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Peyton Manning? Nope. LaDainian Tomlinson? Nope. Tom Brady? No, but you've got the right team. Patriots' defensive lineman Richard Seymour bank more than $24 million last year due to a hefty signing bonus. How did that happen?
"Typically, the highest-paid guy in any year is a very good player who has done a new, multi-year contract with a guaranteed piece that is paid in that particular year," says agent Tom Condon
That's one of the oddities of the NFL's economic system, in which certain bonuses, usually for signing the contract, are often paid immediately but are counted against the salary cap over the life of the player's contract. Seymour's value may better be considered by looking at the average per year value of his deal: $9.33 million.
Richard Seymour making $24 million in any year should put into question the notion of New England being the most fiscally responsible in the NFL. Tom Brady was also among the top 10 salaries at a more reasonable $16M.
Other top salaries included: Drew Brees, Bryant McKinnie, Steve Hutchinson, and Carson Palmer. Here's the full 2006 NFL Salary list.
Source: (USA Today)
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