NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 13
Salary Cap Accounting Rules

Section 6(c)(xxiv)
Valuation of Player Contracts

Notwithstanding any provision in a Player Contract to the contrary or when such payments are actually made, the following rules shall apply in determining the amount of a player’s Salary that is to be included in Team Salary in a particular League Year for purposes of the Salary Cap:

(c)(xxiv)

Any incentive bonus (or portion thereof) that is earned during the Final League Year, but which had not been deemed likely to be earned during that League Year, will be deemed earned and counted against the Salary Cap immediately upon attainment of the required performance level. Conversely, any incentive bonus (or portion thereof) that had been deemed likely to be earned during the Final League Year will be immediately credited toward the Salary Cap if the required performance level should, during the course of the Final League Year, become impossible for the player to attain.