AP
Per a league source, the deal contains no poison pill. The Lions are simply exercising their right to obtain clarification as to the “principal terms” in the offer.
Article 9, Section 3(e) of the labor deal provides that “principal terms” include only: (1) base salary, signing bonuses, roster bonuses, and reporting bonuses that are fixed and specific; and (2) payments that are variable based on “likely to be earned” incentives tied on team achievements; and (3) payments that are league honors secured by the player. Only truly “principal terms” must be matched.
The Johnson offer sheet contains salary de-escalators, and the Lions want to know whether they must match the three-year, $9 million offer that could shrink to $7 million or the three-year, $7 million offer after de-escalators apply.