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Bengals veterans reported on Tuesday, and recent addition Vonn Bell will earn the NFL’s largest reporting bonus.
NFL contracts are long and complicated, but there are two ways players make money: salaries and bonuses.
Bonuses come in all shapes and sizes, but it basically means free money. For instance, a reporting bonus means that a player gets paid a certain amount just for reporting for training camp.
Bell, specifically, gets $1 million in reporting bonuses this season. That is the most of any player in the league this year.
As players head back to work, a handful of veterans are collecting a Reporting Bonus for showing up. None is larger than new Bengals' S Vonn Bell, who earns $1M for reporting to Cincy's camp.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) July 28, 2020
The Bengals reportedly won a bidding war for Bell’s services, and the league-high bonus might have been a factor.
As an interesting note, Bell’s salary in 2020 will be the lowest in his three years as a Bengal. His massive reporting bonus will help offset it, while it also protects him from losing money due to injury.
New Bengals S Vonn Bell signed a 3-year, $18 million deal.
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) March 26, 2020
2020: $3M to sign, $3M base, $1 reporting bonus.
2021: $4.1M base, $200K workout, $200K in per-games.
2022: $6.1M base, $200K workout, $200K in per-games.
Good deal for the team. Bell hits free agency again at 28.
Even though the veterans reported, they have to pass coronavirus tests before they can actually participate in team activities.