What happens to signing bonus proration if a player is released after June 1?

When a player is released after June 1, the treatment of their signing bonus proration has specific implications that affect how it is applied against the salary cap. Under the rules of the salary cap, signing bonuses are typically prorated over the life of the contract, which means that each year, a portion of the signing bonus counts against the team's cap.

If a player is released after June 1, the current year's proration remains on the cap for the current season, while the future prorated amounts (those beyond the current year) are moved to the following season's cap. This rule allows teams to have more flexibility in managing their salary cap, as the entire bonus does not hit the cap all at once in the year of release. Instead, it is spread out, mitigating the immediate financial impact on the team's cap situation.

This structure is beneficial for teams that are trying to manage their budget effectively, especially if they were planning on releasing a player in the off-season when they may need to realign their finances for the upcoming season and adjust to the contractual obligations of other players.