Players in the National Football League (NFL) can earn up to an additional $30,000 in incentives if they play in at least three games and meet certain statistical thresholds. The incentive is part of the NFL's performance-based pay system, which was created in 2002 to reward players for their on-field contributions. Under the system, each player's salary is adjusted upward based on his playing time and statistical production. The amount of the adjustment is determined by a formula that takes into account the player's base salary, playing time and statistical production. For example, a player who has a base salary of $1 million and plays 70 percent of his team's snaps would be eligible for an incentive of $30,000 if he meets the required thresholds.
The NFL's performance-based pay system is designed to reward players for their on-field contributions. The amount of the incentive is based on a formula that takes into account the player's base salary, playing time and statistical production. For example, a player who has a base salary of $1 million and plays 70 percent of his team's snaps would be eligible for an incentive of $30,000 if he meets the required thresholds.
Players can earn up to an additional $30,000 in incentives if they play in at least three games and meet certain statistical thresholds. In order to qualify for this bonus payout, NFL players must have played less than 60 percent of their team’s snaps during the regular season; worked out with their club during its offseason program; or been active for at least eight weeks during any given season but did not accrue more than one year toward free agency status (i.e., they were cut or traded). If these requirements are met, then whichever stat category triggers the bonus will result in payment: either solo tackles (one per game), sacks (0.5 per game), interceptions (0.2 per game), forced fumbles (0.2 per game), or fumble recoveries (0.1 per game). While some positions tend to hit these marks more frequently than others—linebackers especially so—it’s worth noting that last year 28 different wide receivers also qualified for this bonus