Tned
10-10-2011, 10:03 PM
I've discussed this in multiple threads, but since many people still are confused based on a forum post of misinformation that has been repeated far and wide, I feel I need to address this in its own post.
There was a post on Broncos Country that was well written and spread like wild fire on the Internet, and then made its way to the radio shows, and went from there.
As I said, it was well written and sounded like the poster had "inside knowledge," but the only problem was that it was highly inaccurate. The poster, a regular guy like me or you, read Mike Klis' article from last year that overviewed Tebow's contract, and he simply misread the article and then created an elaborate conspiracy about how the Broncos weren't playing Tebow because, if he got 55% of the snaps, his contract would double from $11 million to $22 million.
The problem was, as you will see, that the whole theory was based on a failure in reading comprehension.
Here is the WHOLE basis for the wildly incorrect rumors about Tebow getting an extra $11 million if he becomes the starter -- plays 55% of the snaps. I have bolded the part that the original author of this bogus theory ignored, intentionally or otherwise.
Mid-tier incentives (Contractually considered unlikely to earn)
Value of Tebow's contract doubles from $11.25 million (including one-time playing time bonus) to $22.5 million if he reaches multiple thresholds, including:
55 percent playing time in two of his first three seasons, 2010-12, or 70 percent playing time in 2013.
The Broncos make the playoffs, he reaches certain QB ranking thresholds, and receives unspecified honors.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_15667056
I have had an exchange with Ted Sundquist over this and he stated that mid-tier incentives are almost never reached, unless the player far, far exceeds expectations. They are never simple playing time bonuses. They are very rarely paid.
Ted's comments are consistent with what is actually in the Klis article published shortly after Tebow was signed.
Again, it's important to understand that ALL of what you have read or heard on the radio about the $11 million is based on this Klis article.
Please read it and don't make the mistake like others have done of ONLY looking at the first bullet (55%), instead, the first key point is: "if he reaches multiple thresholds, including."
This says that Tebow must reach MULTIPLE thresholds, not just one. Not just 55% of snaps.
It says, "including" and then lists the 55% of snaps, but ALSO "the Broncos make the playoffs, he reaches certain QB ranking thresholds, and receives unspecified honors."
So, in order to get the $11 million Tebow must both meet the playing time requirement, but then also lead the Broncos to the playoffs, reach certain QB rankings and receive some player honors (presumably pro-bowl, but since it's plural, likely also things like league MVP, etc.).
Now, let's go back to the second phrase I bolded, "multiple thresholds, including." Lawyers on here will tell you that is a phrase that typically indicates there is a list of criteria that must be met, which includes, but is not limited to, the criteria listed.
There has been nothing published that says that Tebow gets $11 million for playing 55% of the snaps. What's worse, is that the people that started all of this nonsense fully admit that the Klis article was the basis for their post/theory, but that they "interpret" the Klis' article as saying that the 55% is the most important piece, so their theory focusing ONLY on it is sound --- this is the answer I got when I pointed out the problem with his post. :confused:
In other words, he/they have major reading comprehension problems.
Not that it was needed, but Klis has come out and said that the only bonus directly tied to playing time is the one time bonuses (listed in his article before this $11 million one tier).
One last point, these type of escalators are almost ALWAYS piece meal. What I mean by that is that the $11 million will not be an all or nothing, but instead a series of much smaller bonuses, and if Tebow achieved ALL of them, it would add up to $11 million over the life of his contract.
The way these mid-tier incentives are typically written is like this:
Playing time bonus - $500,000 bonus.
Make the playoffs - $150,000
Named to Probowl - $100,000
Named league MVP - $500,000
Reach the AFCCG - $150,000
Reach the Super Bowl - $250,000
Named Super Bowl MVP - $400,000
And so on. In other words, they are typically a whole series of bonuses, many of which are VERY unlikely to be achieved, others more likely.
Now, we don't know if Tebow's contract is an all or nothing, which would be very unusual for an NFL contract, or what the actual values are for reaching the various achievements.
Instead, all we do know is that there is ZERO factual basis to the claims that Tebow will get $11 million dollars for playing 55% of the snaps over the course of two years.
On the bright side, as forum posters ourselves, we should get a kick out of how one posters post, even with no basis in fact, can take off and be the talk of the internet and sports talk radio.
There was a post on Broncos Country that was well written and spread like wild fire on the Internet, and then made its way to the radio shows, and went from there.
As I said, it was well written and sounded like the poster had "inside knowledge," but the only problem was that it was highly inaccurate. The poster, a regular guy like me or you, read Mike Klis' article from last year that overviewed Tebow's contract, and he simply misread the article and then created an elaborate conspiracy about how the Broncos weren't playing Tebow because, if he got 55% of the snaps, his contract would double from $11 million to $22 million.
The problem was, as you will see, that the whole theory was based on a failure in reading comprehension.
Here is the WHOLE basis for the wildly incorrect rumors about Tebow getting an extra $11 million if he becomes the starter -- plays 55% of the snaps. I have bolded the part that the original author of this bogus theory ignored, intentionally or otherwise.
Mid-tier incentives (Contractually considered unlikely to earn)
Value of Tebow's contract doubles from $11.25 million (including one-time playing time bonus) to $22.5 million if he reaches multiple thresholds, including:
55 percent playing time in two of his first three seasons, 2010-12, or 70 percent playing time in 2013.
The Broncos make the playoffs, he reaches certain QB ranking thresholds, and receives unspecified honors.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_15667056
I have had an exchange with Ted Sundquist over this and he stated that mid-tier incentives are almost never reached, unless the player far, far exceeds expectations. They are never simple playing time bonuses. They are very rarely paid.
Ted's comments are consistent with what is actually in the Klis article published shortly after Tebow was signed.
Again, it's important to understand that ALL of what you have read or heard on the radio about the $11 million is based on this Klis article.
Please read it and don't make the mistake like others have done of ONLY looking at the first bullet (55%), instead, the first key point is: "if he reaches multiple thresholds, including."
This says that Tebow must reach MULTIPLE thresholds, not just one. Not just 55% of snaps.
It says, "including" and then lists the 55% of snaps, but ALSO "the Broncos make the playoffs, he reaches certain QB ranking thresholds, and receives unspecified honors."
So, in order to get the $11 million Tebow must both meet the playing time requirement, but then also lead the Broncos to the playoffs, reach certain QB rankings and receive some player honors (presumably pro-bowl, but since it's plural, likely also things like league MVP, etc.).
Now, let's go back to the second phrase I bolded, "multiple thresholds, including." Lawyers on here will tell you that is a phrase that typically indicates there is a list of criteria that must be met, which includes, but is not limited to, the criteria listed.
There has been nothing published that says that Tebow gets $11 million for playing 55% of the snaps. What's worse, is that the people that started all of this nonsense fully admit that the Klis article was the basis for their post/theory, but that they "interpret" the Klis' article as saying that the 55% is the most important piece, so their theory focusing ONLY on it is sound --- this is the answer I got when I pointed out the problem with his post. :confused:
In other words, he/they have major reading comprehension problems.
Not that it was needed, but Klis has come out and said that the only bonus directly tied to playing time is the one time bonuses (listed in his article before this $11 million one tier).
One last point, these type of escalators are almost ALWAYS piece meal. What I mean by that is that the $11 million will not be an all or nothing, but instead a series of much smaller bonuses, and if Tebow achieved ALL of them, it would add up to $11 million over the life of his contract.
The way these mid-tier incentives are typically written is like this:
Playing time bonus - $500,000 bonus.
Make the playoffs - $150,000
Named to Probowl - $100,000
Named league MVP - $500,000
Reach the AFCCG - $150,000
Reach the Super Bowl - $250,000
Named Super Bowl MVP - $400,000
And so on. In other words, they are typically a whole series of bonuses, many of which are VERY unlikely to be achieved, others more likely.
Now, we don't know if Tebow's contract is an all or nothing, which would be very unusual for an NFL contract, or what the actual values are for reaching the various achievements.
Instead, all we do know is that there is ZERO factual basis to the claims that Tebow will get $11 million dollars for playing 55% of the snaps over the course of two years.
On the bright side, as forum posters ourselves, we should get a kick out of how one posters post, even with no basis in fact, can take off and be the talk of the internet and sports talk radio.