Russell Bodine among 4 Bengals earning performance-based pay

Rookie center Russell Bodine earned the Bengals' top figure in the NFL’s Performance-Based Pay program that compensates players for playing time based upon their salary levels.

Bodine received $318,612 in PBP, which was also the third most of any NFL player this year. The fourth-round rookie out of North Carolina assumed the starting center spot during offseason workouts, and he started all 17 games for the Bengals, including the playoffs.

Other Bengals earning PBP include George Iloka ($273,612), Emmanuel Lamur $249,334 and Ryan Hewitt ($248,938).

The NFL PBP program was implemented as part of the NFL’s 2002 Collective Bargaining Agreement with the NFL Players Association, and continued as part of the parties’ current agreement.

Under the system, a fund is created and used as a supplemental form of player compensation based on a comparison of playing time to salary. Players become eligible to receive a bonus distribution in any regular season in which they play at least one official down.

PBP is computed by using a "player index." To produce the index, a player’s regular-season playtime (total plays on offense, defense and special teams) is divided by his adjusted regular-season compensation (full season salary, prorated portion of signing bonus, earned incentives). Each player’s index is then compared to those of the other players on his team to determine the amount of his pay.