Practical Question

[gnomepete]

So . . . How much (if any) of Warner’s signing bonus must be returned. I remember that the team wanted to give him a bonus for barely missing a QB rating threshold in his contract, but were not allow to do so. Does anyone know the legality on this situation?

Pete

 

[joeshmo]

So . . . How much (if any) of Warner’s signing bonus must be returned. I remember that the team wanted to give him a bonus for barely missing a QB rating threshold in his contract, but were not allow to do so. Does anyone know the legality on this situation?

Pete

He doesn't have to give anything back. But arbitration process has given teams a pro rated portion of the signing bonus back 100% of the time.

Most likely it wont even get to the arbitration process and something will get worked out between he and the team behind closed doors and we will never hear anything about it.

 

[gnomepete]

Thanks . . .

Pete

 

[joeshmo]

More info on the subject.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Cardinals-protected-on-bonus-if-Warner-retires.html

Very interesting language in his contract, and not nearly the "he held us over a barrell" type contract some may have thought with him visiting the 49ers an all. Warner gave us a great deal in the structure of his contract.

 

[40yearfan]

More info on the subject.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Cardinals-protected-on-bonus-if-Warner-retires.html

Very interesting language in his contract, and not nearly the "he held us over a barrell" type contract some may have thought with him visiting the 49ers an all. Warner gave us a great deal in the structure of his contract.

Thanks Joe. According to that, the Cards haven't even paid him the money yet so there is no money to return.

 

[Perfectionist]

http://www.arizonasportsfans.com/vb...bonus-if-he-retires-147506-4.html#post2173942

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-contract-automatically-reimburses-cardinals/

Report: Warner contract automatically reimburses Cardinals

Posted by Mike Florio on January 30, 2010 6:16 AM ET
We've been wondering for the past few days about the status of the balance of quarterback Kurt Warner's $15 million signing bonus, given his decision to call it quits after only one year of the two-year deal that Warner received in 2009 -- and given the Cardinals' reputation for being, um, very careful with their money.

Under well-established league precedent, Warner is not entitled to keep the full $15 million. Instead, he must return half of it.

Andrew Brandt of NFP reports that the contract was structured to permit the Cardinals to recover the money without actually having to put a figurative or literal lock on the Gatorade cabinet.

Per Brandt, the remaining $7.5 million was due to be paid out to Warner in 2010, in weekly installments during the regular season. The contract states that, if Warner is not on the roster, Warner isn't entitled to the money.

The situation could have gotten interesting if Warner had played poorly in 2009, and if the Cardinals had opted to cut him before the 2010 season. Based on Brandt's explanation, Warner would have been stiffed out of the back end of his signing bonus, which essentially operated as a per-game roster bonus next year.

But the structure allowed the deal to be trumpeted in 2009 as containing $19 million in guaranteed money, even though half of the $15 million signing bonus apparently wasn't guaranteed -- and in the end won't be paid.

So there will be no ugliness or awkwardness between Warner and the Cardinals.

Unfortunately

 

[82CardsGrad]

More info on the subject.

http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Cardinals-protected-on-bonus-if-Warner-retires.html

Very interesting language in his contract, and not nearly the "he held us over a barrell" type contract some may have thought with him visiting the 49ers an all. Warner gave us a great deal in the structure of his contract.

Seriously... did anyone expect anything less?