Jets have highest payroll; Steelers second
SportsLine.com wire reports
The Pittsburgh Steelers, once criticized as unwilling to pay the big money necessary to retain star players, began the season with the NFL's second-highest payroll.
According to figures compiled by the NFL Players Association, the Steelers' $85,069,621 payroll trailed only the New York Jets' $87,343,231.
The Jets, who made the playoffs last season but are 1-3 this year, spent considerable money on signing bonuses because they signed a number of free agents and re-signed three of their best players. After finishing 13-3 last season, the Steelers moved to keep their team intact by signing most of their top players to long-term contracts.
By contrast, the Philadelphia Eagles, 3-1 compared to the Steelers' 1-2, paid only $7,569,550 in signing bonuses to 12 players before signing quarterback Donovan McNabb to a new contract last week. The deal included a $20.5 million signing bonus.
NFL payrolls can change during the season because of deals such as McNabb's, and often differ greatly from the salary cap, which this season is $71.1 million per team. The payroll includes all player expenditures, while the salary cap covers player costs charged against a team that season.
Under the cap, signing bonuses are prorated over the life of the player's contract. For example, the Steelers paid linebacker Jason Gildon a $6.5 million signing bonus; only $1.3 million counts against this season's cap because the deal is for five years.
The Jets paid $49,349,330 to just 26 players, including running back Curtis Martin, wide receiver Wayne Chrebet and center Kevin Mawae. The Steelers' expenditures include $44,775,634 in signing bonuses to 25 players, including key starters such as Gildon, Alan Faneca, Joey Porter and Aaron Smith.
The Jets' and Steelers' payrolls are well above those of the No. 3 team, the expansion Houston Texans ($76,507,361). Behind Houston were the Dallas Cowboys (74,349,380) and the San Francisco 49ers ($74,206,418).
The Green Bay Packers' payroll of $39,720,069 is the lowest, nearly $5 million lower than the next team, the Minnesota Vikings ($44,219,850). The Packers paid $10,918,200 in signing bonuses to 19 players.
The average NFL salary, including signing bonuses, is $1.123 million, with the Steelers coming in at a league-high $1,605,087, a figure inflated because they signed so many players this year. The Packers had the lowest average salary, $722,183.
Starting quarterbacks have the highest average salary, $3,802,857. Wide receivers are the next highest paid at $2,083,017. Kickers have the lowest average, $686,889.
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