Jikkle
Well-Known Member
Here's the breakdown in your link:
Tom Pelissero of NFL Media has since posted the breakdown for the first year: $5 million signing bonus, $2 million base salary (there’s no mention as to whether it’s guaranteed, but as a practical matter it most likely is), $2 million in 46-man per-game roster bonuses, $1 million playing-time incentives, and a $3 million Pro Bowl incentive. (One source cautions that the “Pro Bowl” incentive may be an “All-Pro” incentive, which is harder to achieve since only two are selected for the entire league.)
So if I read this correctly if he only plays one year he gets the 5 mil signing bonus, 2 mil base salary 2 mil for making the 46-man roster...which is 9 million and not sure about the 1 mil playing time bonus, if he plays he'll probably get that, so 10 million even if he plays badly. 10 million seem like a lot to be out of.
The 9ers have plenty of cap space that the 10 million dollar hit won't impact any of their plans this year and if he does play badly you just move on from him without it hurting your cap much. The 10 million only hurts York and his wallet.
From the 9ers perspective they clearly want Sherman to play at a high level but I think it was really important to bring him in from a leadership standpoint as well since the team lacks any sort of defensive leaders.
So I think they feel that's worth paying for as well since I don't think any of the available CBs out there would bring that kind of element Sherman will bring.