NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement

Article 13
Salary Cap Accounting Rules

Section 7(a)
30% Rules

(a)

No NFL Player Contract extending into a season beyond the Final League Year may provide for an annual increase in Salary, excluding any amount attributable to a signing bonus as defined in Section 6(b)(iii) above, of more than 30% of the Salary provided for in the Final League Year, per year, either in the season after the Final League Year or in any subsequent season covered by the Player Contract. The 30% Rule set forth in this paragraph shall not apply to any Rookie Contract referred to in Article 7 of this Agreement, including without limitation, with respect to Rookie Salary, the Proven Performance Escalator described in Article 7, Section 4; the Performance Incentive described in Article 7, Section 6; and the Fifth-Year Option for First Round Selections described in Article 7, Section 7. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the 30% Rule set forth in this paragraph shall apply to any renegotiated or extended Player Contract that is permissible under Article 7, Section 3(k) and that such Player Contract shall not be subject to the rules that limit Rookie Contracts.