Last updated on December 17, 2005 9:30 AM EDT

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I would like to thank Pats39, Peachhead, Jim S, Chris Matthews "CJ", Ian Logue, Andrew Brecher, Jocelyn Robichaud, Naren99, Ickster, Tom Sweeney, AdamJT13, Pats726, and Paul Dalrymple. Each of them have in their own way provided invaluable assistance and guidance. Please note that NONE of them are responsible for errors on this page.

NTLBE/LTBE Credit/Debit System Explained - On DenverBroncos.Com there was an interview with Coordinator of Football Administration Mike Bluem. Here's part of the interview

"What is the cap for 2002?
The cap for 2002 is $71,101,000. But for us, it's actually a little bit more. We got a credit because we were charged more for incentives than were actually earned. When that happens, the league will net out the difference and credit the amount to the team for the next season. If a team spends more than it was charged then the league deducts that amount from the cap the next year. In our case, the Broncos were charged more in incentives than the players earned, so we got about a $3.3 million adjustment on our cap this year. Thus, our salary cap figure for this year is $74, 466,876, which is the second highest in the league only to Indianapolis.

Explain the credit and debit system against the cap?
Basically there are two types of incentives built into player contracts - likely to be earned and non-likely to be earned. Likely incentives are based upon whether or not a player accomplished a feat the previous year. If a player makes 50 catches one season and he has an incentive that requires him to make 49 receptions the next season, it is a likely incentive because he accomplished that the previous season. Likely incentives are charged against the cap immediately. Non-likely incentives are charged against the cap only if the player achieves them. If a guy had 50 catches last year and in his contract this year he has an incentive clause that kicks in if he makes 51 catches, it's a non-likely incentive because he didn't do it the previous year. At the end of the season you take the likelys that were actually earned and add to it the non-likelys that were earned. That figure is subtracted from what you were charged on the cap for the likely incentives. In our case, we were charged about $3.3 million more than what we actually had to pay the players and that's why we get a credit on the cap this year."

While the above two paragraphs talked about the Broncos, the Patriots' cap was charged $2,896,195 in 2005, the 2nd highest amount in the NFL. Is there any wonder why Scott Pioli has been the NFL Executive of the Year two years in the row??

Eric Alexander Alexander was signed to a 2-year contract on December 20, 2004. Practice squad players make $4,700 a week. Alexander was on the 53-man roster for one week so he received the prorated portion of the rookie salary ($230,000/17 = 13,529). Alexander is scheduled to be on the practice squad for the other 16 weeks of the season. $4,700 *16 = $75,200. $13,529 + $75,200 = $88,729.

Rodney Bailey Rodney Bailey signed a two-year extension on December 14, 2004. Bailey got a $325,000 signing bonus as part of that deal.

Tully Banta-Cain - The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported on 7/21 that "Banta-Cain, a defensive end/ linebacker from Cal, agreed to a four-year deal, but he has an undisclosed injury that may delay his Patriots debut."
July 22 updateFrom ESPN.Com: "Signing bonus: $30,750. Base salaries: $225,000 (2003); $305,000 (2004); $380,000 (2005); $460,000 (2006, includes escalator). Total: four years, $1,400,750. Cap charge: $232,687."

Monty Beisel - Mike Felger reported "The Pats officially announced the signing of linebacker Monty Beisel. According to sources, Beisel's two-year contract is in the neighborhhood of recent free agent contracts signed by linebackers Orlando Huff of Arizona (two years, $2 million, $400,000 signing bonus) and Donnie Spragan of Miami (two years, $1.9 million, $500,000 signing bonus)." so I am going to presume that Beisel got a $450,000 signing bonus.
September 7, 2005 update, A NFLPA.org research document indirectly shows that Beisel earned $4,180 in offseason workout bonus money and that he received a $425,000 signing bonus.

Tom Brady - From CBS Sportsline's Signing status of AFC 2000 draft picks. Signing bonus: $110,000. Base salaries: $193,000 (2000); $275,000 (2001); $358,000 (2002). Total: three years, $864,400. While CBS Sportsline lists Brady's signing bonus as $110,000, ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli listed Brady's 2002 cap figure as $399,833, which would mean that his prorated signing bonus is $12,833 since it would be mean that his signing bonus was $38,400, which seems to be the more reasonable number for a 6th-round pick. I remembered recently in a Boston Globe article that Brady had earned about $70,000 in playing-time incentives this year.
May 9, 2002 update - AdamJT13 in a post to the Patriots NG wrote:"Brady's cap number is $432,873. He has a $375,000 base salary, a $12,833 prorated signing bonus, a $5,040 workout bonus and $40,000 in LTBE incentives (which formerly were NLTBE)."
August 29, 2002 update - From the Boston Globe - "Brady received $4 million of the bonus when he signed the contract, and that will be added to his $375,000 salary for the season. On the first day of the 2003 season, the Patriots have the right to exercise a $6 million option for the rest of the bonus. The contract runs through the 2006 season, and is structured similarly to Richard Seymour's. He signed a two-tiered bonus last year."
September 2 update - From the Boston Herald - "As part of his five-year, $30.52 million deal, Brady will earn $250,000 for every AFC championship and an additional $250,000 for every Super Bowl win he is the quarterback for. He won't receive any bonus money for making his second Pro Bowl, but every Pro Bowl selection thereafter will earn him $500,000. An NFL MVP award is also good for $500,000, while an NFL Offensive MVP award will net him $250,000. Brady received a two-tiered signing bonus worth a total of $9.5 million ($3.5 million this year and $6 million next March). He will keep his $375,000 base salary this year before his salary jumps to $3.1 million in 2003, $5.5 million in 2004, $5.5 million in 2005 and $6 million in 2006.Brady's cap number is only $1.075 million this season. His cap charge jumps to $5.3 million in 2003, $7.7 million in 2004, $7.7 million in 2005 and $8.7 million in 2006. The high cap numbers later in the deal will likely force a restructuring in a few years."
September 4, 2003 update From ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli - "The contract extension signed by New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady last week is worth more than $30 million in so-called "new money" and keeps his salary cap number more than palatable for this season before escalating dramatically in cap value in its later years. According to NFL Players Association documents obtained by ESPN.com, the third-year veteran received a signing bonus of $3.5 million but kept his 2002 base salary at $375,000, the amount negotiated in his initial rookie contract in 2000. His salary cap value for 2002 is just $1.091 million. But after this year the value of Brady's contract, and the cap charges, spiral upward. Brady is due a $6 million option payment next March (March, 2003) to trigger the remainder of the contract. The base salaries for the four-year extension portion of the deal then become $3.125 million (2003), $5.5 million (2004), $5.5 million (2005) and $6 million (2006). The final season also includes $500,000 in incentives. There are workout bonuses of $5,600 each for 2003 and '04 and $6,160 each for '05 and '06. The total "new money" is $30.148 million. ...The future salary cap charges: $5.33 million ('03); $7.705 million ('04); $7.706 million ('05); and $8.706 million ('06). The term "new money" refers to the total value of the contract, minus what Brady was due under his original deal. The per-year average for the extension is a whopping $7.537 million."
March 26, 2003 update It appears that Brady restructured his contract sometime during late March. The Ickster posted on the KFFL forum that "the NFLPA website is now listing his (Brady) base salary at $450K, where it previously was listed at $3.125M. The $2.675M was probably guaranteed and treated as signing bonus, spread at $668.75K per season over the remaining 4 years of his deal. In short, the move clears $2,006,250 of room on the 2003 cap." I would like to thank the Ickster for pointing out Brady's restructure to the rest of the Patriots fan community.
March 27, 2003 update ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "the maneuver further increases Brady's already lofty cap values for the 2004-2006 seasons by about $670,000 each year. The new cap values for those years become roughly $8.374 million each for 2004-05 and $9.374 for 2006".
December 1, 2003 update Brady's 2003 cap number is $3,323,450 ($450,000 base salary, $2,868,750 signing bonus proration, $4,700 workout bonus) with an additional $500,000 in NLTBE incentives. Brady's 2004 cap number currently is $8,374,350 ($5.5 million base salary, $2,868,750 signing bonus proration and $5,600 workout bonus) with an additional $500,000 in NLTBE incentives. His cap numbers are $8,874,910 for 2005 and $9,374,910 for 2006.
September 10, 2004 update From the Boston Herald - "Sources confirmed last night that the Pats guaranteed Brady's $5.5 million base salary in 2004, a maneuver that saved the Pats around $3 million against this year's salary cap but pushed Brady's future cap numbers into Law's neighborhood." Brady's 2004 cap number is now $5,064,350.
October 17, 2004 update ESPN.Com 's Len Pasquarelli reported that "It is believed that Brady's cap charge for 2005 is now about $10.29 million and that his charge for the '06 season exceeds $14 million."
April 2, 2005 update Pete Prisco reported that Tom Brady "has a cap figure of $10.02 million this season and $14.02 million in 2006 (including a $3 million roster bonus)."
May 8, 2005 update ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "according to documents obtained by ESPN.com, the contract includes a $14.5 million signing bonus and a $12 million option bonus that is due next spring. The base salaries are $1 million (for 2005), $4 million ('06), $6 million ('07), $5 million ('08), $2.3 million ('09) and $3.5 million ('10). There are roster bonuses of $3 million each in the final three years of the contract. Brady will have a salary cap charge of $8.429 million for 2005, which is between $1.5 million and $2 million less than under his old contract. But his cap number for 2006 jumps to a prohibitive $14.423 million, meaning the contract will have to be revisited probably by converting the option bonus into a signing bonus, which can then be prorated. There are also guarantees, such as injury guarantees in the 2007 and '08 seasons, in the deal. Over the first three years of the contract, a measuring stick that is often used now by many agents and teams to gauge comparative value, the deal averages $13.111 million." Adamjt13 supplemented Pasquarelli's report with "Brady's entire $6 million salary in 2007 and $2 million of his salary in 2008 are guaranteed if he's injured" and "the option is only for 2010, so he would still be signed through 2009. But his 2006 salary would jump to $6.7 million, fully guaranteed if he gets injured, and his 2009 salary would jump to $5 million.
June 14, 2005 update Nick Cafardo reported in the Boston Globe: "Some interesting tidbits from the 22-page contract of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, which was signed May 4:

• Here is how the first line reads: ''TERM: This contract covers 5 football seasons and will begin on the date of execution or March 1, 2005 whichever is later and end Feb. 28 or 29, 2010 unless extended, terminated or renewed as specified elsewhere in this contract."
• Brady received $5 million of his $14.5 million signing bonus May 4. He'll receive $5 million July 15 and the remaining $4.5 million March 31, 2006.
• Brady gets $100,000 for completing at least 90 percent of the offseason workout program throughout the contract. He must repay the money if he performs less than 90 percent of the workouts. Brady gets an additional $440 per week if he completes 90 percent of the workouts in 2005 and $480 per week in 2006-10.
• The Patriots have to give Brady written notice on or before the third day of the '06 season that they're picking up the $12 million option bonus for that season. Brady would receive $5.5 million on or before July 15, 2006, and the remaining $6.5 million on or before July 15, 2007.
• Hard to imagine the ''Failure to Perform" clause will ever come into play, but it exists. Basically, if Brady has steroid, drug, or other off-field issues, he must return money based on the following schedule: 2005 -- 100 percent; '06 -- 83 percent; '07 -- 66.7 percent; '08 -- 50 percent; '09 -- 33.3 percent; '10 -- 16.7 percent.
• Brady must agree to ''up to 10 promotional and charitable appearances." This has become a norm in Patriots contracts. The team, of course, ''assumes all travel and out-of-town expenses."
• Brady also agrees to provide up to three hours a month to the ''club's internet website, radio production and/or television production."
• ''Player grants to the club exclusive rights to the use of digital images of player in uniform on the club's internet website."
• Here's some interesting language: ''Club and Player agree that Player will exhaust all reasonable efforts to establish relationships exclusively with Club's sponsors and media partners. If after exhausting all reasonable effort to work exclusively with Club sponsors and media partners and the player is unable to enter into a commercially reasonable relationship then player has a right to establish a relationship with a non-club affiliated entity."
• ''Player agrees that he will not, without prior written consent of Club, appear as a regularly scheduled guest or host of a radio or television production related to professional football for any local media other than a Club sponsored radio or television network."
• If the Patriots have picked up the '06 $12 million option, Brady -- providing he passes all physicals and is on the 80-man roster the first day of each league year -- will have $3 million bonuses awaiting him prior to the '08, '09, and '10 seasons, all payable on or before March 31.
• In the unlikely scenario the team doesn't pick up the $12 million option, Brady is protected pretty well with the ''skill guarantee" portion of the contract. He would have to meet minimal performance standards for this season (too long to describe in this space), but once he does, he's guaranteed his '06 salary of $4 million, his '07 salary of $6 million, and $2 million of his '08 salary of $5 million, even if he's cut. In other words, Brady could play one year, receive his $14.5 million bonus, and then also have an extra $12 million guaranteed if he never plays another down for the Patriots.

Deion Branch Tom Curran of the Providence Journal provided some details of Branch's contract while quoting Alan Herman, Branch's agent - "We finally worked out the five-year deal with $3 million worth of incentives, which will kick in during the fifth year if he meets the performance levels in his first four seasons." The incentives are based on receiving yards. Herman wouldn't be specific, but he did say that 900 yards is one of the first plateaus for Branch to hit. With Troy Brown, David Patten and Donald Hayes in the mix at wide receiver and fellow rookie Daniel Graham at tight end, it'll likely be a while before Branch gets enough balls to get 900 yards. Branch's deal includes $1,025,000 in signing bonus. His salaries are the second-round minimums -- $225,000, $300,000, $380,000, $455,000 and $545,000."
October 25, 2005 update On 10/25/2005 the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss reported that Branch's 2005 cap number was $664,180, which most likely means that Branch earned $4,180 in offseason workout bonus money and not the maximum of $6,160.

Wesly Britt - Practice squad players, like Britt, make $4,700 a week.

Chad Brown John Clayton reported on ESPN.Com - "That chance persuaded him to pick the Patriots over the Saints on Friday in accepting a two-year, $4 million contract that will pay him $1.5 million this season. The contract includes another $500,000 in incentives he can make based on playing time and performance." May 13, 2005 update - The MetroWest Daily News' Mike Reiss reported: "According to NFL Players Association documents, Brown's deal with the Patriots is a two-year, $2.35 million package, with a $485,000 signing bonus. Brown's base salary is $765,000 in 2005 and $800,000 in 2006, and he's due a $100,000 roster bonus in 2005 and a $200,000 roster bonus in 2006. The specific dates the roster bonuses are due is unknown. Brown's salary cap hit for 2005 is $1.1 million. There are also unspecified incentives in the deal."
September 7, 2005 update, A NFLPA.org research document indirectly shows that Chad Brown's roster bonus was actually $109,375 and that he earned $660 in offseason workout bonus money.

Troy Brown From the Boston Globe - "Players Association documents confirm that the Patriots reworked Brown's contract last week and extended it a year, to 2005, for bookkeeping purposes, creating a savings of $745,000. Brown had been scheduled to earn $2.25 million in base salary this year; the Patriots guaranteed $1.49 million, reducing his base salary to the minimum ($760,000), and prorated it over the next two years, essentially guaranteeing his return for a 12th season. Brown's cap number for this year went from $3,946,434 to $3,201,434, but his cap number next season stands at $5,751,160, with a $2.5 million roster bonus."
May 24, 2005 update - From John Clayton - "At least the Patriots didn't embarrass wide receiver Troy Brown by giving him the NFL minimum to return and nothing else. The Patriots gave Brown a $35,000 signing bonus and a $765,000 salary."

Tedy Bruschi - Details of Bruschi's contract were found on Patriots.Com - "New England reportedly has taken care of one of its potential unrestricted free agents, inking linebacker Tedy Bruschi to a three-year extension worth a reported $4.6 million, according to CBS.sportsline.com....The deal reportedly included a $2 million signing bonus."
March 3, 2003 update - "Bruschi got a $2 million signing bonus for his three-year extension last January. His cap number this year is $1,522,266 ($850,000 base salary,$666,666 prorated signing bonus and a $5,600 workout bonus).Next year, he has an escalator clause that will raise his base salary from $1.1 million to $1.75 million if he participated in 58 percent of the snaps in 2002 or does so in 2003.
March 9, 2004 update Bruschi must have reached his escalator clause since his 2004 salary is now listed on the NFLPA site as $1.75 million.
June 17, 2004 update Mike Reiss of the MetroWest Daily News reported: "The contract extension signed by Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi includes a $3.5 million signing bonus and amounts to a four-year, $8.1 million deal...The deal includes base salaries of $700,000 in 2004, $850,000 in 2005, $1.35 million in 2006 and $1.7 million in 2007." My take is that Bruschi's extension save the Patriots $175,000 ($1,050,000 decrease in salary offset by $875,000 increase in prorated signing bonus) in cap space. From the Boston Globe - "In the final two years of the deal, Bruschi, who represents himself, can make another $250,000 if his playing time reaches 50 percent and $250,000 more if it reaches 70 percent."

Matt Cassell - This is what DT Jared Clauss, the 230rd overall pick in 2004 was reported to get in a rookie deal - "Signing bonus: $29,000. Base salaries: $230,000 (2004); $305,000 (2005); $385,000 (2006). Total: three years, $949,000. Salary cap charge: $239,667". The Boston Globe reported on July 3rd that "Cassell accepted a four-year, $1.439 million deal, including a $54,000 signing bonus." Cassell's 2005 cap charge will be $243,500.

Kory Chapman - Practice squad players, like Chapman, made $4,700 a week.

Matt Chatham -I am presumimg that the the Patriots had tendered Chatham the lowest RFA tender which provides the Patriots the right to match an offer and, if they don't, they will not receive any compensation as Matt Chatham was not drafted.
April 14, 2003 update - The Ickster posted on the Patriots KFFL forum - "According to the NFLPA site Chatham has signed a 3-Yr contract with base salaries of $450K (2003), $535K (2004) and $540K (2005). Those are all minimum salaries, so Chatham likely received a small signing bonus as well. By signing the 3-Yr extension, Chatham's cap number will likely go down since any bonus will be spread over the contract. He had previously counted for $605K on the Patriot's cap, which was the RFA tender amount. If he received a signing bonus of around $150K (Just a guess) on his 3-Yr deal, his new cap number would only be $500K, a savings of $105K on the cap in 2003. I would like to thank the Ickster for pointing out Chatham's deal to the rest of the Patriots fan community.
August 25, 2003 update Further research on this issue has convinced me that Chatham received a $192,000 signing bonus.

Brandon "Bam Childress - Practice squad players, like Childress, make $4,700 a week. Childress was on the practice squad for 16 weeks and the 53-man roster for one. $4,700 * 16 = $75,200. $230,000/17 = $13,529. $75,200 + $13,529 = $88,729.

Ryan Claridge - This is what Vontez Duff, the 170th overall pick in 2004, was reported to receive in his rookie deal - "Signing bonus: $80,600. Base salaries: $230,000 (2004); $305,000 (2005); $385,000 (2006). Total: three years, $1,000,600. Salary cap charge: $256,867." On July 3rd the Boston Globe reported that "Claridge signed a four-year, $1.527 million deal, which includes a $142,000 signing bonus. The fourth year of the deal contains an escalator that would pay the equivalent of a low-tender restricted free agent deal if there is no collective bargaining agreement extension." Claridge's 2005 cap number will be $265,500.

Mike Cloud - Cloud was on the 53-man roster for 6 weeks of the season. 455000/17*6=160,588

Cedric Cobbs - Cobbs received a $200,000 signing bonus as part of his two-year deal.

Rosevelt Colvin -  ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "Although most reports had the Colvin contract as a seven-year, $30 million deal, NFLPA salary documents show it at six years, $25.85 million. Essentially, for a veteran some people felt was the premier player in the unrestricted pool, the Patriots paid only the going rate for a linebacker, a little over $4 million annually. There is a $6 million signing bonus and base salaries of $550,000 (for 2003), $2.1 million (2004), $2.6 million (2005), $3.6 million (2006), $4.6 million (2007) and $5.5 million (2008). There are additional incentives of $300,000 each for the final three years."
April 21, 2004 update Noticed today that Colvin's 2004 salary was now listed as $535,000. As a part of a reply to my PatsFans.Com message board post Adamjt13 reported that "Colvin got a $1.565 million salary advance (prorated at $313,000 per season), with the remaining $535,000 fully guaranteed. His new cap number is $1,853,600 (he also has $300,000 in NLTBE incentives). The renegotiation reduced his cap number by $1,252,000". This restructure adds $313,000 to Colvin's cap figures for the next 4 years.
March 4, 2005 update It appears that Colvin redid his deal. For the longest time his 2005 salary was listed as $2,600,000. It is now listed as $540,000. It appears to me that the Pats converted $2,060,000 of his salary into a signing bonus saving $1,545,000 on this year's cap but adding $515,000 to Colvin's cap hits in 2006, 2007, and 2008.

Rohan Davey ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reports the New England Patriots have signed rookie QB Rohan Davey to a four-year, $1.69 million deal that includes a $330,000 signing bonus. He'll have base salaries of $225,000 (2002), $300,000 (2003), $380,000 (2004) and $455,000 (2005)

Andre Davis Found Andre Davis' $481,250 salary on the NFLPA website. Andre Davis was on the Patriots roster for 3 weeks and is scheduled to be on the Patriots roster for the last 11 weeks of the season. 481,250/17*14=$396,324.

Don Davis Davis' $665,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Davis' salary is going to take up only $455,000 of cap space. From Mike Reiss' blog, "According to NFL Players Association documents, Davis inked a one-year, $665,000 contract, with a signing bonus of $25,000...So while he’ll (Davis) earn the $665,000 base salary plus the $25,000 signing bonus, the Patriots’ salary cap will be charged less. The cap charge is $480,000, which is $455,000 (the minimum for a player entering his fourth year) plus $25,000 (signing bonus).

Corey Dillon Michael Smith reported: "Dillon, who turns 30 in October, has two years remaining on a five-year, $26.1 million deal. He was to earn base salaries of $3.3 million this season and $3.85 million in 2005, but to facilitate the trade, he agreed to a restructure that included a reduced base salary for this year. He can make up the difference through not-likely-to-be-earned incentives". Pro FootBall Weekly reported that Dillon agreed to a "restructured deal that reduced the base salary on the remaining two years of Dillon's deal while including incentives, that were termed by Feldman (Dillon's agent) as "easily reachable." None of the money is guaranteed." Jaguars.Com's Senior Editor Vic Feldman provided more details - "Corey Dillon's salary for this year was reduced to a $1.75 million base, with incentives that could take it back to $3.3 million."
April 21, 2004 update Michael Smith reported:"This year Dillon can make $100,000 for reaching 700 rushing yards and $150,000 for 850 yards. He makes $375,000 for hitting the 1,000-yard mark and another $375,000 for each additional 150 yards up to 1,599. He'll take home $500,000 if he gets to 1,600." Basically, Dillon will earn $100,000 if he rushes for at least 700 yards; $250,000 - 850 yds; $625,000 - 1,000 yds; $1,000,000 - 1,150 yds; $1,375,000 - 1,300 yds; $1,750,000 - 1,450 yds; $2,250,000 - 1,600 yds. Adamjt13 reported that Dillon will earn $105,600 in offseason workout money making his 2004 cap figure $1,855,600.
September 2, 2004 update - According to a 9/2 Boston Herald article - "The Pats have gotten a start on the cap maneuverings, restructuring the contract of running back Corey Dillon. According to NFLPA figures, Dillon's $1.7 million salary has been readjusted to $660,000, likely meaning the Pats guaranteed Dillon's salary for 2004 and spread out the cap savings. The maneuver likely saved the Pats in the neighborhood of $500,000 against the cap." The amount saved was actually $545,000.
December 9, 2004 updateFrom Nick Cafardo "He's (Dillon) earned $1 million to this point and needs 129 yards against the Bengals to reach 1,350 yards and another $500,000. There are seven steps. He also has two other steps based on 1,400 or 1,600 yards plus receiving yards and at least 11 wins by the Patriots where he can bypass the final two steps in the seven. He also has a few awards incentives, things like Super Bowl MVP. Basically, he has a chance to earn about $4 million this year. His base next year has been bumped from $3.5 million to $3.85 million because he's gained more than 1,100 yards this season.
December 27, 2004 update From Nick Cafardo - "Corey Dillon's 89 yards gave him 1,519, a Patriots record. He also earned another $375,000 incentive by surpassing the 1,500-yard mark, and now has earned $1.875 million in incentives. He needs 81 yards in the final game (for 1,600) to make all $2.25 million in incentives in his contract."
January 3, 2005 update From Jackie McMullan - "Speaking of money, be advised that if Dillon is named to the All-NFL first team and the team wins the conference championship, he's in line for another $100,000. Also, if Dillon is named the Most Valuable Player of the Super Bowl and the Patriots win it, he will collect $200,000."
April 4, 2005 update A source reported that "Dillon's cap number this year is $4,501,160. He has only $250,000 in incentives this season, and they're currently listed as NLTBE."
April 13, 2005 update Adamjt13 reported that "Dillon got a $3 million renegotiation bonus, so his cap number for this year was lowered to $2,151,160. Next year, along with his $3 million salary, he has a $3 million option bonus. If the option isn't exercised, his salary goes to $6 million and is guaranteed. He has no other bonuses later in the contract. No word yet on any incentives." Here's how I come up with the $2,151,160. Salary - $1,000,000; Old Signing Bonus Proration $545,000; New Signing Bonus Proration $600,000; Workout Bonus money - $6,160.

Players with Dead Money Cap Hits of less than $10,000 Grant Steen - $1,000; Eric Alexander - $7,535;Kory Chapman - $6,160; Joel Jacobs - $6,160; Gene Mruczkowski - $6,160

Tim Dwight - From the Boston Globe - "The contract with the Patriots is a one-year agreement that Dwight's agent, Jack Bechta, described as "heavily incentive-based." If we accept Bechta's report, then Dwight's contract is not eligible for the veteran minimum exemption since those rules precludes deals that include more than $25,000 in incentives.
March 15, 2005 update Mike Reiss of the MetroWest Daily News reported on his must-read blog - "Dwight's one-year contract was for a base salary of $700,000" which would make his deal ineligible for the veteran minimum exemption.
April 14, 2005 update Dwight will earn a $75,000 roster bonus if he is on the Patriots roster on Week 1. Dwight has $1.5 million in NTLBE incentives. Dwight will also earn $31,160 in offseason workout bonus money.

Heath Evans - Evans is scheduled to be on the 53-man roster for the last 9 weeks of the season. 455000/17*9=264,467

Christian Fauria From a 6/9 Boston Globe article - "The Patriots got a little cap space (a little more than $300,000) while giving Christian Fauria a little added security last week. They added a year to the tight end's contract and guaranteed part of his base salary for this season. Fauria was entering the final year of the three-year deal he signed in 2002 and was to count $1,272,268 against the cap. The Patriots extended him through 2005 (with no bonus) and gave him $340,000 of his $1 million salary up front, reducing his cap charge to $968,934. Fauria is scheduled to earn the 10-year minimum ($765,000) and count more than a million against the cap next year, when he'll be 34."

Kevin Faulk From ProFootballTalk.Com - "Kevin Faulk will get $15.05 million over six years from the Patriots, including a $1.95 million signing bonus. His three-year take is $6.05 million." As listed on the NFLPA.Org site Kevin Faulk's salaries are as follows: (2004 - $550,000; 2005 - $1,400,000; 2006 - $1,900,000; 2007 - $1,900,000; 2008 - $2,400,000; 2009 - $2,900,000) His workout bonuses are $55,600, $106,160, $106,160, $106,720, $106,720 and $106,720. For the seasons 2007 through 2009, Kevin Faulk has a $500,000 roster bonus. He also has $250,000 in incentives each season -- NLTBE in 2004 and 2005, LTBE in 2006 through 2009. His cap numbers are $930,600, $1,831,160, $2,581,160, $3,081,720, $3,581,720 and $4,081,720.
April 6, 2005 update - It appears that Faulkin redid his deal. For the longest time his 2005 salary was listed as $1,400,000. It is now listed as $540,000. It appears to me that the Pats converted $860,0,000 of his salary into a signing bonus saving $688,000 on this year's cap but adding $172,000 to Faulk's cap hits in 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009.

Doug Flutie Flutie' $765,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Flutie' salary is going to take up only $455,000 of cap space. From Mike Reiss' blog, "Newly signed quarterback Doug Flutie’s contract is a one-year deal for $765,000, and includes a $25,000 signing bonus. That qualifies the contract for the veteran minimum exception, meaning the deal will only count $480,000 against the Patriots’ salary cap."

Arturo Freeman - Freeman was on the 53-man roster for 4 weeks of the season. 455000/17*4=107,059

Randall Gay The Patriots gave Gay a $2,750 signing bonus.

Brandon Gorin I found Gorin's $500,000 salary on the NFLPA site. ESPN.com reported that Gorin, 26, reached an agreement on a contract worth at least $2.5 million that could be worth as much as $5.1 million if he retains his starting position.
March 8, 2005 update Mike Reiss of the MetroWest Daily News reported on his must-read blog:"The recent contract signed by OT Brandon Gorin was for three years and included a $400,000 signing bonus. The base salaries are $500,000 in 2005; $550,000 in 2006; and $700,000 in 2007. There are incentives based on playing time in the second two years of the deal and a $150,000 roster bonus in 2006."
October 25, 2005 update On 10/25/2005 the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss reported that Gorin's 2005 cap number was $637,953, which most likely means that Gorin earned $4,620 in offseason workout bonus money and not the maximum of $6,160.

Daniel Graham - Signing bonus: $1,425,000. Base salaries: $800,000 (2002); $1,000,000 (2003); $1,200,000 (2004); $1,400,000 (2005); and $545,000 (2006). Notes: Team can exercise option of $2,775,000 next spring on '06 season. If team exercises option then base salaries are reduced to $300,000 (2003); $450,000 (2004); and $530,000 (2005). Total: five years, $6,825,000. Cap value: $1,085,000.

Jarvis Green Here the new salaries for Green:

• 2005 - $455,000
• 2006 - $545,000
• 2007 - $1,500,000
• 2008 - $2,000,000
• 2009 - $2,500,000

Bob Hallen - Bob Hallen signed a two-year deal that included a $175,000 signing bonus.

Michael Harden - Practice squad players, like Krug, make $4,700 a week. Harden was on the practice squad for 3 weeks. $4,700 * 3 = $14,100.

Rodney Harrison - On 3/13 Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote - "Harrison ended up with a six-year deal worth $14.5 million with a $2.5 million signing bonus and a base salary this upcoming season of $655,000, the veteran minimum. That averages out to $2.41 million a year over the life of the contract and leaves Harrison with a cap figure of a little more than $1 million this season after his prorated bonus is added to his base pay."
March 14, 2003 update ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "Harrison signed a six-year contract worth $14.45 million, but no one expects him to play more than two or three years of the deal. His signing bonus was $2.5 million and, in the first three years of the package, he will earn $6.655 million."
March 17, 2003 update The Boston Herald's Kevin Mannix reported that "Safety Rodney Harrison's deal with the Pats calls for a $2.5 million signing bonus this year as well as $250,000 roster bonuses in 2004 and 2005. His base salaries are $655,000 this year, followed by $1.45 million, $1.55 million, $2.12 million, $2.7 million and $3.8 million."
August 14, 2005 update Rodney Harrison's salary on the NFLPA site changed from $1,550,000 to $1,750,000 so it appears that the Patriots gave Harrison a $200,000 raise.
September 27, 2005 update Rodney Harrison's salary on the NFLPA site changed from $1,750,000 to $765,000 so $985,000 was probably guaranteed and treated as signing bonus, spread at $246,250 per season over the remaining 4 years of his deal. In short, the move cleared $738,750 of room on the 2005 Patriots cap.

Marquise Hill -   From ESPN.Com "The 63rd player selected overall, and the final pick of the second round, Hill will sign a five-year, $3.075 million contract, a deal that included a signing bonus of $1.15 million. Base salaries are the league minimums for all five years: $230,000 (2004), $305,000 (2005), $385,000 (2006), $460,000 (2007) and $545,000 (2008). Salary cap charge: $460,000.

Ellis Hobbs III - From Mike Reiss' must-read blog - "* Cornerback Ellis Hobbs, selected 84th overall (third round), signed a five-year contract with an $825,000 signing bonus. Not including escalators, the package is worth $2.75 million. The base salaries are the minimum in each year: $230,000 (2005), $310,000 (2006), $385,000 (2007), $460,000 (2008 ) and $545,000 (2009). There are escalators in the deal that could increase the base salaries in the final two seasons."

Larry Izzo - Izzo's cap figure comes from CBS Sportsline's article on his signing "Izzo, 26, signed a four-year, $2.183 million contract. It includes a $275,000 signing bonus and base salaries of $477,000 each 2001-2004". Please note that the 2004 minimum salary for a player with Izzo's experience is $660,000. So, before March 3, Izzo's salary will be raised from $477,000 to $660,000 and his offseason workout bonus will increase from $5,200 to $5,600. The effect of these two changes will increase Izzo's 2004 cap number from $600,950 to $734,350.
October 9, 2004 update ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "Izzo got $150,000 to sign and base salaries of $665,000 and $670,000." The $150,000 signing bonus will be prorated $50,000 a year over the 2004-2006 seasons. Therefore, Izzo's salary cap figures will be $721,160 (2005) and $726,160 (2006).

Cedric James - I found James' $305,000 salary on the NFLPA site.

Bethel Johnson From ESPN.Com - "Johnson received a signing bonus of $1.75 million and base salaries of $274,000 (2003), $342,000 (2004), $410,000 (2005), $478,000 (2006) and $546,000 (2007). There is also an escalator clause that could increase the base salary for 2007 if Johnson reaches some prescribed playing time levels.
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported on 7/21 that "both second rounders, cornerback Eugene Wilson of Illinois and receiver Bethel Johnson of Texas A&M, signed five-year deals. Wilson received a $2 million signing bonus, salaries of $274,000, $342,000, $410,000, $478,000, and $546,000, and the potential of a $3 million payment before his fifth season based on playing time and performance over the first four years. Johnson received a similar deal, except for a slightly lower ($1.75 million) signing bonus."
July 22, 2003 update From ESPN.Com - "Signing bonus: $1,750,000. Base salaries: $274,000 (2003); $342,000 (2004); $410,000 (2005); $478,000 (2006); $546,000 (2007, includes escalator). Total: five years, $3,800,000. Cap charge: $624,000."

Ted Johnson -  Salary figure comes from using the NFLPA search feature. Cap figure reported in Nick Cafardo's article listing the 2001 cap figures for most of the 2001 roster. According to the Boston Herald here's the cap consequences of releasing TJ in 2001:
"Consider Johnson. His cap number goes to $6.2 million in 2001. If the Pats release him prior to June 1, he'll count even more than that, $7.11 million. If they make Johnson a post-June 1 casualty, the hit computes out to $2.37 million in 2001 and $4.74 million in 2002". Since Ted Johnson agreed to a pay cut for the 2001 season, the amount of unamortized signing bonus left after the 2001 season did not change. Ted Johnson earns a $1 million roster bonus on March 15, 2002. Before Ted Johnson agreed to a pay cut, the Ickster posted the following: "TJ's 2002 number is made up of $3.1M in base salary, $1M roster bonus, $2,371,250 in bonus amortization, $100K in workout bonus, $5,600 in workout bonus for participation in program(56 workouts at $100 each).That is a cap number of $6,576,850.".
February 19, 2003 Update - According to ESPN's John Clayton, Ted Johnson's 2003 cap number is $6.827 million.
February 27, 2003 update - According to ESPN's John Clayton, "the Patriots restructured the contract of middle linebacker Ted Johnson to keep him on the team. At the threat of being released if a deal wasn't reached by 4 p.m. eastern Thursday, Johnson reached a revised three-year, $4.8 million deal that included a $1.4 million signing bonus. Johnson was scheduled to make $4.45 million this year and his cap number was $6.827 million. The new deal lowers his cap number to $3.679 million, a savings of $3.189 million." On 2/28 Nick Cafardo supplemented Clayton's report with "Johnson's cap number went from $6.8 million to $3.679 million. His compensation for the upcoming season was cut in half. Scheduled to earn a $3.35 million salary and $1 million roster bonus tomorrow, Johnson received a $1.4 million signing bonus and a veteran's minimum salary."
March 3, 2003 update - Ted Johnson (two-year extension, $1.4 million renegotiation bonus)
Old cap number: $6,827,250
New cap number: $4,843,516 ($800,000 base salary, $2,371,250 old signing bonus proration, $466,666 new signing bonus proration, $1 million roster bonus due March 14, $5,600 workout bonus and $200,000 in unspecified incentives/other)
September 17, 2003 updateAs part of a 9/14 Nick Cafardo article - "Biggest cap jumps for the Patriots next year: Tom Brady, $3.3 million to $8.4 million; Willie McGinest, $2 million to $5.6 million; Troy Brown, $2.4 million to $5.1 million; Rosevelt Colvin, $1.55 million to $3.1 million; Ty Law, $8.8 million to $9.4 million; Rodney Harrison, $1.1 million to $2.1 million; Tyrone Poole, $1.1 million to $1.9 million; Antowain Smith, $2.3 million to $3.9 million; Mike Vrabel, $2.1 million to $3.7 million. One that goes down: Ted Johnson, from $3.6 million to $1.9 million."
February 6, 2004 update As part of a 2/6 Michael Smith article - "Ted Johnson: The days of the annual Johnson restructuring appear to be over. Due to make $900,000 next year, and his cap number is a shade under $2 million. Scheduled to receive a $400,000 roster bonus next month."
February 18, 2005 update On 2/18 ESPN.Com wrote that Ted Johnson was due to earn $1.7 million in new money in 2005.

Nick Kaczur - From Mike Reiss' blog - "Offensive tackle/guard Nick Kaczur, selected 100th overall (third round), signed a five-year contract with a $660,000 signing bonus. Not including escalators, the deal is worth $2.59 million. The base salaries are the minimum in each year: $230,000 (2005), $310,000 (2006), $385,000 (2007), $460,000 (2008 ) and $545,000 (2009). Like Hobbs, Kaczur has escalators in the deal that could increase the base salaries in the later years of the deal."

Kliff Kingsbury On 7/21 the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported that "also in the fold is Texas Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury, who signed a three-year deal with a $50,000 (actually $49,000) bonus and minimum salaries, and seventh-rounder Spencer Nead, a tight end from Brigham Young, who got a $25,000 bonus and a three-year minimum deal.

Dan Klecko From ESPN.Com - "The contract includes a $320,000 signing bonus. The base salaries are $225,000 (2003), $305,000 (2004), $380,000 (2005) and $460,000 (2006). The contract also features an escalator that could increase the 2006 salary based on playing time." Also from ESPN.Com, "in the deals signed this week by New England fourth-rounders Dan Klecko and Asante Samuel, some similar inducements (mechanisms, based on playing time, that would elevate the players' salaries in the fourth season of the contract) are included, with each player able to guarantee larger 2006 base salaries if they achieve certain play time benchmarks. Klecko can boost his 2006 salary from its scheduled $460,000 to one commensurate with the lower restricted free agent qualifying offer by playing 40 percent of the snaps in two seasons. It will escalate to a base salary equal to the middle (or first-round) qualifying offer if he plays 70 percent of the snaps in two of the first three seasons. Samuel has similar safeguards, although his benchmark for the second one is 75 percent of the snaps in two seasons.

Dan Koppen - On 7/21 the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported that the "Patriots also signed a four-year deal with fifth-round pick Dan Koppen, a center from Boston College, who received a $115,000 signing bonus to go with minimum salaries of $225,000, $305,000, $380,000, and $460,000. Koppen, the 164th player taken, also will have the opportunity to earn escalators in the first three years of the deal."
July 22, 2003 update From ESPN.Com - "Signing bonus: $116,000. Base salaries: $225,000 (2003); $305,000 (2004); $380,000 (2005); $460,000 (2006, includes escalator). Total: four years, $1,486,000. Cap charge: $254,000."
October 27, 2005 update reported that Koppen received a $35,000 roster bonus in 2004. I am presuming that he will receive the same amount in 2005. On 10/25/2005 the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss reported that Koppen's 2005 cap number was $448,620, which most likely means that Koppen earned $4,620 in offseason workout bonus money and not the maximum of $6,160.

Ryan Krug - Practice squad players, like Krug, make $4,700 a week. Krug was on the practice squad for 14 weeks. $4,700 * 13 = $61,100.

Ty Law -  Cap figures come from the above Pats39's post. "The 2nd-best deal a CB has ever received (behind Deion). Totaling 7 years - $48.1M without Pro Bowl and Super Bowl incentives, which are $250K each, every year. He received a $14.2M signing bonus, which counts for $2M until 2005. The rest of the money breaks down as follows:
1999 - $900,000 salary, a $500,000 reporting bonus, and a $100,000 offseason workout bonus
2000 - $1.4 million salary, plus a $500,000 reporting bonus and $100,000 offseason workout bonus
2001 - $2.4 million salary, $500,000 reporting bonus, and $100,000 workout bonus
2002 - $3.7 million salary with a $1 million reporting bonus and $100,000 workout bonus
2003 - $4.9 million in salary, a $1 million reporting bonus, and a $100,000 workout bonus
2004 - $5.65 million base salary, with a $1 million reporting bonus and $100,000 workout bonus
2005 - $8.75 million salary with a $1 million reporting bonus and a $100,000 workout bonus
Oh yeah, as an added bonus, Law receives the workout bonus even if he doesn't work out with the team. His program doesn't need to be supervised by the team." This year I included the Pro Bowl Bowl incentive of $250,000 as LTBE incentive since Ty Law made the Pro Bowl last year.
May 26, 2002 Update - Nick Cafardo wrote - "Bledsoe's cap hit will be the second-highest on the roster this season. The highest belongs to Ty Law, whose number is $6.84 million."
September 22, 2002 Update - The Ickster posted on the Patriots KFFL forum - "It would appear, from the NFLPA listing of his salaries, that Ty Law has restructured. The NFLPA lists his 2002 salary as $650K, where it used to be $3.7M:"
http://nflpa.org/members/playerProfile.asp?ID=22543
The most likely cause of this is that Law has restructured his contract, with the difference in base salary, $3.05M, being treated as bonus and spread over the final 4 years of his contract at $762.5K per season. This frees the Pats about $2.23M in 2002 but makes Law's future bonus amortization, which is already quite large, larger.
March 21, 2003 update According to the NFLPA Ty Law's 2002 cap number excluding workout bonus money was $4,710,188. I'm figuring that Law's 2003 cap figure would be the same as that except that I am including $105,600 for his offseason workout bonus money. I also included the increase in salary - $650,000 to $4,900,000 - a $4,250,000 difference. $4,710,188+$5,600+$4,250,000= $8,965,788.
June 11, 2003 update From the Boston Globe - "He (Ty Law) will earn $4.9 million in base salary this season; he'll count $8,806,965 toward the cap..."If there isn't another renegotiation of his original seven-year deal worth nearly $50 million (last year the Patriots guaranteed $2.9 million of his salary and spread it over the remainder of the contract, reducing his salary to $650,000), Law playing elsewhere could be the case very soon. Perhaps by 2004. He is due to earn base salaries of $5.65 million and $8.75 million in 2004 and '05, respectively, when his cap number rises to $9,457,365, then to $12,557,365."
December 1, 2003 update Law's 2003 year's cap number is $8,806,965 ($4.9 million base salary, $2,701,365 signing bonus proration, $1 million reporting bonus, $100,000 roster bonus and $105,600 workout bonus), with another $250,000 in NLTBE incentives. Law's 2004 cap number is $9,457,365 ($5.65 million base salary, $2,701,365 signing bonus proration, $1 million reporting bonus and $105,600 workout bonus), with another $500,000 in NLTBE incentives.
January 24, 2004 update Adamjt13 reported that "Law's cap number for 2004 could end up closer to $10.46 million after his incentives and escalators. He has NLTBE incentives of $250,000 in 2003 and $500,000 in 2004 and 2005 for making the Pro Bowl and winning the Super Bowl. If the Patriots win Sunday, he'd get the $250,000 for 2003, and the $500,000 for 2004 would become LTBE and would count against the cap. He also has an escalator clause in 2004 that raises his base salary by $250,000 for each year with a Pro Bowl and Super Bowl from 1999-2003. That would seem to raise his salary by $500,000, to $6.15 million. The LTBE incentive and salary increase would bring his cap number for 2004 to $10,457,365."
February 26, 2004 update Mike Felger reported on 2/26 "Law signed a seven-year deal in 1999 worth around $50 million, including a $14.2 million signing bonus and other incentives. Law has already collected more than $30 million from that deal and has not given anything back through renegotiation. The next two years, Law is set to earn $14.4 million in base salary ($5.65 million in 2004 and $8.75 million in 2005) and $2 million more in reporting bonuses. Law's contract also includes escalators that will pay him an additional $2.5 million for Pro Bowl and Super Bowl appearances he's made over the last five seasons. That means the magic number for Law is $18.9 million over the next two years. It's believed that any renegotiated contract would essentially guarantee Law that sum in salary and bonuses while adding additional years onto the deal to defray the salary cap charges."
February 26, 2004 update Adamjt13 reported that "Ty Law's contract already has been updated, and his new cap number is listed as $10,207,365 -- $750,000 more than it was. Of that, $500,000 is from an escalator clause (Pro Bowl and Super Bowl win) that raised his base salary to $6.15 million, and $250,000 is an incentive (Pro Bowl and Super Bowl win) that became LTBE. His incentive had been listed as a $500,000 NLTBE incentive, so his contract might have included a stipulation that if he reached the escalators, the incentive was decreased to $250,000. For 2005, his incentive bonus still is listed as $500,000, but he doesn't have an escalator clause for that year."
January 22, 2005 update Law is scheduled to get his reporting bonus when he reports to the Patriots training camp.
March 10, 2005 update Patriots Football Weekly reported that "the Patriots will carry...in dead money in 2005 ...$3.2 million on Law after his $500,000 Super Bowl championship bonus is factored in.

Victor Leyva I am presuming that Leyva got an one-year deal that includes a $455,000 salary."

Matt Light - From ESPN.Com's Signing status of AFC 2001 draft picks. Signing bonus: $1,305,000. Base salaries: $260,000 (2001); $325,000 (2002); $390,000 (2003); $455,000 (2004). Total: four years, $2,735,000.
August 24, 2004 update - The following sentences in this paragraph are a paraphrase from an Adamjt13 post. Please note that the combined salaries, roster bonuses and reporting bonuses in all capped years (currently through 2006) of the contract must be at least as much as the combined prorated bonuses in capped years of the contract. If they are not, a charge, typically called the "Deion Charge" since I believe it was first applied to a Deion Sanders contract, is added in capped years to make them equal, although not more than half of the average proration can be added. The added charges in capped years are then credited back in equal portions in the uncapped years.
In Light's case, the combined salaries, roster bonuses and reporting bonuses for the first 3 years of his contract totaled out to $975,000. The combined prorated bonuses in capped years of his contract (2001-2003) totaled out to be $978,750. That is a $3,750 difference. There was a $1,250 charge added to Light's cap numbers for the years 2001 through 2003 and then there will be a $3,750 credit subtracted from Light's 2004 cap number.
October 5, 2004 update - ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "ESPN.Com has learned that the Super Bowl champions have reached agreement on a six-year contract extension for starting offensive tackle Matt Light, a deal that runs through the 2010 season. The extension is worth $27 million and includes total bonus money of $9 million."
October 9, 2004 update ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli reported that "Light got a signing bonus of $2.5 million and an option bonus of $6.5 million payable next spring. His base salaries are $1 million each in 2005 and 2006, then $3.5 million (2007), $3.75 million (2008), $4.25 million (2009) and $4.5 million (2010)." The $2.5 million signing bonus will be prorated $416,667 a year over the 2004-2009 seasons. The $6.5 million roster bonus will be prorated $1,300,000 a year over the 2005-2009 seasons. Therefore, Light's salary cap figures will be $2,722,827 (2005); $2,722,827 (2006); $5,223,387 (2007); $5,466,667 (2008), $5,966,667 (2009),$4,500,000 (2010).

Wesly Mallard I am presuming that Mallard got an one- year deal that includes a $455,000 salary. According to the CBA, "any type of Termination Pay liability will be included in Team Salary at the time the player is released, except to the extent the Team is relieved of any such liability." Since Mallard has the right to ask for termination pay, I am including the entire amount of his 2005 salary on the Patriots cap.

Logan Mankins - Mike Reiss of the MetroWest Daily News reports the breakdown of the five-year, $6.4 million contract signed by New England Patriots first-round draft pick OT/OG Logan Mankins is as follows: Mankins' signing bonus was $2.25 million and he also will earn a 2005 roster bonus of $350,000. There is a 2006 option bonus worth $1.4 million, meaning his total bonus figure is $4 million. Mankins' base salaries are $230,000 (2005), $370,000 (2006), $500,000 (2007), $600,000 (2008 ) and $700,000 (2009). Those figures don't include an escalator in 2009 -- tied to playing time -- that could increase the base salary that year.

Willie McGinest - Salary figure comes from using the NFLPA search feature.
In 2001 McGinest agreed to restructure his contract. Here are the details as found on the Globe: "The Patriots added two years to McGinest's contract when they renegotiated the deal a few weeks ago. McGinest's five-year, $25 million contract, which included an $8 million signing bonus, was to expire in 2002. Basically the new deal involved four years and $10 million, which reduced the cap number for this year from $7.2 million to $4.44 million. The Patriots took some scheduled roster bonuses that were worth $2 million over the next two years and tied them into a $3.861 million signing bonus and a $477,000 base salary. McGinest's cap number will rise to $8.367 million next year but drop to $5.65 million in 2003. It will be $10 million in 2004." According to a post made by the Ickster, here are the cap consequences of releasing Willie during the 2002 season:
"However, it is a misconception that most (McGinest's cap number) of it is base salary. His base salary is $3.4M in 2002. The remainder is made up by bonus amortization ( a little less than $3.8M), roster bonus ($1M) and workout bonus ($100K).
After next season the Pats are beyond the signing bonus amortization from his original contract, and are only subject to the bonus amortization from the bonus he received on his extension (about $3.4M spread over 6 years). If he were released prior to June 1 of next year he would be a dead money hit of over $6M in 2002. If released after June 1 he would be a dead money hit of about $3.8M in 2002 and $2.3M in 2003.
If McGinest plays well next year the team will likely restructure him again, lowering his cap number to about $6M for 2002. He then would play for the team in 2002 at that number, and would have about $1.15M in bonus amortization per season in the final 4 years of his contract. Starting in 2003, the team would be able to release McGinest without killing their cap if he doesn't perform to his contract.
If McGinest plays poorly this year, then he likely would be released in 2002 with the cap hits I mentioned above." Willie McGinest earns his roster bonus on March 15th.
March 9, 2002 update Mike Felger of the Boston Herald on 3/8 - McGinest was to make about $4.6 million in 2002 in salary and roster bonuses. He basically agreed to cut that figure in half, giving back more than $2 million. McGinest's cap figure, which was to be $8.3 million in 2002, will now be under $6 million."
May 26, 2002 Update - Nick Cafardo wrote - "Bledsoe's cap hit will be the second-highest on the roster this season. The highest belongs to Ty Law, whose number is $6.84 million. Third highest is Willie McGinest at $6.2 million"
November 4, 2002 Update - The Ickster posted that in 2003 Willie is due a $5 million salary and a $5 million roster bonus.
December 14, 2002 Update - The Ickster posted:

1. On 2/3/02, ESPN's Len Pasquarelli wrote of McGinest:
   "His salary cap charge for 2002, as part of a megadeal signed in 1998 and which included a bonus of $10 million, is $8.288 million. After that his cap total escalates to $10.57 million for each of the seasons 2003-2006. The Patriots could mitigate those numbers but it probably would warrant converting base salary into upfront money, and New England management might be loathe to make such a commitment."
2. Website NFLTalk.com (no longer available) reported on 3/19/01:
   "McGinest's extension adds 4 years/$10M to McGinest's contract with a bonus of $3.423M."
3. From tracking salaries on NFLPA.com, I noticed that McGinest's salary dropped from $2.9M to the then $477K veteran minimum, a difference of $2.423M. That part was likely guaranteed and spread as bonus as part of his extension, and he was given an additonal $1M (probably a roster bonus which was guaranteed as well).

We know, from other reports:

• The bonus amortization of his original 5-yr deal and the signing bonus attached to that expires in 2002.
• The only bonus money spread from 2003-2006 are related to the new bonus he received when he contract was re-done prior to the 2001 season. NFLTalk reports that amount to be $3.423M, which was likey $2.423M in salary and $1M in roster bonus which were converted to signing bonus. The extra years were tacked on to make it cap friendly (the team had little cap flexibility at the time), but the cap number was so high to force the team to re-do his contract when the time came. That is why he didn't get any additional money for adding years to his contract. This would have been spread at $540.5K per year of bonus amortization from 2001-2006.
• He took a straight paycut in 2002, no new bonus.
• We know his 2003 base is $5M, I surmise he has another $5M in non-guaranteed bonus (probably roster or reporting) and his bonus amortization. That totals to Pasquarelli's reported cap figure.
• If he were released, he would have $2.162M in bonus amortization accelerate ($540.5K X 4 yrs), a savings of about $8.5M off his reported $10.57M cap figure

Josh Miller As listed on the NFLPA.Org site Josh Miller's salaries are as follows: (2004 - $660,000; 2005 - $700,000; 2006 - $770,000; 2007 - $800,000; 2008 - $850,000). Josh Miller received a $1,000,000 signing bonus. I was able to ascertain from page 118 of the NFLPA.Org September 2004 off-season salary average & signing trends that Josh earned $3,000 in offseason workout bonus money.

Chad Morton - Mike Reiss reported in the MetroWest Daily News - "The Patriots reached an agreement with Morton on a one-year, $600,000 contract yesterday, according to Morton's agent, Leigh Steinberg. The deal also includes $600,000 in incentives." I am presuming that the incentives are NTLBE and therefore do not presently count against the Patriots.

Christian Morton - From ESPN.Com - "Signing bonus: $22,000. Base salaries: $230,000 (2004); $305,000 (2005); $385,000 (2006). Total: three years, $942,000. Salary cap charge: $237,333". Morton was paid $4,350 a week for the two weeks that he was on the practice squad.

Gene Mruczkowski - Mruczkowski was on the 53-man roster for 2 weeks of the season. 305000/17*2=35,882

Jared Newberry - Practice squad players, like Newberry, make $4,700 a week.

Patrick Pass - From the Boston Herald - "The team announced Pass' deal on Monday, but the particulars of his contract (two years at minimum salary with a $150,000 signing bonus), were on the NFLPA's internal Web site on March 3, the second day of the signing period."
April 22, 2005 update From an interview on the Cold Hard Football Facts website Pass's agent Kristen Kuliga said “there are $400,000 worth of (playtime) incentives each year.”
October 25, 2005 update On 10/25/2005 the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss reported that Pass's 2005 cap number was $618,740, which most likely means that Pass earned $3,140 in offseason workout bonus money and not the maximum of $6,160.

Lonie Paxton - On February 27 Mike Felger of the Boston Herald reported that "the Pats have made Lonie Paxton the highest-paid long snapper in the history of the NFL, signing the restricted free agent to a five-year deal worth more than $3 million." Mr. Snow Angel got a five-year deal at the minimum salaries (450, 535, 540, 545, 670), with a $305,000 signing bonus and standard workout bonuses ($5,600, $5,600, $6,160, $6,160 and $6,720, respectively).

Roman Phifer - Until further details become available, I am going to presume that Phifer signed a two-year contract (Providence Journal) for the minimum salary for a player with his experience. ESPN.Com's John Clayton - "Patriots coach Bill Belichick likes linebacker Roman Phifer and he showed it with the four-year deal Phifer signed last Friday. The deal primarily, thanks to a $300,000 guarantee in 2003, pays Phifer $2 million for playing this season or more than $4 million if he plays two seasons. Phifer, 34, was one of the many successful free agent finds of the Patriots in 2001 and became a valuable part of the Patriots' Super Bowl defense. Below are the salaries for Phifer according to the NFLPA.http://www.nflpa.org/members/playerProfile.asp?ID=18496
2002 -    750,000
2003 - 1,000,000
2004 - 3,000,000
2005 - 3,000,000
June 30, 2002 Update - ESPN.Com's Len Pasquarelli - "The four-year, $9.27 million contract that linebacker Roman Phifer signed with the New England Patriots last week not only rewards the 11-year veteran for reviving his career in 2001 but likely ensures he will play more than one additional season with the defending Super Bowl champions. According to NFL Players Association documents, Phifer received a signing bonus of $1 million as part of the new contract. But the contract also guarantees portions of his base salaries in the 2003 and 2004 campaigns, providing an additional $1 million the Patriots would have to pay if they released Phifer after the 2002 season....In addition to the $1 million signing bonus, Phifer will earn a base salary of $750,000 for 2002 and a workout bonus of $400. His base salary for 2003 is $1 million, with $250,000 of that guaranteed, and he is also due a $500,000 roster bonus next spring. His salaries for 2004 and 2005 are $3 million each, and if he is still playing then, those numbers probably will be renegotiated. Notable, though, is that Phifer is guaranteed $750,000 of his salary in 2004. In essence, including his 2002 base salary, Phifer is guaranteed $2.75 million in the deal, not bad for a veteran who only last spring wasn't sure if he would play again.
March 3, 2004 Update - JDSal45, a fellow PatsFans.Com poster reported: "I think I actually discovered something new, doing a little research on my own. I have been checking nflpa.org in recent days looking for restructures. As of yesterday, Roman Phifer was listed on that site as having salaries for the next 2 years of $3,000,000.00. This matches Miguel's info. A check of the site tonight shows Phifer with a salary of $760,000 for this year and $800,000 for next year. No info if he received any additional bonus money, but I gotta think he took a salary cut with some small performance bonuses." Here is the link: http://www.nflpa.org/Members/playerProfile.asp?ID=18496
April 3, 2004 Update - Phifer got a $490,000 renegotiation bonus. He has the standard workout bonuses of $5,600 and $6,160. In 2005, he has a $700,000 roster bonus and $500,000 in LTBE incentives. His cap numbers are $1,260,600 ($760,000 salary;$495,000 prorated signing bonus;$5,600 offseason workout money) in 2004 and $2,501,160 ($800,000 salary;$495,000 prorated signing bonus;$700,000 roster bonus;$500,000 LTBE;$6,160 offseason workout money) in 2005.

Tyrone Poole It has been reported that Poole was signed to a four year $8.024 million deal that included a $1.8 million signing bonus. From a 9/14 Nick Cafardo article - "Biggest cap jumps for the Patriots next year:....Tyrone Poole, $1.1 million to $1.9 million..."
November 30, 2003 update In 2004 Tyrone Poole is scheduled to receive a $445,000 roster bonus during the 1st week in March.
March 8, 2005 update From the Boston Herald - "Veteran cornerback Tyrone Poole, who missed most of 2004 after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery in October, is due a $600,000 roster bonus. Poole's agent, Hadley Engelhard, believes the bonus is due today."
October 27, 2005 update reported that Poole received a $200,000 signing bonus in 2004. That bonus will be prorated $66,667 each year.

Hank Poteat Found Hank Poteat's $540,000 salary on the NFLPA website. Poteat's $540,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Poteat's salary is going to take up only $455,000 of cap space. Poteat is scheduled to be on the Patriots roster for the last 11 weeks of the season. 455,000/17*11=$294,412.

Chris Redman - Redman's $540,000 salary is eligible for the Minimum Salary Benefit for Veteran Players as laid out in the CBA extension. Therefore, Redman's salary is going to take up only $455,000 of cap space.

Dexter Reid - Adamjt13 posted - "His cap number actually is $323,750. His signing bonus was $375,000. He has NLTBE incentives of $25,000 this season and $35,000 in each of the next three seasons, all based on playing time and certain team qualifications. He has a split salary this season, and his base salary in future seasons will drop to the applicable minimum if he doesn't get a credited season in a previous year. His workout bonuses are $6,160 for 2005 and 2006 and $6,720 for 2007."
From ESPN.Com - "Signing bonus: $375,000. Base salaries: $230,000 (2004); $305,000 (2005); $385,000 (2006); $460,000 (2007). Total: four years, $1,755,000. Salary cap charge: $323,750."

Jeff Roehl I found his 2005 salary on the NFLPA site.

P.K. Sam -  From ESPN.Com - "Signing bonus: $190,000. Base salaries: $230,000 (2004); $305,000 (2005); $385,000 (2006); $460,000 (2007); $545,000 (2008). Total: five years, $2,115,000. Salary cap charge: $268,000." Practice squad players, like Sam, make $4,700 a week.

Asante Samuel From ESPN.Com - "The former Central Florida standout signed a four-year contract with a signing bonus of $312,500 and the same base salaries as Klecko received ($225,000 - 2003; $305,000 - 2004; $380,000- 2005; $460,000 - 2006). His contract also includes an escalator clause that could boost his 2006 base salary if he reaches some predetermined playing time levels." Also from ESPN.Com, "in the deals signed this week by New England fourth-rounders Dan Klecko and Asante Samuel, some similar inducements (mechanisms, based on playing time, that would elevate the players' salaries in the fourth season of the contract) are included, with each player able to guarantee larger 2006 base salaries if they achieve certain play time benchmarks. Klecko can boost his 2006 salary from its scheduled $460,000 to one commensurate with the lower restricted free agent qualifying offer by playing 40 percent of the snaps in two seasons. It will escalate to a base salary equal to the middle (or first-round) qualifying offer if he plays 70 percent of the snaps in two of the first three seasons. Samuel has similar safeguards, although his benchmark for the second one is 75 percent of the snaps in two seasons.

James Sanders -  From Mike Reiss' blog- "Safety James Sanders, selected 133rd overall (fourth round), signed a four-year contract with a $380,000 signing bonus. Not including escalators, the pact is worth $1.76 million. The base salaries are the minimum in each year: $230,000 (2005), $310,000 (2006), $385,000 (2007), $460,000 (2008 ) and $545,000 (2009). There are escalators in the deal tied to the first three years that could increase the base salary in the fourth year."

Chad Scott From Mike Reiss' invaluable blog - "Cornerback Chad Scott's contract with the Patriots is a one-year, $665,000 package. There is no signing bonus. The contract contains a low-tier split should Scott be placed on injured reserve, which would pay him $300,000." Chad Scott was placed on the injured reserve list after the 5th game of the season. So it appears that he will make the prorated portion of $455,000 for 5 games and the prorated portion of $300,000 for 12 games. $455,000/17*5=133,824. $300,000/17*12=211,765. 133,824 + 211,765 = $345,588.

Guss Scott I found his 2005 salary on the NFLPA site.

Richard Seymour - From ESPN.Com's Signing status of AFC 2001 draft picks. "Signing bonus: $4,800,000. Base salaries: $1,200,000 (2001); $820,000 (2002, plus $3,200,000 option payment); $980,000 (2003); $960,000 (2004); $1,120,000 (2005); $1,220,000 (2006). Total: six years, $14,300,000. Base salaries for the first three seasons are guaranteed." "The 6-foot-6-inch, 299-pound defensive lineman from Georgia can make another $10 million in escalator clauses, but he would have be a Reggie White -type player to earn that over the life of the contract."
September 6, 2002 update - From the Boston Globe - "The team has recently tweaked the contracts of Mike Compton, Richard Seymour, and Antowain Smith to guarantee small portions of their base salaries (which prorates the portion of the contract affected and spreads it out over the length of the deal), but those adjustments haven't created major cap space." According to the NFLPA's web site, Seymour's salary is now $300,000 so it appears that the Pats converted $520,000 of Seymour's salary into a signing bonus, saving $416,000 on Seymour's 2002 cap figure while adding $104,000 to Seymour's future cap figures.
December 19, 2003 update From the Boston Globe - "There are no salary escalators based on performance in Seymour's contract until 2005 and 2006"
February 29, 2004 update From the Boston Globe - Richard Seymour "can earn up to $3.4 million in salary escalators next year and $6.8 million in the final year of the deal based on performance, playing time, playoff appearances, and Pro Bowls. The escalators aren't easy to achieve, even for a player of his caliber.
March 4, 2005 update For the longest time Seymour's 2005 salary was listed as $1,120,000. Today it is listed as $2,870,000 so Seymour got a raise of $1,750,000. I believe that Seymour reached an escalator clause in his contract.
August 3, 2005 update Mike Felger of the Boston Herald reported that "Seymour will receive a one-year bump in pay. The raise will take Seymour's 2005 base salary from $2.87 million to the $4 million range."
Augusty 28, 2005 update Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported that "the Patriots basically tore up Seymour's old contract and gave him a deal that includes a $1.7 million signing bonus while keeping his salary at $2.8 million for 2005 and $5 million for 2006. Those salaries were enhanced by escalators totaling $5.5 million that Seymour earned in his rookie contract that will be disbursed over the final two years. The signing bonus, for cap purposes, was prorated over two years and added to the remaining proration of his original signing bonus. All told, Seymour's total pay this season will be $4.5 million."

Duane Starks - Duane Starks said that his Patriots contract had the same amount of new money as did the Cardinals ($7.2 million). Let's take him at his word. His 2005 salary is $540,000 while his 2006 salary is scheduled to be $3,600,000 (same as his Cardinals contract). That would mean that he received from the Patriots a $3,060,000 signing bonus. The bonus proration is $1,530,000 a year making his 2005 cap number $2,070,000 and his 2006 cap number $5,130,000.
August 31, 2005 update One NFLPA.Org research document implies that Starks was telling the truth. Page 11 of the document says that at the time of the report (April,2005) the largest signing bonus that the Patriots gave to a player in 2005 was $3,060,000. Divide that number by 2 and you get $1,530,000.

Grant Steen - I found Steen's $230,000 salary on the NFLPA site.

Andy Stokes - Andy Stokes received a $17,500 signing bonus.

Michael Stone - Stone is scheduled to be on the 53-man roster for the last 14 weeks of the season. 455000/17*14=374,706.

David Terrell - Mike Felger reported " The one-year deal signed by receiver David Terrell includes a $700,000 base salary, a $200,000 signing bonus and performance incentives. Terrell's base salary is not guaranteed, so if he doesn't work out, the Pats will only be responsible for his signing bonus against the cap."

Santonio Thomas - Practice squad players, like Thomas, make $4,700 a week. Thomas is scheduled to be on the practice squad for the last 15 weeks of the season. 4,700 * 15 = 70,500.

Andre Torrey - Practice squad players, like Torrey, make $4,700 a week.

Keith Traylor Michael Smith from the Boston Globe reported: "Defensive tackle Keith Traylor signed a two-year deal last week for minimum salaries ($760,000 in 2004, $765,000 in '05) and a $475,000 signing bonus." I was able to ascertain from page 89 of the NFLPA.Org September 2004 off-season salary average & signing trends that Keith earned $2,900 in offseason workout bonus money.

Ross Tucker - Tucker is scheduled to be on the 53-man roster for the last 3 weeks of the season. 455000/17*3=80,294

Undrafted Free Agents signed for the rookie minimum of $230,000.

Raymond Ventrone - Practice squad players, like Ventrone, make $4,700 a week or $79,900 a season.

Adam Vinatieri -Adam's franchise tag tender of $2,509,000 is fully guaranteed. According to page 125 of a NFLPA research document Adam has a $250,000 LTBE incentive.

Mike Vrabel - Vrabel signed a 3-year deal getting a $225,000 signing bonus. Since he is due a $3,500,000 salary in 2003, I am expecting that he and the Pats will extend his contract before the 2003 season.
August 20, 2002 Update According to the NFLPA's web site, Vrabel is signed through the 2005 season. His new salaries are as follows: salaries: $525,000 (2002); $725,000 (2003); $800,000 (2004); $900,000 (2005)
March 3, 2003 update - Vrabel renegotiated last August, adding one year and an option year in 2005 (with a $1.5 million option bonus/buyout due sometime this season). He got a $2 million renegotiation bonus. His cap number this year is $2,055,600 ($975,000 base salary, $75,000 old signing bonus proration, $500,000 new signing bonus proration, $5,600 workout bonus, $500,000 option bonus proration and $100,000 in NLTBE incentives for making the Pro Bowl). He has roster bonuses of $1 million each due in 2004 and 2005, and the $100,000 NLTBE Pro Bowl incentive in 2004 and 2005, as well.
March 18, 2004 update - From the Boston Herald:
"Vrabel did agree to a simple restructuring that saved the Pats some cap room, as he agreed to guarantee his 2004 base salary of $1.65 million. That saved the Pats over $500,000 against the cap. Vrabel will still get a $1 million bonus this month. Vrabel's deal is set to end after the 2005 season."
March 21, 2004 update As listed on the NFLPA.Org site Vrabel's salaries are as follows: (2004 - $660,000; 2005 - $1,850,000; 2006 - $500,000; 2007 - $5,000,000) so it appears that Vrabel did extend his contract.
March 29, 2004 update A source reported that Vrabel got a two-year extension (through 2007), with his $1 million roster bonus and $990,000 of his base salary guaranteed and prorated at $497,500 per year. His cap number for 2004 is $2,163,100 -- his remaining base salary of $660,000, signing bonus proration of $1,497,500 and the standard workout bonus of $5,600. He also has a $100,000 NLTBE incentive for making the Pro Bowl. His future base salaries are $1.85 million for 2005, $5,000,000 for 2006 and $5 million for 2007. In 2005, he has a $1 million roster bonus, a $6,160 workout bonus and $100,000 NLTBE incentive for making the Pro Bowl. His 2005 cap number is $4,353,660. In each of 2006 and 2007, he has a $6 million roster bonus and a $6,720 workout bonus, for cap numbers of $7,004,220 and $11,504,220.
March 13, 2005 update From the Boston Herald - "And get this hefty cost of living allowance - Mike Vrabel just received a $1 million roster bonus and will get a base salary of $2.8 million in the upcoming season. In both 2006 and 2007, he's scheduled for roster bonuses of $6 million and salaries of $5 million."
August 7, 2005 update Mike Reiss of the Boston Herald reported: "Vrabel's five-year contract included a signing bonus of $5.18 million and has roster bonuses due in every year. The potential total value - not including any escalators and a $1 million roster bonus Vrabel was already paid April 1 - is $16.4 million. Vrabel could earn roster bonuses of $500,000 for each of the 2006 and 2007 seasons, and $1 million for each of the 2008 and 2009 campaigns. The base salaries are $670,000 (2005), $1.5 million (2006), $2.05 million (2007), $1.8 million (2008) and $2.2 million (2009). You can see how Vrabel's new deal compares to his old deal at vrabel.gif.

Ty Warren - ESPN.Com's John Clayton reported on 7/19 - "The New England Patriots and first-round choice Ty Warren reached agreement on a six-year deal, including escalators, which could be worth as much as $21 million. A signing bonus and a 2004 option bonus that totals more than $6 million also are included in the deal. His base salary and bonuses total more than $7 million.Warren is projected to be a starting defensive end in the Patriots' 3-4 defense. He was the 13th player selected in the draft in what was considered the best defensive-line draft in recent NFL history. The contract, which was negotiated by his agent, Kennard McGuire, was completed Saturday, four days before the opening of the Patriots training camp. There is around $7 million in escalators in the contract, more than three-quarters of them are obtainable by playing time and the remainder achievable by Pro Bowl appearances."
July 21, 2003 update - Nick Cafardo reported "No. 1 pick Ty Warren, the 13th overall selection in the April draft, was signed to a six-year deal that could be worth up to $20.3 million. The deal includes a huge payment of up to $7 million on the back side of the contract based on Warren's performance in the first five years of the deal. The Texas A&M star also received a $3 million signing bonus and a $3.5 million option bonus payable in March 2004."
July 22, 2003 update - Nick Cafardo reported:
Warren agreed to split his bonuses. He receives $2 million within three days of signing and another $1 million by Oct. 15.The deal is actually a four-year deal, but grows to six years if the Patriots pick up the options for the '07 and '08 seasons by May 31, 2004. At that point, Warren would get an additional $3.25 million in two payments and new salaries from '04 through '08. If the Patriots don't believe Warren is suitably developing after his rookie season, they can decline the options and instead pay him through 2006. His yearly salaries -- $955,000 for '04, $1.145 million in '05, and most of his $1.335 million in '06 -- would be guaranteed if the Patriots don't pick up the options. If the Patriots pick up the $3.25 million option, Warren's yearly salaries would be (after making $765,000 this season), $305,000 in '04, $495,000 in '05, $685,000 in '06, $875,000 in '07, and $1.05 million in '08, but those salaries wouldn't be guaranteed. Starting next year, Warren must pay back $100,000 per year of his bonus (up to $500,000) if he fails to complete at least 90 percent of his offseason workouts."
From ESPN.Com - "Signing bonus: $3,000,000. Base salaries: $765,000 (2003); $955,000 (2004, plus $3,250,000 option bonus); $1,145,000 (2005); $1,335,000 (2006); $875,000 (2007); $1,050,000 (2008, includes escalator). Note: If option bonus exercised, base salaries are reduced to $350,000 (2004); $495,000 (2005); $685,000 (2006). Total: six years, $10,800,000. Cap charge: $1,265,000."
June 27, 2004 updateMichael Smith of the Boston Globe reported:"Warren can increase his 2007 salary by $3.7 million and his pay in 2008 by $5.6 million through individual and team performance clauses.)"

Ben Watson -  From the Boston Globe:"The deal, negotiated Sunday night and agreed upon early yesterday morning, will pay Watson, the 32d overall pick, at least $7.5 million and includes $4 million in bonuses ($2.7 signing, $1.3 option to be paid next year). The contract includes performance escalators that, based on receptions and club victories, could earn Watson an additional $2.4 million in 2008 and $3.6 million in '09.
August 19 update - Base salaries: $500,000 (2004); $360,000 (2005); $460,000(2006); $560,000 (2007); $660,000 (2008), $760,000 (2009)
April 7, 2005 update - From the CBA - "[A]ny multi-year Player Contract not unconditionally approved by the Commissioner as of the date hereof, other than any multi-year Player Contract executed in the last Capped Year of this Agreement, that extends from a Capped Year into any Uncapped Year (hereinafter “Subject Contract”). For purposes of determining Team Salary, if (i) the sum of the player’s Paragraph 5 Salary, roster bonuses that are based upon the player making any of the Club’s roster categories without limitation, and reporting bonuses during all Capped Years of the Subject Contract (but, if there are fewer than three remaining Capped Years, during the first three years of the Subject Contract) in the aggregate less than (ii) the portion of the Subject Contract’s signing bonus that would be allocated to those League Years if the signing bonus were prorated equally over the term of the Subject Contract, then: the difference between the amounts calculated pursuant to (ii) and (i) of this sentence, up to 50% of the portion of the signing bonus that would otherwise be allocated to the Uncapped Years (the “Difference”), shall be deducted in equal portions from those Uncapped Years and reallocated1 in equal portions over the Capped Years of the Subject Contract (or, if there are fewer than three Capped Years within the term of the Subject Contract, over the first three years of the Subject Contract).
In Watson's case, the combined salaries, roster bonuses and reporting bonuses for the next 3 years of his contract totaled out to $1,380,000. The combined prorated signing bonuses in the next 3 years of the contract (2005-2007) totaled out to be $2,130,000. That is a $750,000 difference. The combined prorated signing bonuses in the uncapped years of the contract (2008-2009) totaled out to be $1,420,000. 50% of $1,420,000 is $710,000. There will be a $236,667 charge added to Watson's cap numbers for the years 2005 through 2007 and then there will be a $355,000 credit subtracted from Watson's 2007 and 2008 cap numbers.

Jed Weaver - I found Weaver's $540,000 salary on the NFLPA site. Weaver got a $50,000 signing bonus last year.

Vince Wilfork -  Mike Reiss of The MetroWest Daily News reported on 7/19 that "Patriots have reached a contract agreement with first-round pick Vince Wilfork today, signing him to a six-year contract that could be worth up to $18.05 million. The contract includes $5.825 million worth of bonus money -- $3 million coming in the form of a signing bonus and $2.5 million as part of an option bonus to be paid in the first week of 2005. The deal also includes a $325,000 roster bonus for 2004. The 2005 and 2006 base salaries are guaranteed, meaning the deal includes $6.575 million worth of guaranteed money." On 7/20 Reiss reported that "the total value of the contract could possibly be up to $18.05 million, with a $4 million "escalator" in the fifth year and a $5 million "escalator" in the sixth year. Wilfork's "escalators" start kicking in at 55 percent time, which puts him in the minority. Most 2003 draft picks started at 60 percent. The club retains an option on the final two years of the deal, which includes a $500,000 bonus if Wilfork makes the Pro Bowl in his fifth year and $400,000 bonus if he makes it in Year 6."
July 21, 2004 update - From ESPN.Com - "1a. DT Vince Wilfork (Miami/No. 21 selection overall). Signing bonus: $3,000,000. Base salaries: $325,000 (2004, plus $325,000 roster bonus); $810,000 (2005, plus $2,500,000 option bonus); $940,000 (2006); $1,100,000 (2007); $700,000 (2008); $800,000 (2009). Note: If option exercised, base salaries reduce to $310,000 (2005), $440,000 (2006), $600,000 (2007). Base salaries are guaranteed in both 2005-2006. Total: six years, $9 million, but could be worth as much as $18.05 million if all "escalators" are earned. Salary cap charge: $1,150,000.
March 10, 2005 update - It appears from the NFLPA site that the Patriots exercised their option paying Wilfork his $2.5 million bonus and lowering his future salaries.
April 7, 2005 update - From the CBA - "[A]ny multi-year Player Contract not unconditionally approved by the Commissioner as of the date hereof, other than any multi-year Player Contract executed in the last Capped Year of this Agreement, that extends from a Capped Year into any Uncapped Year (hereinafter “Subject Contract”). For purposes of determining Team Salary, if (i) the sum of the player’s Paragraph 5 Salary, roster bonuses that are based upon the player making any of the Club’s roster categories without limitation, and reporting bonuses during all Capped Years of the Subject Contract (but, if there are fewer than three remaining Capped Years, during the first three years of the Subject Contract) in the aggregate less than (ii) the portion of the Subject Contract’s signing bonus that would be allocated to those League Years if the signing bonus were prorated equally over the term of the Subject Contract, then: the difference between the amounts calculated pursuant to (ii) and (i) of this sentence, up to 50% of the portion of the signing bonus that would otherwise be allocated to the Uncapped Years (the “Difference”), shall be deducted in equal portions from those Uncapped Years and reallocated1 in equal portions over the Capped Years of the Subject Contract (or, if there are fewer than three Capped Years within the term of the Subject Contract, over the first three years of the Subject Contract).
In Wilfork's case, the combined salaries, roster bonuses and reporting bonuses for the next 3 years of his contract totaled out to $1,350,500. The combined prorated signing bonuses in the next 3 years of the contract (2005-2007) totaled out to be $3,000,000. That is a $1,650,000 difference. The combined prorated signing bonuses in the uncapped years of the contract (2008-2009) totaled out to be $2,000,000. 50% of $2,000,000 is $1,000,000. There will be a $333,333 charge added to Wilfork's cap numbers for the years 2005 through 2007 and then there will be a $500,000 credit subtracted from Wilfork's 2007 and 2008 cap numbers.

Eugene Wilson - ESPN.Com reported on 7/20:
"The latest to agree is cornerback Eugene Wilson, one of New England's two second-round choices and the 36th overall pick in the draft. Wilson agreed to a five-year, $3.915 million that included a $2 million signing bonus. There is an escalator for the fifth year that would increase the base salary to $3 million, based on playing time."
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo reported that "Wilson received a $2 million signing bonus, salaries of $274,000, $342,000, $410,000, $478,000, and $546,000, and the potential of a $3 million payment before his fifth season based on playing time and performance over the first four years."
July 25, 2003 update - From ESPN.Com "Signing bonus: $2,000,000. Base salaries: $285,000 (2003); $356,250 (2004); $427,500 (2005); $498,750 (2006); $570,000 (2007, includes escalator). Total: five years, $4,137,500. Cap charge: $685,000."
May 26, 2004 update - The following sentences in this paragraph are a paraphrase from an Adamjt13 post. Please note that the combined salaries, roster bonuses and reporting bonuses in all capped years (currently through 2006) of the contract must be at least as much as the combined prorated bonuses in capped years of the contract. If they are not, a charge, typically called the "Deion Charge" since I believe it was first applied to a Deion Sanders contract, is added in capped years to make them equal, although not more than half of the average proration can be added. The added charges in capped years are then credited back in equal portions in the uncapped years.
In Wilson's case, the combined salaries, roster bonuses and reporting bonuses for the first 4 years of his contract totaled out to $1,567,500. The combined prorated bonuses in capped years of the contract (2003-2006) totaled out to be $1,600,000. That is a $32,500 difference. There will be a $8,125 charge added to Wilson's cap numbers for the years 2003 through 2006 and then there will be a $32,500 credit subtracted from Wilson's 2007 cap number.
October 25, 2005 update On 10/25/2005 the Boston Globe's Mike Reiss reported that Wilson's 2005 cap number was $839,365, which most likely means that Wilson earned $3,740 in offseason workout bonus money and not the maximum of $6,160.

Mike Wright UDFAs,like Mike Wright, signed for the rookie minimum of $230,000. On 10/25 Mike Reiss of the Boston Globe reported that Wright's cap number was $231,000, which mostly means that he got a $2,000 signing bonus as part of his 2-year deal.

Billy Yates - Practice squad players, like Yates, make $4,700 a week. Yates was on the practice squad for the 1st 9 weeks of the season. Yates is scheduled to be on the 53-man roster for the last 8 weeks of the season. $4,700 * 9 = $42,300. $225,000/17 *8 = $108,235. $42,300 + $108,235 = $105,535.

Amos Zereoue - Zereoue was on the 53-man roster for 5 weeks of the season. 455000/17*5=133,824

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