Managing cap space is a vital element to this game. When players retire, all future bonus money comes off the current seasons cap as dead cap. In addition, when making trades any player you trade away with future bonus money instantly becomes dead cap money and is subtracted your cap.
Even if you cut a player with a big cap number, any future bonus money becomes dead cap, so how can you save money on your cap while retaining your players?
1. Goto your team home page and change the tab from details to contracts
2. Now sort by the column "save if release"
3. Now look for younger players, typically 2nd year players with 3 years remaining up to 4th year players with 1 year remaining
4. Once you chose the player hit the contract button and look at the bonus the player wants
5. Now you need to move the sliders to 6 years at max bonus
6. Now you have to lower the base salary slider until the bonus money is just over (never under) the bonus money the player requested.
7. Now manually enter the bonus money and check to see if you saved money.
