Here’s a year-by-year breakdown of the contract, based on information obtained by ESPN’s Roster Management System:
2014
•Cash value: $15 million
•Salary-cap charge: $5.562 million
•Signing bonus: $12.5 million
•Base salary: $1.5 million
•Roster bonus: $500,000 ($31,250 per game active)
•Workout bonus: $500,000
2015
•Cash value: $6 million
•Salary-cap charge: $9.125 million
•Base salary: $2.5 million
•Roster bonus: $2.5 million paid on the fifth day of the league year
•Roster bonus: $500,000 ($31,250 per game active)
•Workout bonus: $500,000
2016
•Cash value: $9 million
•Salary-cap charge: $12.125 million
•Base salary: $8 million
•Roster bonus: $500,000 ($31,250 per game active)
•Workout bonus: $500,000
2017
•Cash value: $9 million
•Salary-cap charge: $12.125 million
•Base salary: $8 million
•Roster bonus: $500,000 ($31,250 per game active)
•Workout bonus: $500,000
For a young guy entering what should be his prime, i don't think it's that bad. I'd like to have superstars for 1 mil a year, but it isn't happening I like the way GB signs its players. They don't spread out cap in order to get creative with money because that creativity usually kills you in the end. They make players play for their money, and when they do, they're rewarded, and if they don't, they aren't eating dead money forever. Everything happens in a more defined space of time and keeps things manageable.
It doesn't mean they'll never miss or have to eat some cash, but it means they'll keep good control over it and balance performance for pay. Players have incentive to play, GB has money to pay them. They get a good chunk up front, and aren't locked into a pay check for 10years if they don't perform either. I think it's a good balance.