Regardless of what occurs with Aaron Rodgers’ profession as a New York Jet, he may nonetheless be in line to gather $75 million over the following two seasons.
Rodgers, the 39-year-old future hall-of-famer who joined the Jets in ballyhooed trend through the offseason after a 17-year profession with the Green Bay Packers, was taken off the sector in his first sport as a Jet on Monday night time.
By Tuesday morning, it was confirmed that Rodgers had torn his Achilles tendon, primarily based on an MRI, and can be out for the remainder of the season, in line with Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network and NFL.com.
A torn Achilles is certainly no small matter. The common size of restoration is within the 10- to 12-month vary, the Pro Football Network website reported.
But others have famous {that a} torn Achilles is perhaps a career-ender for Rodgers. A “severe injury … would raise questions about his future,” ABC News stated.
News experiences have indicated that Rodgers’ two-year $75 million contract with the Jets is “guaranteed.” That may imply the crew owes him that cash even when he by no means performs one other sport.
Still, the NFL states on its web site that some contracts aren’t assured in full. So, if Rodgers’ contract didn’t cowl him for harm, the Jets might be off the hook if he doesn’t get well and return.
“Media outlets typically announce and talk about the ‘guaranteed money’ in a player’s contract. However, much of the money is only partially guaranteed,” the NFL has stated.
But ESPN has reported that Rodgers’ $75 million contract is “fully guaranteed,” as produce other shops.
Another risk: Either the Jets or Rodgers may have taken out an insurance coverage coverage to cowl the $75 million contract. So both the crew or Rodgers may get well any misplaced cash in a worst-case situation, ought to that materialize.
Darren Heitner, a sports activities legal professional primarily based in Florida, stated it’s definitely doable that the Jets have insurance coverage, particularly given Rodgers’ age and the scale of the contract. “It’s inherently a hedge on risk,” Heitner stated.
But Heitner added it’s much less possible that Rodgers had any want for insurance coverage for the reason that assure is successfully a type of insurance coverage itself.
Heitner did word that there are potential loopholes even in a totally assured contract. For instance, if a participant engages in a dangerous exercise, equivalent to skydiving, that leads to an harm, that may null the assure.
Technically, Rodgers’ contract is value $112.5 million over three years, with a doable extension for 2 extra years, in line with the Pro Football Network website. The assured portion — $75 million — covers the quarterback’s first two seasons as a Jet.
Rodgers took a pay minimize to return to the Jets. If he had remained a Packer, he would have been in line to earn almost $110 million via the rest of his contract, earlier than being traded by Green Bay in alternate for draft picks.
Fully assured contracts aren’t essentially the norm within the NFL exactly as a result of gamers are susceptible to harm, Heitner famous. But given Rodgers’ stature and the actual fact many groups would have possible signed him if the Jets didn’t, that put him and his representatives in a greater place to push for such a assure.
“The name of the game is leverage,” Heitner stated.
The New York Jets didn’t reply instantly to a MarketWatch request for remark about Rodgers’ medical scenario and contract phrases. But the crew did problem a press release on social media about Rodgers, saying, “Not the way any of us wanted it to go, but we know the commitment you’ve made to this team will continue to impact us moving forward. Get well soon, @AaronRodgers12.”
Source web site: www.marketwatch.com
