The Buffalo Bills began voluntary offseason workouts today in anticipation of the 2014 season. These workouts are optional, but for players trying to earn a spot on the roster or in the starting lineup, they are a chance to make a first impression on coaches. That is especially true on the defensive side of the ball, featuring a new coordinator and several new assistants.
The Bills' offseason conditioning runs four days a week through May 23, with the first two weeks limited to strength training, conditioning and rehabilitation. The next phase is three weeks of workouts that can involve on-field work such as position drills. Team activities can be conducted against air (without opposing players), and players may not come into physical contact with one another. After the five weeks of conditioning, the team segues into Organized Team Activities, commonly referred to as OTAs, where intra-squad work is allowed as long as it is non-contact.
While some players have the option of attending, workout bonuses can be attached to participation in these team activities in players' contracts. In Buffalo, they range as low as $25,000 and up to $500,000, but cornerback Tarell Brown found out last year that they can impact your base salary in a big way, too. Here are the Bills with workout bonuses via overthecap.com.
Name | Workout Bonus |
TOTAL | $2,960,000 |
Mario Williams | $500,000 |
Stevie Johnson | $275,000 |
C.J. Spiller | $250,000 |
Brandon Spikes | $250,000 |
Mike Williams | $200,000 |
Eric Wood | $150,000 |
Keith Rivers | $100,000 |
Kraig Urbik | $100,000 |
Fred Jackson | $100,000 |
Aaron Williams | $100,000 |
Alan Branch | $100,000 |
Chris Williams | $100,000 |
Tony Moeaki | $100,000 |
Kiko Alonso | $50,000 |
Corey Graham | $50,000 |
Scott Chandler | $50,000 |
Manny Lawson | $50,000 |
Erik Pears | $50,000 |
Cordy Glenn | $50,000 |
Robert Woods | $50,000 |
Doug Legursky | $50,000 |
Leodis McKelvin | $50,000 |
Anthony Dixon | $50,000 |
Marquise Goodwin | $30,000 |
T.J. Graham | $30,000 |
Dan Carpenter | $25,000 |
Garrison Sanborn | $25,000 |
Jarius Wynn | $25,000 |