Week 18 is coming fast and many bonus incentives and record-breaking performances are on the line. However, many coaches are reluctant to play their star players to break records. In my opinion, I believe that star players should start for a quarter or two to achieve their record-breaking performance and have their names remembered for many years to come.
According to hrsoft.com “Bonus incentives are a form of financial compensation which is additional to the fixed salary and is awarded on completion of set targets or goals.” I believe that star players, even if they are going to the playoffs, deserve a chance at winning their bonus incentive with their last regular season game. Many coaches want to sit out their players so players aren’t hurt for the playoffs. Here are some of the star players that have a shot at winning their bonus incentive:
Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton: 82 receiving yards away from a 2 million dollar bonus
Houston Texans running-back Joe Mixon: 107 rushing yards away from a $250,000 bonus
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith: 185 passing yards away from a 2 million dollar bonus and just over a 69.7% pass completion rate for another 2 million dollar bonus and needs 10 wins to get another $2 million bonus.
Tennesse Titans running-back Tony Pollard: 83 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns to add $450,000 to his annual salary.
Buffalo Bills edge rusher Von Miller: 1 sack for a 1.5 million dollar bonus.
Las Vegas Chargers running-back J.K Dobbins: 58+ rushing yards for a $ 150,000 bonus.
And for the last and most exciting superstar everyone has been waiting for, Mike Evans, who will break 1,000 yards every season for 11 straight. He will tie for first with Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice. Evans is five receptions and 85 yards away from a $3 million bonus and from having his name in the record books.
RESULTS: Let’s take a look if NFL superstars got their bonus incentives
Denver Broncos receiver Courtland Sutton needed 82 receiving yards to get a half-million-dollar bonus. Instead, Sutton racked up 98 receiving yards, 5 receptions, and 1 touchdown in a 38-0 win against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Houston Texans Runningback Joe Mixon in week 18 needed 107 rushing yards for a $ 250,000 bonus for his contract. Mixon, in Week 18 against the Titans, did not get the amount of rushing yards required for the bonus incentive. He ended off against the Titans with 5 carries and 23 rushing yards.
Seattle Seahawks Quarterback Geno Smith had three bonus incentives totaling up to a 6 million dollar bonus, a big bonus a player would want. Smith needed more than a 69.755 % passer rating, more than 4,282 passing yards, and 10 regular season game wins. In week 18 against the Los Angeles Rams, Geno Smith passed for 223 yards putting him at 4,320 passing yards at the end of the season, Geno was 20/27 passes complete putting him at a 70 % passer rating, and finally Geno Smith led a victory against the Rams 30-25 putting the Seattle Seahawks with 10 wins and 7 losses and completing all of his bonus incentives.
Tennesse Titans running back Tony Pollard needed to achieve 83 rushing yards and 2 rushing touchdowns for a $450,000 bonus. Unfortunately, Pollard did not achieve his goal in week 18, Pollard only had 22 carries for 62 yards.
Buffalo Bills Edge rusher Von Miller needed only 1 sack against the Patriots to get his $1.5 million bonus. Von Miller during the season had 5 sacks and needs one more against Drake Maye or Joe Milton III and the offensive line. In his last regular season game, he sacked Drake Maye to get his $1.5 million bonus.
Los Angeles Chargers Runningback J.K Dobbins needed 58 or more rushing yards to achieve his bonus incentive for a 150,000 bonus. Dobbins finished the game with 18 carries and 63 rushing yards it was a close achievement Dobbins almost failed but came through and completed his goal to get his bonus.
Lastly, Mike Evans needed only 85 yards from breaking 1,000 yards for 11 straight seasons and tying for first with Jerry Rice. In Week 18, Mike Evans not only surpassed 1000 yards, but he finished with 8 receptions with 89 yards and officially tied with Hall of Famer Jerry Rice, making a name for himself to be a future hall of famer.
