Question about guaranteed years that could affect opt outs

We could see a lot of players with guaranteed 2020 salary opting out.

(other than rookie contracts). This is a non-issue

I believe that players are paid on a game-by-game basis.

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.

In comment 14940260 WillieYoung said:

Quote:

(other than rookie contracts). This is a non-issue

Guaranteed contracts are uncommon (as you say, just the rookies), but guaranteed salaries are quite common. The Giants do it all the time.

In comment 14940294 Jim in Tampa said:

Quote:

I believe that players are paid on a game-by-game basis. 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.

Like I said above, this isn't about guaranteed contracts, it's about guaranteed salaries. It's quite common for a team to guarantee a year or two of salary along with some form of signing bonus when a free agent is signed or a current player is extended. For one thing, it makes trading them easier (when the Giants traded OBJ, the Browns assumed the guaranteed salary for 2019). Bradberry's salaries in 2020 and 2021 are guaranteed (but not 2022), Martinez's 2020 salary and $5M of his $8.1M 2021 salary is guaranteed (but not 2022).

In the simple example that I used ($8M salary for a player) even if their salary is guaranteed, why would the NFL be expected to pay the full $8M to that player if the season was shortened or never played?

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.

In comment 14940329 Jim in Tampa said:

Quote:

In the simple example that I used ($8M salary for a player) even if their salary is guaranteed, why would the NFL be expected to pay the full $8M to that player if the season was shortened or never played?

I'm not disagreeing with you on that point. In fact, that's why I'm saying that players who have their 2020 salary guaranteed (but not their 2021 salary) are motivated to opt out if they want to protect that guaranteed money, because under the current agreement, that guaranteed salary gets tolled into 2021.

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.