Contract question

[StanleySpadowski]

Is it possible for a contract to contain a roster bonus for a date within the season?


Is there any language that prevents a team from paying a player the minimum then setting large roster bonuses at multiple points in the season (say week 4, week 10, week 16)?

 

[TheHustler]

I bet it's possible, but would show bad faith on the part of the team vs the player.

Plus, as a player, you would then have to worry about injury THAT MUCH more.....

 

[AbeBeta]

Is it possible for a contract to contain a roster bonus for a date within the season?


Is there any language that prevents a team from paying a player the minimum then setting large roster bonuses at multiple points in the season (say week 4, week 10, week 16)?

Though there is no language that would prevent this, you can bet that any agent settling for such a deal is going to lose his license.

That just isn't working toward a client's best interest.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Though there is no language that would prevent this, you can bet that any agent settling for such a deal is going to lose his license.

That just isn't working toward a client's best interest.

I was asking because of situations like Owens.

I doubt his agent would lose his license if this was in accordance with the CBA and it's a special case scenario like him.


It would be a way that would allow a team to protect themselves against a potential "cancer', yet allow the player to be generously compensated for his on-field performance, especially if the bonuses were significant. I would also think that an insurance policy could cover any potential lost wages due to injury.

 

[Longboysfan]

Is it possible for a contract to contain a roster bonus for a date within the season?


Is there any language that prevents a team from paying a player the minimum then setting large roster bonuses at multiple points in the season (say week 4, week 10, week 16)?

This type of wording would only be for a rookie F/A who is a fringe player on the team.

A special wording may be written into TO's next contract.

 

[AbeBeta]

I was asking because of situations like Owens.

I doubt his agent would lose his license if this was in accordance with the CBA and it's a special case scenario like him.


It would be a way that would allow a team to protect themselves against a potential "cancer', yet allow the player to be generously compensated for his on-field performance, especially if the bonuses were significant. I would also think that an insurance policy could cover any potential lost wages due to injury.

Keep in mind the agents have their own association -- and they are supposedly ethically bound to make good deals for their clients. What you are talking about is a huge benefit to the team -- but not the player.

You create huge problems linking large portions of contract to performances - what happens if TO goes to say, ATL, and both Vick and Schaub go down in the pre-season? Now TO is stuck trying to make incentives with a 3rd string QB. Small bonuses -- no problem. But when you start linking the bulk of a contract to bonus money it becomes a mess for the player.

Oh yeah -- do you have any idea what an insurance policy like the kind you mention might cost? For a pro football player. Given the rate of injury, that's going to be a massive premium.

 

[Ashwynn]

Wasn't Ricky Williams first deal a really bad no money guarenteed and all incentive type deal. I guess theres not a specific clause that says you have to pay them anything, but I bet the Union would really frown on this type stuff.

 

[AbeBeta]

Wasn't Ricky Williams first deal a really bad no money guarenteed and all incentive type deal. I guess theres not a specific clause that says you have to pay them anything, but I bet the Union would really frown on this type stuff.

and Ricky's former agent is an agent no more.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I'm not talking about an incentive laden deal. I'm talking about a straight roster bonus, if the player is on the roster on x date, he gets y amount of dollars.

I realize that performance would become a factor whether or not to cut the player the day before a bonus is due, but this would not approximate the deals signed by the likes of Ricky Williams or Maurice Clarett.

From a player's perspective, especially one with a unique history like Owens, the benefits may outweigh the risks. Imagine if there were three bonus dates with bonuses in excess of $2.5 million each. I doubt anyone takes an over $8 million chance on someone of Owens' character for next season any other way.