The New England Patriots restructured the contract of SS Patrick Chung to allow the defender to make up to $800,000 more in 2017. ESPN’s Mike Reiss has the details of Chung’s new incentive structure:
$200,000 if he plays 65 percent of the defensive snaps
$400,000 if he plays 75 percent of the defensive snaps
$500,000 if he plays 85 percent of the defensive snaps
$300,000 if he plays 80 percent of the defensive snaps and the Patriots win 13 games
$300,000 if he plays 80 percent of the defensive snaps and the Patriots are in the Super Bowl
Previously, Chung was scheduled to make $200,000 for 60 percent of defensive snaps, an additional $300,000 for 70 percent of defensive snaps, and a further $400,000 for 80 percent of the defensive snaps.
It appears like the Patriots actually protected themselves a little bit with these incentives by boosting each tier by 5 percent of the defensive snaps (ex: 65 percent instead of 60 percent). From a pure-snap incentive standpoint, Chung would have made $900,000 in incentives if he played 80% of the snaps in 2016; he would only make $600,000 extra if he plays 80% of the snaps in 2017.
But Chung’s upside is greater now. If he repeats his playtime from 2016, he will make $1.1 million, versus $900,000. The Patriots also achieved both of the other incentives last season- 13 wins; appear in the Super Bowl- so these incentives are definitely achievable. It also doesn’t hurt that there isn’t a safety on the roster that could be considered a threat to chip into his playing time.
This seems like a pretty good give-and-take with this restructure. Unlike the cash opportunity for TE Rob Gronkowski who will only only make money with his restructure, Chung had to increase the snaps for his incentives to serve as injury protection for the Patriots in exchange for a chance at greater overall earnings.
Congratulations to Patrick Chung and happy Father’s Day.