ESPN.com · Mar 16, 2019
From $286 to $395K: NFL's smallest, biggest incentives
NFL players typically collect their paychecks Week 1 through 17 of the season.
But because of the performance-based pay program, a collectively bargained benefit, they've had a nice March bonus to look forward to since 2002.
This year, players -- including rookies -- will receive a total of $140,880,000 in performance-based pay, and each team received $4,402,500 to dole out.
Players receive bonuses based on how much their playing time is disproportionate to their salaries. In other words, players who don't make a lot, but play a lot, receive the largest checks.
For some, the amount is enough to buy a nice steak dinner and a movie. For others, it's enough to purchase a new house.
