What many, including Triplett in T-P this morning, keep over looking is the guaranteed portion of Harper's contract. Reportedly, he received $16 million guaranteed on his contract. He got $7 million upon signing, $1.9 million salary in 2012 and $4.5 million in 2013. That means that he still has $2.6 million of his $5.25 million salary guaranteed this year (about half). So, if he were cut, he would get the $2.6 million and we would still have the prorata share of his signing bonus ($1.75 million this year and next) so he would could about $4.35 million to the cap if released (rather than $7.1 million). While it would be a savings, not nearly as big as many expect. I can see the Saints at least turning the remaining $2.6 million of guaranteed money into a signing bonus if needed to spread it over 2 years (since we have to pay it anyway) which would save $1.3 million in cap room this year (pushing it to next year).