- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 8,874
Lack of Finnegan offset money in 2014 not related to Wells restructure
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_801513be-6ee1-5626-a15d-a45654851c08.html
The Rams will not receive their $3 million offset on cornerback Cortland Finnegan's signing with the Miami Dolphins until the 2015 cap year.
But that had no bearing on the team's decision to restructure the contract of center Scott Wells. Wells was scheduled to count $6.5 million against the salary cap this year under the original four-year deal he signed with the team in 2012.
This year, Wells' cap count will be $4.287 million under a restructured deal that was finalized late last week. So that represents a cap savings of $2.2 million.
Wells will make a base salary of $1 million, and has already received a roster bonus of $1.65 million. In addition, he can make up to an additional $850,000 if he's on the active roster for all 16 games (it breaks down to $53,125 per game).
And when all is said and done, Wells can make up to an additional $2 million in incentives based on playing time, team performance, and a Pro Bowl appearance. If all of that happens, Wells' 2014 pay will match the $5.5 million in base salary he was scheduled to make under his original contract.
In 2015 under the restructure, Wells is scheduled to make a $2 million base salary in the final year of his contract. He gets a $1 million roster bonus, payable the third day of the league year. He can earn an additional $1 million _ or $62,500 per game that he's on the active roster.
And once again, there's an additional $2 million he can earn in incentives. So the '15 season can max out at $6 million, or $500,000 more than he was originally scheduled to earn under the original contract.
It's not unusual for the Rams to include playing time incentives and even per game bonuses in restructured deals for players who have had injuries. Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, for example, has per-game bonuses written into the new contract he signed in March in the 2016, '17, and '18 seasons.
Wells missed 13 of 32 games over his first two seasons with the Rams due to injury.
In the case of Finnegan, the Rams wrote offset language into his contact on a $3 million roster bonus that was paid this offseason. The Rams would get that money back if Finnegan signed with another team and earned at least $3 million in his first year with the new club _ and that's the case with Finnegan and the Dolphins.
* * *TUESDAY'S PRACTICE
QB Sam Bradford did some straight-line running but otherwise didn't participate in Tuesday's OTA practice at Rams Park.
LT Jake Long, who like Bradford also is coming off knee surgery, did some rehab work on the side and is moving around well.
Also not practicing were WR Jamaine Sherman, a rookie free agent; S Christian Bryant, a seventh-round draft pick; S Maurice Alexander, a fourth-round draft pick; RB Chase Reynolds; S Matt Daniels; TE Jared Cook; DT Michael Brockers; and DE William Hayes.
Alexander is missing time because he had his knee 'scoped.
* * *ODDS & ENDS
Former Rams QB Trent Green, who grew up in Oakville and played at Vianney High, has been added to the NFL on CBS television broadcast crew. He will be teamed with Greg Gumbel, who worked with Dan Dierdorf last season.
Former Rams tight end Ernie Conwell spoke with Rams rookies Tuesday as part of his duties as a regional director/player advocate for the NFL Players Association.
Young QBs Austin Davis and Garrett Gilbert got a lot of work during Tuesday's practice.
Even though plans call for Lamarcus Joyner to be the team's nickel back, the second-round draft pick has been getting a lot of work at safety so far during the OTAs open to the media.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_801513be-6ee1-5626-a15d-a45654851c08.html
The Rams will not receive their $3 million offset on cornerback Cortland Finnegan's signing with the Miami Dolphins until the 2015 cap year.
But that had no bearing on the team's decision to restructure the contract of center Scott Wells. Wells was scheduled to count $6.5 million against the salary cap this year under the original four-year deal he signed with the team in 2012.
This year, Wells' cap count will be $4.287 million under a restructured deal that was finalized late last week. So that represents a cap savings of $2.2 million.
Wells will make a base salary of $1 million, and has already received a roster bonus of $1.65 million. In addition, he can make up to an additional $850,000 if he's on the active roster for all 16 games (it breaks down to $53,125 per game).
And when all is said and done, Wells can make up to an additional $2 million in incentives based on playing time, team performance, and a Pro Bowl appearance. If all of that happens, Wells' 2014 pay will match the $5.5 million in base salary he was scheduled to make under his original contract.
In 2015 under the restructure, Wells is scheduled to make a $2 million base salary in the final year of his contract. He gets a $1 million roster bonus, payable the third day of the league year. He can earn an additional $1 million _ or $62,500 per game that he's on the active roster.
And once again, there's an additional $2 million he can earn in incentives. So the '15 season can max out at $6 million, or $500,000 more than he was originally scheduled to earn under the original contract.
It's not unusual for the Rams to include playing time incentives and even per game bonuses in restructured deals for players who have had injuries. Offensive lineman Rodger Saffold, for example, has per-game bonuses written into the new contract he signed in March in the 2016, '17, and '18 seasons.
Wells missed 13 of 32 games over his first two seasons with the Rams due to injury.
In the case of Finnegan, the Rams wrote offset language into his contact on a $3 million roster bonus that was paid this offseason. The Rams would get that money back if Finnegan signed with another team and earned at least $3 million in his first year with the new club _ and that's the case with Finnegan and the Dolphins.
* * *TUESDAY'S PRACTICE
QB Sam Bradford did some straight-line running but otherwise didn't participate in Tuesday's OTA practice at Rams Park.
LT Jake Long, who like Bradford also is coming off knee surgery, did some rehab work on the side and is moving around well.
Also not practicing were WR Jamaine Sherman, a rookie free agent; S Christian Bryant, a seventh-round draft pick; S Maurice Alexander, a fourth-round draft pick; RB Chase Reynolds; S Matt Daniels; TE Jared Cook; DT Michael Brockers; and DE William Hayes.
Alexander is missing time because he had his knee 'scoped.
* * *ODDS & ENDS
Former Rams QB Trent Green, who grew up in Oakville and played at Vianney High, has been added to the NFL on CBS television broadcast crew. He will be teamed with Greg Gumbel, who worked with Dan Dierdorf last season.
Former Rams tight end Ernie Conwell spoke with Rams rookies Tuesday as part of his duties as a regional director/player advocate for the NFL Players Association.
Young QBs Austin Davis and Garrett Gilbert got a lot of work during Tuesday's practice.
Even though plans call for Lamarcus Joyner to be the team's nickel back, the second-round draft pick has been getting a lot of work at safety so far during the OTAs open to the media.
