Pro Bowl incentive could push his salary to more than $18 million. Andrew Brandt
Julius Peppers signed a one-year contract with the Panthers on June 24. The salary on the contract is the amount of the franchise tag that was placed on Peppers, $16.683 million. Over the course of the 17-week season, Peppers has been earning roughly $1 million per week, the highest salary in the NFL this season (other players may have made more in 2009 due to bonus payments along with salary, but Peppers made the most in pure salary).
First, there are incentives of $250,000 per game for each playoff appearance by the Panthers. Well, so much for that.
Also, Peppers – as long as some easy qualifiers are achieved, which they have been -- has a $1.5M incentive bonus for being elected to play in the Pro Bowl (the largest incentive for making a Pro Bowl that I’ve come across).
Peppers’ constant harassment of Brett Favre in the nationally televised game against the Vikings on Sunday Night Football last week could go a long way to costing the Panthers $1.5M. Although there will be much competition at the position, the huge stage that Peppers had for one of the best games played by a defensive end this year may go a long way toward putting him in Hawaii -- er, Miami -- this year.
If Peppers is elected to the Pro Bowl, his compensation will be more than $18M for the 2009 season. If he’s given the franchise tag again in 2010, the one-year price tag would be 120 percent of that number, or $21.84M. Although it looks like there won’t be a cap in 2010, the Panthers would still have to seriously debate whether to make that kind of one-year commitment on a cash basis or let Peppers test the market.
Some teams have made concessions to get franchise-tagged players to report in the form of a contractual promise to not place the tag on the player again the following year. This was the case with Albert Haynesworth and the Titans.
The Panthers chose another route, with incentives for the playoffs and a large one for the Pro Bowl. It may end up costing them, especially in the midst of a disappointing season.
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For a look at ten of the top NFL coaches of this decade, check out this article from Bleacher Report.
Please let him go somewhere else , anywhere else. He's a good player who has some great moments, but can also be awol for who knows how long. Spend the money on 2-3 excellent players who will bring it every play. If you love him, set him free. ( also forget some long deal at 15 mill. per )
In the past 2 years Peppers has earned 35+million dollars.
He is up for another 18-20 next year.
That's somewhere around 53-55 million in a three year period guaranteed.
He'd never of made that much if he'd of signed a long term contract and has played the Panthers like a fiddle.
Peppers gives the players a good side to look at the franchise tag.
Rob-
Astute comment. Yes, the incentives in Peppers’ Franchise tag deal are required when the tender accepted is an increase over the prior year's salary. It would seem that the playoff bonuses and the 1.5M Pro Bowl incentive was in the last year of his rookie deal -- as the second pick overall --so that would necessitate its inclusion in the Franchise contract as well.
Thanks for pointing this out where I had not; the incentives were not sweeteners as the Haynesworth promise from the Titans was. They were necessary inclusions above and beyond the 16.683M.
Julius Peppers $16 million 10.5 sacks, Elvis Dumervil 17.5 sacks $541,000.
Two questions:
1. Where is the outrage about the rookie salary scale?
2. Why do teams pay outrageous sums of money for one player? Carolina's GM should be fired considering this and JD's deal.
Julius Peppers $16 million 10.5 sacks, Elvis Dumervil 17.5 sacks $541,000.
Two questions:
1. Where is the outrage about the rookie salary scale?
2. Why do teams pay outrageous sums of money for one player? Carolina's GM should be fired considering this and JD's deal.
@ Jim. Peppers has results to show for the money spent. The Jets gave a $50M contract to Vernon Gholston, who had no sacks and only about 5 tackles on the season. Dumervil was drafted in the 4th Round ~ and nobody is disputing the value to be found in rounds 2-7. The problem is the cost of the first round picks 1-10 actually punishes the teams that have those selections.
If I were GM of detroit or the rams, I would take whatever offer I could get for picks 1 & 2, and if forced to, even drop down by not selecting, until I had a pick in the 7-10 range. Teams that need
QBs are forced to take the risk however. I wonder if teams with the #1 pick ever approach a player with second round or late first round talent and say -- we will pick you but only if you agree to a deal that is comparable to the compensation of pick 20 in the prior year.
I happened to hear Hub Arkush of Pro Football Weekly discuss the "American Needle" case this week on a Chicago sports radio program. It's my understanding that this could be a landmark case in regards to all sports leagues. Would love to read your thoughts on this subject.
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Dec 28, 2009
01:16 PM
Andrew, I do not understand your comment that you are not sure why Peppers received more than the Franchise Tag. In order to Franchise Peppers, the Panthers had to tender him a one year contract for at least 120% of his prior year salary. Under CBA Art. XX, Section 14 (page 74), this must include any provisions for incentives or performance bonuses. The Panthers did not have a choice. They did not sweeten the deal as you state, this was required in the CBA.
In addition, if the Panthers elect to put the Franchise tag on Peppers again in 2010, they will not have to give him 120% of $18 Mil., only 120% of his 2009 salary, even if he earns the incentives. They will have to include the incentives again in 2010 but the earned in incentives in 2009 do not count in the 120% calculation in 2010, according to the CBA.
The Panthers actually chose a better route than what the Titans did with Albert Haynesworth. They did what was required of them in the CBA to keep Pappers, and did not give up their right to franchise the best pass rusher in the NFL in the future.