2016 Performance-Based Pay Distributions Announced

Collectively bargained payouts awarded
NFL Players will receive $127.84 million in “Performance-Based Pay” for their performance during the 2016 season, the NFL announced today. The Performance-Based Pay program is a collectively-bargained benefit that compensates players based upon their playing time and salary levels.
In addition to the Performance-Based Pay pool, the NFL Players Association has elected to dedicate $32 million in benefits (i.e., $1 million per club) to fund a Veteran Performance-Based Compensation Pool (the “Veteran Pool”) for players with more than one Accrued Season. In total, $159.84 million will be disbursed to players under the combined pools.
Atlanta Falcons cornerback BRIAN POOLE earned the highest amount in the Performance-Based Pay program. Oakland Raiders guard GABE JACKSON earned the most in the Veteran Pool. Under the combined pools, Atlanta safety RICARDO ALLEN earned the highest amount of all NFL players. See the tables below for the top 25 bonuses in each category.
Players have been paid over $1.2 billion cumulatively since the inception of the Performance-Based Pay program, which was implemented as part of the NFL’s 2002 Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association, and continues as part of the parties’ current agreement.
The Veteran Pool is a component of the Rookie Redistribution Fund, which is a player benefit that was created under the 2011 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The NFL Players Association elected to fund the Veteran Pool for the first time this past year.
HOW PERFORMANCE-BASED PAY WORKS:
Under the Performance-Based Pay program, a fund is created and used as a supplemental form of player compensation based on a comparison of playing time to salary. Players become eligible to receive a bonus distribution in any regular season in which they play at least one official down.
Performance-Based Pay is computed by using a player index (“Index”). To produce the Index, a player’s regular-season playtime (total plays on offense, defense and special teams) is divided by his adjusted regular-season compensation (full season salary, prorated portion of signing bonus, earned incentives). Each player’s Index is then compared to those of the other players on his team to determine the amount of his Performance-Based Pay.
The Veteran Pool is computed in a similar manner, with two significant modifications: 1) Players with zero Accrued Seasons are not eligible to receive distributions, however, such players remain eligible to receive distributions under the Performance-Based Pay program; and 2) to calculate the eligible player’s Index, if the player’s full season base salary is less than $1 million, an additional amount will be imputed so that the player’s base salary equals $1 million. This imputation of salary is solely for the purpose of calculating distributions from the pool, and does not affect the actual salary paid to the player.
ILLUSTRATION OF PERFORMANCE-BASED PAY SYSTEM
Each player on the same team competes for his own share of his club’s Performance-Based Pay pool. The hypothetical example in the table below illustrates how the Player Index works, using a simplified four-player team and a club bonus pool of $1,000,000. Each player receives his share of the pool depending on how his index compares to those of his teammates
|
A Playtime |
B Compensation |
C Index (A/B) |
D % of Club Bonus Pool (C/Team Total C) |
E Hypothetical Bonus (D * $1,000,000) |
Player A |
50% |
$ 500,000 |
10.0 |
50% of the Club’s pool (10 out of 20) |
50% * $1,000,000 = $500,000 |
Player B |
50% |
$ 1,000,000 |
5.0 |
25% of the Club’s pool (5 out of 20) |
25% * $1,000,000 = $250,000 |
Player C |
20% |
$ 500,000 |
4.0 |
20% of the Club’s pool (4 out of 20) |
20% * $1,000,000 = $200,000 |
Player D |
10% |
$ 1,000,000 |
1.0 |
5% of the Club’s pool (1 out of 20) |
5% * $1,000,000 = $50,000 |
Team Total: |
20.0 Points |
|
TOP 25 PERFORMANCE-BASED PAY DISTRIBUTIONS FOR 2016
PLAYER |
CLUB |
POSITION |
COLLEGE |
ENTRY YEAR |
DRAFT ROUND |
DISTRIBUTION |
|
1 |
Brian Poole |
Atlanta |
CB |
Florida |
2016 |
UDFA |
$ 371,783.11 |
2 |
Dak Prescott |
Dallas |
QB |
Mississippi State |
2016 |
4 |
$ 353,544.57 |
3 |
Anthony Brown |
Dallas |
CB |
Purdue |
2016 |
6 |
$ 346,198.12 |
4 |
Ricardo Allen |
Atlanta |
SS |
Purdue |
2014 |
5 |
$ 342,712.65 |
5 |
David Andrews |
New England |
C |
Georgia |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 341,353.27 |
6 |
Jalen Mills |
Philadelphia |
CB |
Louisiana State |
2016 |
7 |
$ 324,112.11 |
7 |
Trenton Brown |
San Francisco |
T |
Florida |
2015 |
7 |
$ 323,714.54 |
8 |
Zach Orr |
Baltimore |
LB |
North Texas |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 317,986.94 |
9 |
Alejandro Villanueva |
Pittsburgh |
T |
Army |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 317,676.41 |
10 |
Andrew Adams |
New York Giants |
S |
Connecticut |
2016 |
UDFA |
$ 316,310.42 |
11 |
Greg Mancz |
Houston |
C |
Toledo |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 314,808.54 |
12 |
Russell Bodine |
Cincinnati |
C |
North Carolina |
2014 |
4 |
$ 314,040.72 |
13 |
Quinton Spain |
Tennessee |
G |
West Virginia |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 307,518.91 |
14 |
LaDarius Gunter |
Green Bay |
CB |
Miami |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 306,388.79 |
15 |
Matt Paradis |
Denver |
C |
Boise State |
2014 |
6 |
$ 306,002.71 |
16 |
Joe Thuney |
New England |
G |
North Carolina State |
2016 |
3 |
$ 305,206.63 |
17 |
Mark Glowinski |
Seattle |
G |
West Virginia |
2015 |
4 |
$ 303,282.60 |
18 |
Jordan Hicks |
Philadelphia |
LB |
Texas |
2015 |
3 |
$ 300,142.56 |
19 |
Telvin Smith |
Jacksonville |
LB |
Florida State |
2014 |
5 |
$ 293,471.03 |
20 |
Andrew Norwell |
Carolina |
G |
Ohio State |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 291,975.48 |
21 |
Kwon Alexander |
Tampa Bay |
LB |
Louisiana State |
2015 |
4 |
$ 291,500.78 |
22 |
Tajae Sharpe |
Tennessee |
WR |
Massachusetts |
2016 |
5 |
$ 289,676.53 |
23 |
Malcolm Butler |
New England |
CB |
West Alabama |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 287,598.82 |
24 |
Bobby Hart |
New York Giants |
G |
Florida State |
2015 |
7 |
$ 285,288.92 |
25 |
Kevin Byard |
Tennessee |
S |
Middle Tennessee |
2016 |
3 |
$ 284,778.17 |
UDFA – Undrafted free agent
TOP 25 BONUSES IN VETERAN PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION
PLAYER |
CLUB |
POSITION |
COLLEGE |
ENTRY YEAR |
DRAFT ROUND |
DISTRIBUTION |
|
1 |
Gabe Jackson |
Oakland |
G |
Mississippi State |
2014 |
3 |
$ 91,475.02 |
2 |
Zach Orr |
Baltimore |
LB |
North Texas |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 88,953.05 |
3 |
Ricardo Allen |
Atlanta |
S |
Purdue |
2014 |
5 |
$ 87,007.27 |
4 |
Telvin Smith |
Jacksonville |
LB |
Florida State |
2014 |
5 |
$ 85,686.64 |
5 |
Russell Bodine |
Cincinnati |
C |
North Carolina |
2014 |
4 |
$ 85,122.27 |
6 |
David Andrews |
New England |
C |
Georgia |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 84,990.99 |
7 |
Christian Kirksey |
Cleveland |
LB |
Iowa |
2014 |
3 |
$ 84,154.17 |
8 |
Alejandro Villanueva |
Pittsburgh |
T |
Army |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 83,976.05 |
9 |
Matt Paradis |
Denver |
C |
Boise State |
2014 |
6 |
$ 83,805.46 |
10 |
Nevin Lawson |
Detroit |
CB |
Utah State |
2014 |
4 |
$ 82,733.59 |
11 |
Jordan Hicks |
Philadelphia |
LB |
Texas |
2015 |
3 |
$ 81,813.54 |
12 |
Ross Cockrell |
Pittsburgh |
CB |
Duke |
2014 |
4 |
$ 81,720.88 |
13 |
Malcolm Butler |
New England |
CB |
West Alabama |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 81,283.90 |
14 |
Mark Glowinski |
Seattle |
G |
West Virginia |
2015 |
4 |
$ 80,458.15 |
15 |
Avery Williamson |
Tennessee |
LB |
Kentucky |
2014 |
5 |
$ 79,530.11 |
16 |
Greg Mancz |
Houston |
C |
Toledo |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 78,126.46 |
17 |
Max Garcia |
Denver |
G |
Florida |
2015 |
4 |
$ 77,242.30 |
18 |
LaDarius Gunter |
Green Bay |
CB |
Miami |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 77,072.97 |
19 |
A.J. Cann |
Jacksonville |
G |
South Carolina |
2015 |
3 |
$ 76,986.67 |
20 |
Kwon Alexander |
Tampa Bay |
LB |
Louisiana State |
2015 |
4 |
$ 76,811.45 |
21 |
Andrew Norwell |
Carolina |
G |
Ohio State |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 76,325.88 |
22 |
Bobby Hart |
New York Giants |
G |
Florida State |
2015 |
7 |
$ 75,784.04 |
23 |
Charles Leno |
Chicago |
T |
Boise State |
2014 |
7 |
$ 75,571.75 |
24 |
Shaquille Mason |
New England |
G |
Georgia Tech |
2015 |
4 |
$ 74,876.72 |
25 |
Quinton Spain |
Tennessee |
G |
West Virginia |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 74,429.55 |
UDFA – Undrafted free agent
TOP 25 COMBINED TOTAL (PERFORMANCE-BASED PAY AND VETERAN PERFORMANCE-BASED COMPENSATION)
PLAYER |
CLUB |
POS |
COLLEGE |
ENTRY YEAR |
DRAFT ROUND |
REGULAR PBP |
VETERAN PBP |
COMBINED DISTRIBUTION |
|
1 |
Ricardo Allen |
Atlanta |
S |
Purdue |
2014 |
5 |
$ 342,712.65 |
$ 87,007.27 |
$ 429,719.92 |
2 |
David Andrews |
New England |
C |
Georgia |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 341,353.27 |
$ 84,990.99 |
$ 426,344.26 |
3 |
Zach Orr |
Baltimore |
LB |
North Texas |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 317,986.94 |
$ 88,953.05 |
$ 406,939.99 |
4 |
Alejandro Villanueva |
Pittsburgh |
T |
Army |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 317,676.41 |
$ 83,976.05 |
$ 401,652.46 |
5 |
Russell Bodine |
Cincinnati |
C |
North Carolina |
2014 |
4 |
$ 314,040.72 |
$ 85,122.27 |
$ 399,162.99 |
6 |
Trenton Brown |
San Francisco |
T |
Florida |
2015 |
7 |
$ 323,714.54 |
$ 73,123.24 |
$ 396,837.78 |
7 |
Greg Mancz |
Houston |
C |
Toledo |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 314,808.54 |
$ 78,126.46 |
$ 392,935.00 |
8 |
Matt Paradis |
Denver |
C |
Boise State |
2014 |
6 |
$ 306,002.71 |
$ 83,805.46 |
$ 389,808.17 |
9 |
Mark Glowinski |
Seattle |
G |
West Virginia |
2015 |
4 |
$ 303,282.60 |
$ 80,458.15 |
$ 383,740.75 |
10 |
LaDarius Gunter |
Green Bay |
CB |
Miami |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 306,388.79 |
$ 77,072.97 |
$ 383,461.76 |
11 |
Quinton Spain |
Tennessee |
G |
West Virginia |
2015 |
UDFA |
$ 300,142.56 |
$ 81,813.54 |
$ 381,956.10 |
12 |
Jordan Hicks |
Philadelphia |
LB |
Texas |
2015 |
3 |
$ 307,518.91 |
$ 74,429.55 |
$ 381,948.46 |
13 |
Telvin Smith |
Jacksonville |
LB |
Florida State |
2014 |
5 |
$ 293,471.03 |
$ 85,686.64 |
$ 379,157.67 |
14 |
Brian Poole |
Atlanta |
CB |
Florida |
2016 |
UDFA |
$ 371,783.11 |
$ – |
$ 371,783.11 |
15 |
Malcolm Butler |
New England |
CB |
West Alabama |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 287,598.82 |
$ 81,283.90 |
$ 368,882.72 |
16 |
Kwon Alexander |
Tampa Bay |
LB |
Louisiana State |
2015 |
4 |
$ 291,500.78 |
$ 76,811.45 |
$ 368,312.23 |
17 |
Andrew Norwell |
Carolina |
G |
Ohio State |
2014 |
UDFA |
$ 291,975.48 |
$ 76,325.88 |
$ 368,301.36 |
18 |
Gabe Jackson |
Oakland |
G |
Mississippi State |
2014 |
3 |
$ 273,174.55 |
$ 91,475.02 |
$ 364,649.57 |
19 |
Bobby Hart |
NY Giants |
G |
Florida State |
2015 |
7 |
$ 285,288.92 |
$ 75,784.04 |
$ 361,072.96 |
20 |
Avery Williamson |
Tennessee |
LB |
Kentucky |
2014 |
5 |
$ 279,923.35 |
$ 79,530.11 |
$ 359,453.46 |
21 |
Dak Prescott |
Dallas |
QB |
Mississippi State |
2016 |
4 |
$ 353,544.57 |
$ – |
$ 353,544.57 |
22 |
Ross Cockrell |
Pittsburgh |
CB |
Duke |
2014 |
4 |
$ 270,899.82 |
$ 81,720.88 |
$ 352,620.70 |
23 |
Shaquille Mason |
New England |
G |
Georgia Tech |
2015 |
4 |
$ 277,474.07 |
$ 74,876.72 |
$ 352,350.79 |
24 |
Anthony Brown |
Dallas |
CB |
Purdue |
2016 |
6 |
$ 346,198.12 |
$ – |
$ 346,198.12 |
25 |
Nevin Lawson |
Detroit |
CB |
Utah State |
2014 |
4 |
$ 261,672.97 |
$ 82,733.59 |
$ 344,406.56 |
UDFA – Undrafted free agent