Teams are opting to live with dead money at an accelerating rate. Most of it has to do with coach/GM turnover. Unwanted players are routinely inherited, and the new management is willing to eat salary to recreate the team to fit their vision. The new coaches/GMs are typically on a four-year timer, and the pressure for immediate results gives them some latitude with their owners when it comes to personnel decisions. Of course, this has little to do with Pete and John except for the fact that eating salary has started to become an acceptable league wide practice. Pete and John may not be in immediate danger, but that doesn't mean an evolving NFL culture won't affect their management style.