Player Salaries: How do they work?

It's obviously the offseason. How do player salaries work? I know they get paid once a week (Tuesday?) during the season and this is where the bulk of their cash comes from. However, do they get checks during OTAs, Manditory-minicamps, Training camp, etc? Also, how do playoffs work? Do they get paid for the playoffs? If so, will game checks stay the same size? Bigger, smaller?

i know the roster fill get paid during minicamps, training camp, OTAs, etc and many players have bonuses for showing up. i know the pro bowl pays (crappily) and assume the playoffs pay too.

Essentially, during OTA's, minicamps and training camp, the players receive "per diem expenses". It looks like they add up to about 5-10k during the offseason. In addition, roster and workout bonuses are payable on certain dates as negotiated into the individual contract.

This is from the prior CBA, I imagine the amounts increased some but are probably in line with these numbers:

XXXV. Offseason workouts:
Section 3. Each player shall receive at least the following amounts per day for any workouts or classroom instruction in which he participates pursuant to a Club's voluntary off-season workout program, provided the player fulfills the Club's reasonable off-season workout requirements: $90 during the 2002 League Year; $100 during the 2003-04 League Years; $110 for the 2005-06 League Years; and $120 for the 2007 League Year.


XXXV. Minicamps:
Section 3. Expenses: Any veteran player who attends a minicamp will receive meal allowances in accordance with Article XXXIX (Meal Allowance), Section 1 of this Agreement, plus all travel expenses to and from the camp, plus “per diem” payments at the rate provided in Article XXXVII (Salaries), Section 4 of this Agreement. In addition, the Club will provide housing at minicamps for players coming from out‑of‑town.

Article XXXVII. Pre-season training camps:
Section 3. Rookie Per Diem: During the term of this Agreement, a rookie player will receive "per diem" payments at the rate of $725 per week in the 2002-03 League Years, $750 per week in the 2004 League Year, $775 per week in the 2005-06 League Years, and $800 per week in the 2007 League Year, commencing with the first day of preseason training camp and ending one week prior to the Club's first regular season game.

Section 4. Veteran Per Diem: During the term of this Agreement, a veteran player will receive "per diem" payments at the rate of $900 per week in the 2000-03 League Years, $1,000 per week in the 2004 League Year, and $1,100 per week in the 2005-07 League Years, commencing with the first day of pre-season training camp and ending one week prior to the Club's first regular season game, and an additional $200 per week during the pre-season, commencing with the Club's first pre-season game (exclusive of the Canton Hall of Fame Game and any International Game) and ending one week prior to the Club's first regular season game.

XXXIX. Meal Allowance:
Section 1. Reimbursement: A player will be reimbursed for meals not furnished by his Club on travel days during the preseason, regular season and postseason as follows: 2002 League Year-Breakfast $15.00, Lunch $21.00, Dinner $39.00; 2003-04 League Years-Breakfast $16.00, Lunch $23.00, Dinner $41.00; and 2005-07 League Years-Breakfast $17.00, Lunch $25.00, Dinner $43.00. For purposes of this Article, commercial airline meals or the equivalent shall not be considered as furnished by the Club.

NFL (http://www.clt.astate.edu/marburger/nfl.htm#top)

Essentially, during OTA's, minicamps and training camp, the players receive "per diem expenses". It looks like they add up to about 5-10k during the offseason. In addition, roster and workout bonuses are payable on certain dates as negotiated into the individual contract.

This is from the prior CBA, I imagine the amounts increased some but are probably in line with these numbers:

XXXV. Offseason workouts:
Section 3. Each player shall receive at least the following amounts per day for any workouts or classroom instruction in which he participates pursuant to a Club's voluntary off-season workout program, provided the player fulfills the Club's reasonable off-season workout requirements: $90 during the 2002 League Year; $100 during the 2003-04 League Years; $110 for the 2005-06 League Years; and $120 for the 2007 League Year.


XXXV. Minicamps:
Section 3. Expenses: Any veteran player who attends a minicamp will receive meal allowances in accordance with Article XXXIX (Meal Allowance), Section 1 of this Agreement, plus all travel expenses to and from the camp, plus “per diem” payments at the rate provided in Article XXXVII (Salaries), Section 4 of this Agreement. In addition, the Club will provide housing at minicamps for players coming from out‑of‑town.

Article XXXVII. Pre-season training camps:
Section 3. Rookie Per Diem: During the term of this Agreement, a rookie player will receive "per diem" payments at the rate of $725 per week in the 2002-03 League Years, $750 per week in the 2004 League Year, $775 per week in the 2005-06 League Years, and $800 per week in the 2007 League Year, commencing with the first day of preseason training camp and ending one week prior to the Club's first regular season game.

Section 4. Veteran Per Diem: During the term of this Agreement, a veteran player will receive "per diem" payments at the rate of $900 per week in the 2000-03 League Years, $1,000 per week in the 2004 League Year, and $1,100 per week in the 2005-07 League Years, commencing with the first day of pre-season training camp and ending one week prior to the Club's first regular season game, and an additional $200 per week during the pre-season, commencing with the Club's first pre-season game (exclusive of the Canton Hall of Fame Game and any International Game) and ending one week prior to the Club's first regular season game.

XXXIX. Meal Allowance:
Section 1. Reimbursement: A player will be reimbursed for meals not furnished by his Club on travel days during the preseason, regular season and postseason as follows: 2002 League Year-Breakfast $15.00, Lunch $21.00, Dinner $39.00; 2003-04 League Years-Breakfast $16.00, Lunch $23.00, Dinner $41.00; and 2005-07 League Years-Breakfast $17.00, Lunch $25.00, Dinner $43.00. For purposes of this Article, commercial airline meals or the equivalent shall not be considered as furnished by the Club.

NFL (http://www.clt.astate.edu/marburger/nfl.htm#top)

I was gonna say that.

Essentially, during OTA's, minicamps and training camp, the players receive "per diem expenses". It looks like they add up to about 5-10k during the offseason. In addition, roster and workout bonuses are payable on certain dates as negotiated into the individual contract.

This is from the prior CBA, I imagine the amounts increased some but are probably in line with these numbers:

XXXV. Offseason workouts:
Section 3. Each player shall receive at least the following amounts per day for any workouts or classroom instruction in which he participates pursuant to a Club's voluntary off-season workout program, provided the player fulfills the Club's reasonable off-season workout requirements: $90 during the 2002 League Year; $100 during the 2003-04 League Years; $110 for the 2005-06 League Years; and $120 for the 2007 League Year.


XXXV. Minicamps:
Section 3. Expenses: Any veteran player who attends a minicamp will receive meal allowances in accordance with Article XXXIX (Meal Allowance), Section 1 of this Agreement, plus all travel expenses to and from the camp, plus “per diem” payments at the rate provided in Article XXXVII (Salaries), Section 4 of this Agreement. In addition, the Club will provide housing at minicamps for players coming from out‑of‑town.

Article XXXVII. Pre-season training camps:
Section 3. Rookie Per Diem: During the term of this Agreement, a rookie player will receive "per diem" payments at the rate of $725 per week in the 2002-03 League Years, $750 per week in the 2004 League Year, $775 per week in the 2005-06 League Years, and $800 per week in the 2007 League Year, commencing with the first day of preseason training camp and ending one week prior to the Club's first regular season game.

Section 4. Veteran Per Diem: During the term of this Agreement, a veteran player will receive "per diem" payments at the rate of $900 per week in the 2000-03 League Years, $1,000 per week in the 2004 League Year, and $1,100 per week in the 2005-07 League Years, commencing with the first day of pre-season training camp and ending one week prior to the Club's first regular season game, and an additional $200 per week during the pre-season, commencing with the Club's first pre-season game (exclusive of the Canton Hall of Fame Game and any International Game) and ending one week prior to the Club's first regular season game.

XXXIX. Meal Allowance:
Section 1. Reimbursement: A player will be reimbursed for meals not furnished by his Club on travel days during the preseason, regular season and postseason as follows: 2002 League Year-Breakfast $15.00, Lunch $21.00, Dinner $39.00; 2003-04 League Years-Breakfast $16.00, Lunch $23.00, Dinner $41.00; and 2005-07 League Years-Breakfast $17.00, Lunch $25.00, Dinner $43.00. For purposes of this Article, commercial airline meals or the equivalent shall not be considered as furnished by the Club.

NFL (http://www.clt.astate.edu/marburger/nfl.htm#top)

A most excellent post, Joe! It's a far cry more than I ever made per diem for my previous employer.

yeah... my per diem isn't quite as nice :/.