NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 7
Rookie Compensation and Rookie Compensation Pool

Section 6
Performance Incentives

(a)

Rookie Contracts for players selected in rounds one and two may contain performance incentives based upon achievement of an agreed-upon offensive or defensive regular season playtime percentage (calculated by dividing the player’s total regular season plays (offensive or defensive) by the Club’s total regular season plays) of at least (i) 35% in the first year of his initial contract or (ii) 45% in any subsequent year of such a contract. Rookie Contracts for players selected in rounds three through seven and Undrafted Rookies may contain performance incentives based upon achievement of an agreed-upon offensive or defensive regular season playtime percentage (calculated by dividing the player’s total regular season plays (offensive or defensive) by the Club’s total regular season plays) of at least (i) 15% in the first year of his initial contract or (ii) 30% in any subsequent year of such a contract. Any performance incentive for less than the offensive or defensive playtime percentages described above or based upon the achievement of any other statistic or honor is prohibited.

(b)

All performance incentives shall be considered Rookie Salary, shall count at the highest possible earnable amount for each League Year the incentive is applicable, and will be included in the 25% Increase Rule, Year-One Rookie Salary (if applicable), the Total Rookie Compensation Pool, the Year-One Rookie Compensation Pool (if applicable), the Club’s Total Rookie Allocation, and the Club’s Year-One Rookie Allocation (if applicable).

(c)

Performance incentives may be earned only based upon playtime in the current League Year and may not be guaranteed for skill, injury or Salary Cap-related contract terminations.

(d)

Performance incentives may not be modified, nullified, or created by achievement of or failure to achieve other incentives.

(e)

Unearned performance incentives in a current year may not be carried forward into future years. Earned performance incentives may not negate future year performance incentives or create additional incentives.

(f)

A player’s achievement of an incentive may not determine or affect whether he will or may achieve any performance incentive in a subsequent season.

(g)

Performance incentives based upon individual performance for ranking on the Club or in the League, Division or Conference (e.g., leading the Club in offensive playtime) are prohibited.

(h)

A performance incentive must be based only upon a specific numerical playtime amount. For example, an incentive may provide for a player to receive a bonus if he participates in 40% of his Club’s offensive plays, but it may not provide for the player to receive the performance incentive if he improves in playtime over a prior season.

(i)

For any Rookie Contract that is executed during the term of this Agreement, players and Clubs may agree to include the Performance Incentive described in this Section.