Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict tops performance-based pay list
Every season, some players are rewarded monetarily for play above and beyond their paycheck. Eleven players earned more than $250K in performance-based pay (in addition to their salaries), led by the Bears' Jordan Mills and the Bengals' Vontaze Burfict.
More: Complete performance-based pay list (PDF) | News & notes
The NFL has released its annual report on performance-based pay, with 11 players earning at least an additional $250,000 in 2013 compensation based on their work last season. The performance-based pay program works to compensate players whose level of playing time was much higher than what their salary would have paid.
Generally, lower draft picks and un-drafted free agents who end up being starters, earn the most through the program, because their base salaries very low.
For 2013, Bears tackle Jordan Mills ($318,243.96) topped all earned in the program, according to the NFL Management Counsel report that was released recently to teams.
Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, a former un-drafted player who has annually been near the top in performance-based pay since becoming a starter, was second in the league accruing $315, 847. 69 in performance-based pay.
The following players earned more at least $250,000 in performance-based pay:
| Tops in performance-based pay | |||
| Player | Position | Team | Performance-based pay |
| Jordan Mills | Tackle | Bears | $318,243.96 |
| Vontzaze Burfiict | Linebacker | Bengals | $315,847.69 |
| Ronald Leary | Guard | Cowboys | $307,104.43 |
| George Iloka | Safety | Bengals | $281,515.23 |
| Melvin White | Defensive back | Panthers | $269,714.80 |
| Teshaun Gipson | Safety | Browns | $266,299.14 |
| Yeremiah Bell | Safety | Cardinals | $263,067.02 |
| Larry Warford | Guard | Lions | $260,630.09 |
| Jason Kelce | Center | Eagles | $259,815.06 |
| J.R. Sweezy | Guard | Seahawks | $258,414.01 |
| Paul Worrilow | Linebacker | Falcons | $254,761.29 |
| Sanders Commings | Defensive back | Chiefs | $253,736.76 |
