The Eagles won SB LII and took home $191,000 in total post-season earnings, including $112,000 for winning the Vince Lombardi trophy; but, the NFL’s bonus compensation pales in comparison (-130%) to the amount World Series Champions earn on their road to glory. MLB’s collective bargaining agreement entitles WS winners to just shy of $439,000; while NBA and NHL champions earn $221,000 and $163,000, respectively. Of course, the losing side doesn’t go home empty-handed; Patriots players (includes those inactive) earned a collective $135,000 this post-season, including $56,000 for representing the AFC conference in Minneapolis. It must be noted that the $191,000 take-home (per Eagles player), does not include the value of the Super Bowl ring they will receive; estimated to be worth between $5,000-$37,000.
Howie Long-Short: Tom Brady makes $882,353 per game ($14 million salary, $1 million roster bonus, 17 games) during the regular season, but just $56,000 for playing in the league’s biggest game because of the way the CBA is structured. Player contracts (NFL players are guaranteed 47% of total revenue) are paid out by the teams, over the 17-week regular season. Postseason compensation though, is paid by the league from a much smaller pool; understandable, considering the league only has 11 playoff games. The result, teams that finish the regular season with the 2 best records in each conference are rewarded with a week of practice (bye week) without compensation; while superstars play on Wildcard Weekend or in the Divisional Round for less than the league’s minimum weekly regular season compensation. The players can certainly renegotiate post-season compensation following the ’21 season, but even with an expansion of the playoffs and an increased post-season pool; top players are going to make a small fraction of their regular-season game-day salaries. Besides, there will be more urgent matters for the players to address; namely independent arbitration (see: Ezekial Elliott) and injuries on TNF.
Fan Marino: Nick Foles was Super Bowl LII’s Most Valuable Player, throwing for 373 yards and 3 TDs in the 41-33 win. Foles also caught a TD pass, on an all-time great 4th and 1 play-call. Fellow Arizona Wildcat Rob Gronkowski caught 2 TDs in the loss. Minneapolis truly was Wildcat Country. Fun Fact: In 2012, Nick Foles became the first University of Arizona QB to start an NFL game in the modern era.
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