Bengals Assigned 6.88 Million To Year-One Rookie Pool And $37.87 Million In Total Rookie Compensation Pool

Before the 2012 NFL draft, the NFL and the Player's Association finalized the 2012 rookie compensation pool, which has actually been in existance since 1993. The numbers are based upon how many picks a team has and where those selections are. Teams with more selections and higher draft picks will receive a larger salary pool.

According to Aaron Wilson the Cincinnati Bengals have been assigned $6.88 million to their rookie pool for all ten draft picks this year with a limit of $37.87 million over the life of those contracts. For your light reading and wine-swirling enjoyment, the rules within the Collective Bargaining Agreement regarding Rookie Pool Compensation. We direct your attention to ARTICLE 7, Section 1, Chapters C-I.

(c) Total Rookie Compensation Pool. "Total Rookie Compensation Pool" means the League-wide limit on the total amount of Rookie Salary for which all Clubs may contract with Drafted and Undrafted Rookies over the entire term of such Rookie Contracts. By way of example, a Drafted Rookie selected in the second round who signs a four-year contract with Rookie Salary of $1,000,000 in year one, $1,100,000 in year two, $1,200,000 in year three, and $1,300,000 in year four would have $4,600,000 count against the Total Rookie Compensation Pool.

(d) Year-One Rookie Compensation Pool. "Year-One Rookie Compensation Pool" means the League-wide limit on the total amount of Year-One Rookie Salary for which all Clubs may contract with Drafted Rookies and Undrafted Rookies in the first year of such Rookie Contracts. By way of example, a Drafted Rookie selected in the second round who signs a four-year contract with Rookie Salary of $1,000,000 in year one, $1,100,000 in year two, $1,200,000 in year three, and $1,300,000 in year four would have $1,000,000 count against the Year-One Rookie Compensation Pool.

(e) Total Rookie Allocation. "Total Rookie Allocation" means, for each Club, its proportional share of the Total Rookie Compensation Pool, calculated based upon the number, round and position of the Club’s selection choices in the Draft, plus the Undrafted Rookie Reservation (as defined in Subsection (i) below). The sum of the Total Rookie Allocations for all Clubs shall equal the Total Rookie Compensation Pool.

(f) Year-One Rookie Allocation. "Year-One Rookie Allocation" means, for each Club, its proportional share of the Year-One Rookie Compensation Pool, calcu-lated based upon the number, round and position of the Club’s selection choices in the Draft plus one-third of the Undrafted Rookie Reservation (as defined in Subsection (i) below). The sum of the Year-One Rookie Allocations for all Clubs shall equal the Year-One Rookie Compensation Pool.

(g) Year-One Formula Allotment. "Year-One Formula Allotment" means, for each Drafted Rookie, a fraction calculated based upon the player’s round and posi-tion in the Draft and expressed as a percentage of the Year-One Rookie Compensation Pool (excluding compensatory selections and one-third of the Undrafted Rookie Reser-vation). The (i) sum of the Year-One Formula Allotments for all of a Club’s Drafted Rookies, multiplied by the Year-One Rookie Compensation Pool (excluding compensa-tory selections), plus (ii) one-third of the Undrafted Rookie Reservation shall equal the Club’s Year-One Rookie Allocation. The Year-One Formula Allotment for each selec-tion shall remain in effect for the duration of this Agreement unless the parties agree otherwise. The Year-One Formula Allotment attributed to each draft selection shall be 23 agreed to by the NFL and the NFLPA, and shall not be disclosed to Clubs, Players, Player Agents or the public.

(h) Year-One Minimum Allotment. "Year-One Minimum Allotment" means, for each Drafted Rookie, a fraction (or such other amount to which the parties may agree) that shall equal the selection’s absolute minimum share of the Year-One Rookie Compensation Pool, calculated based upon the player’s round and position in the Draft and expressed as a percentage of the Year-One Rookie Compensation Pool. The methodology for the calculation of the Year-One Minimum Allotment attributed to each draft selection shall be agreed to by the NFL and the NFLPA in a Side Letter between the Parties, which methodology shall not be disclosed to Clubs, Players, Player Agents or the public and shall remain in effect for the duration of the Agreement unless the Parties agree otherwise.

(i) Undrafted Rookie Reservation. For the 2011 League Year, a maximum of $75,000 per Club may be paid to Undrafted Rookies as signing bonus or amounts treated as signing bonus. This amount (the "Undrafted Rookie Reservation") shall in-crease each subsequent League Year by the percentage increase of the Total Rookie Compensation Pool.