Rookie Salary Scale

[Philadelphia Freedom]

Not a hugh issue right now but something we may want to tighten up when we talk about the assessing of incentive bonuses. We mention rank but don't specify if it is total points or average points per game. I am guessing it is average points per game but we could run into a situation where a player plays one great game gets hurt and then is due a huge salary bump.

Not sure what everyone thinks but it looks like there could be a fair number of players that will be eligible to receive some incentive compensation this year.

[Preds]

It's based on total points not average points per game.

As for several draftees getting pay increases, if at the end of the year they're in the top rankings then that is exactly what the system is designed to do.

For example, I hope Andre Johnson finishes top 5, that means he did exceedingly well for me, and thus he deserves the jump in pay in 2005.

[Philadelphia Freedom]

Did I miss that in the rules? Oh, well thanks for clarifying.

[Preds]

Originally Posted by Philadelphia Freedom

Did I miss that in the rules? Oh, well thanks for clarifying.

I haven't looked at the specific wording in the rules, but I know that the intent of the incentives was based on total points, not any averages.

[Preds]

The rules state the following:

In addition to these base salaries, rookies will earn bonuses based on their performance each year of their original rookie contract. These bonuses will be based on their year end ranking among players of the same position. Players drafted after round 1 will receive a lower bonus for equal performance. That is, second round players receive a bonus 75% of that of a 1^st round pick, 3^rd round receive 25%, and 4^th round receive 25%. Performance bonuses are earned on top of the standard 10% raise, not in place of it.

The minimum raise is 10% of the previous years salary. Any incentive bonus earned is above and beyond the standard minimum raise.

Further, each rookie will have a maximum salary that his contract can hit with incentive bonuses. The maximum salaries will vary on position and round drafted. When calculating for the maximum salary, the player will first be assessed his 10% annual contract increase, and then any applicable signing bonus will be applied up to the maximum salary payable according to the players position and the player was drafted in. Once an incentive clause bumps the contract at or above the maximum salary, incentive bonuses will no longer apply, although the 10% annual contract will still apply on any remaining years of the contract.

While total or average points aren't specified, I can tell you the way Brian and I applied the rule on the existing contracts was with total points and the players positional ranking as of week 17. We probably could have worded that better, but I know for a fact (especially based on how we applied the rule) that the intent was based on total points and not average points.

[Nittany Dodgers]

Just seconding what Mike has said. While it wasn't worded very well, all of the examples Mike and I ran and posted to the site were based on total points, not averages. Thus, our assumption was that was what the bonuses was based on.

[Philadelphia Freedom]

That is fine by me. Can we specify/clarify for future reference? Thanks.

[Royal Hawaiian Opihi]

I was under the same understanding, Mike... total points at the end of the season. Seems most fair.

[Philadelphia Freedom]

Okay, one last thing here. It looks like for a second round WR that finishes between 6-10 we are saying it is a $50 bonus. However based on the structure of the other bonuses I think that this should be $150. For example a third rounder in the same bracket (6-10) gets $100 bonus. Might be worth updating (if in fact it is wrong) when someone gets a chance.

[Preds]

Originally Posted by Philadelphia Freedom

Okay, one last thing here. It looks like for a second round WR that finishes between 6-10 we are saying it is a $50 bonus. However based on the structure of the other bonuses I think that this should be $150. For example a third rounder in the same bracket (6-10) gets $100 bonus. Might be worth updating (if in fact it is wrong) when someone gets a chance.

Nice catch Matt, that appears to be a typo. The correct bonus is supposed to be 150 in that instance.