UDFA contract details

[AdamJT13]

All of our undrafted free agents signed three-year contracts for the minimum salaries ($320,000 this year, $405,000 in 2011 and $490,000 in 2012). They all have split salaries for the first two years, which means they could make less if they go in injured reserve ($225,000 this year and $250,000 in 2011).

The key thing to look at for UDFAs, of course, is the signing bonus they received. This year, the most we gave any UDFA was $12,000, which isn't a lot, considering that we've given out bonuses of $20,000 or more to several UDFAs in recent years.

Here are our UDFAs and their signing bonuses --

Will Barker, $12,000
Barry Church, $12,000
Phil Costa, $12,000
Lonyae Miller, $12,000
Lorenzo Washington, $12,000
Bryan McCann, $11,000
Chris Gronkowski, $10,000
Scott Sicko, $10,000
Mike Tepper, $7,500
Nick Tow-Arnett, $7,500
Chet Teofilo, $6,000
Junior Aumavae, $5,000
Terrell Hudgins, $5,000
Danny McCray, $5,000
Matt Nichols, $5,000
Delbert Alvarado, $3,000
Verran Tucker, $2,500
Rashan Greer, $2,000

 

[CCBoy]

Thanks for your continued diligence on contract matters, Adam.

 

[lkelly]

You would have thought that Sicko could have pulled in a larger bonus considering the coaches had to talk him off the football ledge for several days.

 

[Longboysfan]

Plus an airline ticket in and out of town....
No worries.

 

[Alexander]

You would have thought that Sicko could have pulled in a larger bonus considering the coaches had to talk him off the football ledge for several days.

My first thought as well. Same for Nichols, who was supposedly one of the more decorated quarterbacks.

 

[Yeagermeister]

$12,000 isn't a lot? Since when? I wish I could get a $12k bonus. :laugh2:

 

[speedkilz88]

I'm surprised Tepper came that cheap.

 

[YosemiteSam]

All of our undrafted free agents signed three-year contracts for the minimum salaries ($320,000 this year, $405,000 in 2011 and $490,000 in 2012). They all have split salaries for the first two years, which means they could make less if they go in injured reserve ($225,000 this year and $250,000 in 2011).

The key thing to look at for UDFAs, of course, is the signing bonus they received. This year, the most we gave any UDFA was $12,000, which isn't a lot, considering that we've given out bonuses of $20,000 or more to several UDFAs in recent years.

Here are our UDFAs and their signing bonuses --

Will Barker, $12,000
Barry Church, $12,000
Phil Costa, $12,000
Lonyae Miller, $12,000
Lorenzo Washington, $12,000
Bryan McCann, $11,000
Chris Gronkowski, $10,000
Scott Sicko, $10,000
Mike Tepper, $7,500
Nick Tow-Arnett, $7,500
Chet Teofilo, $6,000
Junior Aumavae, $5,000
Terrell Hudgins, $5,000
Danny McCray, $5,000
Matt Nichols, $5,000
Delbert Alvarado, $3,000
Verran Tucker, $2,500
Rashan Greer, $2,000

If I were them, I would hold out. :laugh2:

 

[igtmfo]

Thanks Adam, these are always very interesting.

I wonder if they reflect our draft grade on them, or whether they reflect bargaining - presumably there is competition for some of them ...

Every year, surprising guys get the "biggest" bonus money ...

 

[Wimbo]

All of our undrafted free agents signed three-year contracts for the minimum salaries ($320,000 this year, $405,000 in 2011 and $490,000 in 2012). They all have split salaries for the first two years, which means they could make less if they go in injured reserve ($225,000 this year and $250,000 in 2011).

The key thing to look at for UDFAs, of course, is the signing bonus they received. This year, the most we gave any UDFA was $12,000, which isn't a lot, considering that we've given out bonuses of $20,000 or more to several UDFAs in recent years.

Here are our UDFAs and their signing bonuses --

Will Barker, $12,000
Barry Church, $12,000
Phil Costa, $12,000
Lonyae Miller, $12,000
Lorenzo Washington, $12,000
Bryan McCann, $11,000
Chris Gronkowski, $10,000
Scott Sicko, $10,000
Mike Tepper, $7,500
Nick Tow-Arnett, $7,500
Chet Teofilo, $6,000
Junior Aumavae, $5,000
Terrell Hudgins, $5,000
Danny McCray, $5,000
Matt Nichols, $5,000
Delbert Alvarado, $3,000
Verran Tucker, $2,500
Rashan Greer, $2,000

Do they have to be on the 53 man roster to start collecting the salary portion? In other words... is this bonus all they will get unless they make the team?

 

[speedkilz88]

Do they have to be on the 53 man roster to start collecting the salary portion? In other words... is this bonus all they will get unless they make the team?

They get the bonus and I believe a weekly stipend for meals and living expenses.(which isn't anywhere near the salary type money) They only earn the salary in weekly installments for however long they stay on the 53 man roster.

 

[john van brocklin]

Thanks Adam ! You are the man !

 

[AbeBeta]

Adam .. do you recall about 10 years ago that we gave someone around 50k as a UDFA? ... trying to remember who. Don't believe he made the roster

 

[AbeBeta]

My first thought as well. Same for Nichols, who was supposedly one of the more decorated quarterbacks.

I expect for some of these guys they are looking longer term. Sicko for example, knows that he's got a legit shot at the roster or at least the PS.

Same with the QB. If beats out McGee he's got a roster spot, otherwise he's on the PS. Fighting over a few grand would be stupid when you can see a solid shot at a much larger pay out

 

[speedkilz88]

I expect for some of these guys they are looking longer term. Sicko for example, knows that he's got a legit shot at the roster or at least the PS.

Same with the QB. If beats out McGee he's got a roster spot, otherwise he's on the PS. Fighting over a few grand would be stupid when you can see a solid shot at a much larger pay out

The stories that reported about Sicko deciding not to play indicated his agent told him that he was going to play for Dallas. So all indications are that he went to the highest bidder.

 

[AbeBeta]

The stories that reported about Sicko deciding not to play indicated his agent told him that he was going to play for Dallas. So all indications are that he went to the highest bidder.

I really don't think it is the free for all that you think it is. Agents likely make their decisions based on offer and situation. Here's a guy who is going to see considerable playing time in the pre season. That's much more important than the bid, especially when you consider the differences are peanuts compared to the potential for work during the season -- another team might have offered 15k ... if they already have 5 TEs then it is a bad situation, you'd make up that 5k difference in a week on the PS.

 

[lkelly]

The stories that reported about Sicko deciding not to play indicated his agent told him that he was going to play for Dallas. So all indications are that he went to the highest bidder.

Maybe teams backed off once they questioned his desire. Jerry just seems like the kind of guy who would keep adding zeroes to the number on the check until Sicko changed his mind.

I also wonder if the FA bonuses were less this year overall. Could be that these penny pinching teams aren't inclined to spend more than they have to (Chicago Bears excluded). It might have been a lean year to be an undrafted free agent.

 

[AbeBeta]

Maybe teams backed off once they questioned his desire. Jerry just seems like the kind of guy who would keep adding zeroes to the number on the check until Sicko changed his mind.

I also wonder if the FA bonuses were less this year overall. Could be that these penny pinching teams aren't inclined to spend more than they have to (Chicago Bears excluded). It might have been a lean year to be an undrafted free agent.

I think last year I read the largest bonus was less than 30k. So there isn't much wiggle room in these deals. I doubt very much that guys field multiple offers. I expect in almost all the cases the first team that contacts them signs them.

 

[igtmfo]

Thanks to Adam from previous years ... hope I got it all right:

2009:
Kevin Ogletree $12,000
Travis Bright $10,000
Rudy Carpenter $5,000
Jamar Hunt $5,000
Greg Isdaner $5,000
Asaph Schwapp $5,000
Michael Turkovich $4,500
Julian Hawkins $3,000

2008 (didn't find numbers sorry)
WR Danny Amendola, Texas Tech
TE Drew Atchison, William & Mary
WR Mark Bradford, Stanford
OT Andrew Brecher, Harvard
WR Rudy Burgess, Arizona State
FB Julius Crosslin, Oklahoma State
SS Dowayne Davis, Syracuse
DE Marcus Dixon, Hampton
OT Brandon Hale, Sam Houston State
RB Keon Lattimore, Maryland
WR Daniel Polk, Midwestern State
P/K Jay Otoovegio, Stanford
DE Darrell Robertson, Georgia Tech

2007
QB Matt Moore $15,000
WR Jerard Rabb $15,000
NT Ola Dagunduro $12,000
DE Marcus Smith $10,000
RB Alonzo Coleman $9,000
TE Rodney Hannah $9,000
LB Alex Obomese $7,500
RB Jackie Battle $7,000
LB Dedrick Harrington $5,500
S Jasper Johnson $5,500
LB Blair Phillips $5,500
WR Mike Jefferson $5,000
C Steve Rissler $5,000
QB Richard Bartel $0
P Sam Paulescu $0

2006
WR Miles Austin -- $16,400
OT Dennis Roland -- $15,000
LB Oliver Hoyte -- $10,000
WR Sam Hurd -- $10,000
S Darrell Brooks -- $10,000
DE Stephen Bowen -- $9,000
LB Kai Parham -- $5,000
QB Jeff Mroz -- $2,500
LB John Saldi -- $2,000
TE Erik Gill -- $1,500
CB Quincy Butler -- $0
OLB J.J. Horne -- $0

2005
TE Tony Curtis $20,000
WR Jamaica Rector $17,500
WR Reggie Harrell $15,000
OT Harvey Dahl $12,500
LB Mike Goolsby $12,500
OT Sam Wilder $12,000
RB Tyson Thompson $10,000
LB Roger Cooper $10,000
S Dominique Price $9,000
FB Jonathan Evans $7,000
DT Thomas Johnson $6,000
OL Matt Tarullo $5,000
LS Jon Condo $5,000
TE Duncan Reid $2,500
LB Claude Sanders $2,500
K Brett Visintainer $2,500

2004
LB Ryan Fowler $20,000
FB Lousaka Polite $17,500
DB/WR Tom Crowder $15,000
DE Darrell Lee $12,500
DT Cedric Hilliard $12,000
WR James Newson $12,000
WR Terrance Copper $10,000
OL Darrick Sanders $10,000
S Steve Cargile $7,500
WR Brandon Middleton $6,000
DE Kevin Emanuel $5,000
LB Kalen Thornton $5,000

Romo: I read on another board that he got $15K and that Denver offered $25K but he liked our situation here better.

 

[AdamJT13]

Adam .. do you recall about 10 years ago that we gave someone around 50k as a UDFA? ... trying to remember who. Don't believe he made the roster

Technically, Chad Hutchinson was a UDFA, and we gave him a $3.1 million signing bonus. We also gave Tango McCauley, a former CFL lineman, a $100,000 signing bonus. He was signed at the end of the 2003 season.

I don't recall giving a normal, post-draft UDFA more than about $30,000 (which is about the most any normal UDFA gets), but perhaps I'm forgetting someone.