Adrian Peterson’s new contract is incentive based; It has escaltors and de-escalators
Adrian Peterson is happy now that he has a new contract with the Minnesota Vikings worth a base of 44 million, but according to Pro Football Talk his contract will rely on his play in 2016.
Per a source with knowledge of the contract, the deal includes both an escalator and a de-escalator for 2016. Here’s how it works.
Peterson will get another $1 million in 2016 salary if he rushes for at least 1,750 yards and the team wins a divisional-round playoff game. That amount moves to $2 million in 2016 salary if he rushes for at least 1,900 yards and the Vikings win the Super Bowl.
In contrast, the 2016 roster bonus drops by $1 million if Peterson fails to rush for 1,550 yards or if the club fails to win a playoff game. (In other words, both must happen to preserve the salary.) The drop in the roster bonus moves to $2 million if Peterson fails to rush for at least 1,350 or if the team fails to make it to the playoffs.
To put those targets in perspective, Peterson has rushed for at least 1,350 yards only three times in his eight-year career. He has rushed for at least 1,550 yards only twice. So it’s no lock that he’ll keep the roster bonus for 2016 at $5 million.
If the roster bonus drops in 2016, Peterson can earn the money back. If the $1 million de-escalator is triggered, he’ll get it back as an incentive payment if he rushes for at least 1,550 yards and the Club wins a playoff game in 2016. If the roster bonus deescalates by $2 million, Peterson can earn back $1 million as an incentive payment if he rushes for at least 1,350 yards and the Vikings qualify for the playoffs in 2016. He can earn back $2 million as an incentive payment if he rushes for at least 1,550 yards and the club wins a playoff game.
This makes me want Adrian Peterson more in Fantasy Football than ever. I have a feeling he is about to break records this year.
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