If the lockout extends through the entire offseason, there will be no offseason workouts. And if there are no offseason workouts, there can be no offseason workout bonuses. That’s bad news for players whose contracts feature six-figure bonuses for participating in offseason workouts.
Adam Schefter of ESPN has a list of dozens of NFL players who can earn offseason workout bonuses in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, but whose bonuses are at risk because there may be no offseason workouts at all. The list is topped by Jets tackle D’Brickashaw Ferguson, who would make $750,000 if he participates in 85 percent of the Jets’ offseason workouts.
Other notable names on the list include Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning and Jay Cutler, all of whom have $500,000 offseason workout bonuses in their contracts.
One player whose agent was looking out for him on the offseason bonus front is Tom Brady, who can get $250,000 for participating in 90 percent of the Patriots’ offseason workouts. Brady’s contract has a clause that increases his 2012 workout bonus to $500,000 if there are no 2011 workouts.
A lockout that canceled all offseason activities could cost players (and save owners) tens of millions of dollars -- even if no regular-season games are lost.