap floor.  Over the next few seasons, that floor was raised to where it is today, requiring every NFL team to spend at least 89% of the salary cap maximum.

As a big market team, the Giants had the luxury of spending up to the cap limit season over season, giving them a natural competitive advantage. The new CBA leveled that playing field, and teams had to win or lose more based on their own talents. Clearly, that was not an advantageous change for the NY Giants.

[Painter]

That might seem like A reason, but there have been far too many similar decades-long stretches during the past 60 years for it to be seen as THE reason.

Cheers!

[coggs]

I remember hearing Cincy was cheap.  Is there data available on how many teams were not spending to the cap?

[MightyGiants]

I remember hearing Cincy was cheap.  Is there data available on how many teams were not spending to the cap?

I looked but it's too long ago.