If a player's 2020 salary is guaranteed, what happens if the season is cut short and they only play a couple or three games? Do they get the full year's guaranteed salary or is it pro-rated? If it's pro-rated, that could affect a player's decision on opting out. If he opts out, the guaranteed year tolls and he is guaranteed to get the full 2020 salary in 2021. If he doesn't opt out, he may only get a fraction of would've been guaranteed in 2020 and nothing guaranteed in 2021.
A player who makes $8 M a year is paid $500K game 1, $500K game 2, etc.
So if the season is cut short after say 4 games, it would stand to reason that all players, regardless of whether or not they have guaranteed contracts, would receive 4 game checks for the 4 games played.
It's the only compensation method that makes sense. I can't see the NFL paying players with guaranteed contracts for a full year if the season is shortened or never played.
I do agree with the late, great Willie Young though. There are so few guaranteed contracts in the NFL that it's a moot point.
A player who makes $8 M a year is paid $500K game 1, $500K game 2, etc.
So if the season is cut short after say 4 games, it would stand to reason that all players, regardless of whether or not they have guaranteed contracts, would receive 4 game checks for the 4 games played.
It's the only compensation method that makes sense. I can't see the NFL paying players with guaranteed contracts for a full year if the season is shortened or never played.
I do agree with the late, great Willie Young though. There are so few guaranteed contracts in the NFL that it's a moot point.
I beleive that MLB (with nothing but guaranteed contracts) is prorating player's salaries based on a 60 game season, and that no player is being paid for a full year (162 games).
Why would the NFL look at it any differently?
If the NFL season is shortened or never played, Covid-19 would seem to fall under "act of God". I can't believe that the NFL didn't protect themselves with contract language based on "act of God" contingencies and that they will somehow be required to pay players for a full year, just because they have guaranteed contracts.
For each player in that situation, the calculus differs depending on their age, the length of their contract, and where they are in the contract. But for some, it may be financially advantageous to opt out if they fear the season will end early and abruptly.