The Patriots have a long history of paying some practice squad players more than the minimum salary. They continued this tradition earlier this month by setting the weekly pay of Marcus Hardison higher than the minimum, according to a league source.
A little background: The 2017 standard weekly pay for a practice squad player is $7,200. The minimum yearly salary for a practice squad player is $122,400. The 2017 standard weekly pay for an NFL rookie is $27,352.94. The minimum yearly salary for a rookie is $465,000.
Every day, I check the NFLPA public salary cap report for changes to their Patriots salary cap space number. Was expecting today to show it as $3,396,748. Actually showed $3,332,748. The $64,000 difference caused me to question a source if a practice squad player received a raise. The source reported Hardison's weekly salary is now being reported as $10,000. When Hardison first signed with the Patriots on Dec. 2, his salary was reported to be $7,200 -- the minimum for a practice squad player -- and his cap number was $36,000 ($7,200 times 5 weeks). Hardison's new cap number is $100,000 ($10,000 times 10 weeks) -- $100,000 minus $36,000 equals $64,000.
Why 10 weeks? A salary cap quirk. Postseason pay is usually considered a benefit and therefore does not count against the cap. There is one exception, per the CBA: when "the Practice Squad Player Contract is executed or renegotiated after December 1 for more than the minimum Practice Squad salary, in which case all salary paid to such a Practice Squad player during the postseason will be counted as Salary." So because Hardison's contract was signed after Dec. 1 and it is "for more than the minimum Practice Squad salary" the five postseason weeks are included in Hardison's cap number. If the Patriots happen to not be in the postseason for all five weeks, they will get a credit on their 2018 cap for any unearned pay.
The Patriots have 10 players on their practice squad. The following players are now being paid more than the minimum weekly amount of $7,200:
Offensive lineman James Ferentz, an original member of the Patriots practice squad: $15,000 a week, or $225,000 a year. Ferentz's weekly pay was more than doubled going from $7,200 to $15,000 for the last six weeks of the season. His cap number is now $169,200 ($7,200 times 11 weeks plus $15,000 times six weeks).
Wide receiver Cody Hollister, an original member of the Patriots practice squad: $10,000 a week, or $170,000 a year. Cody's weekly pay was increased by $2,800 from $7,200 to $10,000 for the last six weeks of the season. His cap number is now $139,200 ($7,200 times 11 weeks plus $10,000 times six weeks).
Safety Damarius Travis, another original member of the Patriots practice squad: $10,000 a week, or $170,000 a year. Travis' weekly pay was increased by $2,800 from $7,200 to $10,000 for the last six weeks of the season. His cap number is now $139,200 ($7,200 times 11 weeks plus $10,000 times six weeks).
Safety David Jones, another original member of the Patriots practice squad: $10,000 a week or $170,000 a year. Jones's weekly pay was increased by $2,800 from $7,200 to $10,000 for the last six weeks of the season. His cap number is now $139,200 ($7,200 times 11 weeks plus $10,000 times six weeks).
Wide receiver Riley McCarron, who was signed to the practice squad on Sept. 22: $10,000 a week or $170,000 a year. McCarron's weekly pay was increased by $2,800 from $7,200 to $10,000 for the last six weeks of the season. His cap number is now $124,800 ($7,200 times 9 weeks plus $10,000 times six weeks).
Cornerback Jomal Wiltz, who was re-signed to the practice squad on Sept. 25: $10,000 a week or $170,000 a year. Wiltz's weekly pay was increased by $2,800 from $7,200 to $10,000 for the last six weeks of the season. His cap number is now $117,600 ($7,200 times 8 weeks plus $10,000 times six weeks).
Tight end Will Tye, who was signed to the practice squad on Oct. 2: $10,000 a week or $170,000 a year. Tye's weekly pay was increased by $2,800 from $7,200 to $10,000 for the last six weeks of the season. His cap number is now $103,200 ($7,200 times 6 weeks plus $10,000 times six weeks).
Defensive tackle Marcus Hardison, who was signed to the practice squad on Dec. 2: $10,000 a week or $100,000 a year. Hardison's weekly pay is $10,000 for the last five weeks of the regular season and the five postseason weeks. His cap number is $100,000 ($10,000 times ten weeks).
Cornerback Ryan Lewis, who was signed to the practice squad on Sept. 13is being paid the same weekly salary as a rookie - $27,352.94. His cap number is $397,341 ($15,000 for one week plus $27,352,94 for fourteen weeks).
So there is now a total of nine Patriot practice squad players being paid more than the minimum. That total leads the league.
Why pay practice-squad players more than the minimum? It shows appreciation and encourages them to stay with the Patriots if offered a chance to sign with another team. Increasing the pay of a practice-squad player makes it more likely the player will sign a future contract with the team after the season ends.
Nine former practice squad players (Bernard Reedy, Geneo Grissom, D.J. Foster, Willie Beavers, Angelo Blackson, Demarcus Ayers, Robert Nelson, Trevor Reilly and Taylor Heinicke) were being paid more than the minimum before their stays on the Patriots practice squad ended.
In 2016, the Patriots paid 10 players more than the minimum during their time on the Patriots practice squad. The players, in addition to Grissom and Foster, were:
Darius Kilgo
Trevor Bates
Chris Barker
DeAndrew White
Tyler Gaffney
Woodrow Hamilton
Bishop Sankey
Anthony Johnson
The Patriots have committed a total of $1,997,694 to their 10-man practice squad this year. They could have spent as little as $1,224,000 ($7,200 times 17 weeks times 10 players).
Answering some anticipated questions
Q: Why did you suspect that it was a raise of a practice squad player that caused the $64,000 difference?
A: The roundness of the $64,000 number.
Q: Who is the only Patriot practice squad player making the minimum?
A: As of today, offensive tackle Jason King. Do not be surprised if we learn if he, too, is making more than minimum.
Q: How much salary cap space do the Patriots now have?
A: Using my numbers as of 10 a.m. on Dec. 16, the Patriots have $3,332,748 in cap space.
Q: What are the five postseason weeks?
A:
- Wild-Card Weekend
- Divisional Playoffs
- Conference Championships
- Super Bowl Bye Week
- Super Bowl
