Explaining signing bonuses and the proration of them in NFL contract.
2020 NFL CBA Explained: Base Salary
During the course season, NFL players receive installments of their base or "Paragraph 5" salary. Under the new CBA, the period over which the players receive these installments are increased significantly.
2020 NFL CBA Explained: Guaranteed Money
Unlike its NBA and MLB counterparts, NFL contracts are not guaranteed unless specified. This article explores the three types of guaranteed money (skill, cap, injury).
2020 NFL CBA Explained: Accrued Seasons & Credited Seasons
Defining and examining the difference between Accrued Seasons and Credited Seasons in the NFL.
2020 NFL CBA Explained: Free Agency Designations
Definitions of each of the NFL free agency tiers: unrestricted, restricted, exclusive rights.
2017 NFL Contracts: Fifth-Year Option Predictions
Team have until May 2 to exercise their Fifth-Year Options for first-rounders from the 2014 NFL Draft. For an explanation of the Fifth-Year Option, click here. Jadeveon Clowney, Houston Texans After missing 15 of his first 32 career games, Clowney finally proved to be the player the Texans expected when he was selected first overall.... Continue Reading →
NFL Rookie Contracts Explained
In the past, contract negotiations for NFL rookies spilled into training camp on a regular basis. Those days have been dead since 2011. Although there are still negotiating points, the new collective bargaining agreement installed something similar to the rookie wage scale in the NBA. Each of the up to 256 draft slots are allotted... Continue Reading →
NFL Contracts Explained: Dead Money and Salary Cap Acceleration
Dead Money and Acceleration The term “Dead Money” refers to the amount of player’s salary that a team has already committed to but hasn’t been charged to the cap (NFL CBA, p. 93-95). It’s essentially a sunk cost. Signing bonus prorations, fully guaranteed base salaries and earned bonuses are examples of dead money—money a team... Continue Reading →
NFL Contracts Explained: Option Bonus
An option bonus is similar to a roster bonus. However, rather than receiving money for remaining on a team on a certain date, the team has the “option” to pay the bonus or terminate the player’s contract. When an option bonus is exercised, it is subject to probation like a signing bonus. If the option... Continue Reading →
NFL Contracts Explained: Workout Bonus
Some contracts also have workout bonuses, which a player earns by participating in an agreed upon percentage of the team’s offseason workout program. Most big contracts contain these bonuses as an incentive to get veteran players to attend voluntary workouts. A similar type of compensation is a reporting bonus. A player earns this bonus by... Continue Reading →
NFL CBA: Pro Bowl Compensation
NFL Players are entitled to compensation for their participation in the Pro Bowl (NFL CBA - Art. 38, Sec. 1, 170). Players’ will receive their game pay within 15 days of the games’ date (Sec. 5, 170). The amount a player receives for this recognition has increased in each league year since 2013. The chart... Continue Reading →
NFL Contracts Explained: Roster Bonus
A roster bonus is another form of compensation for NFL players. If a player contract contains a roster bonus in it, it is considered earned when the player remains on his team’s roster on a specified date. This type of bonus typically counts against the salary cap, in whole, during the League Year that it... Continue Reading →
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