Performance pays off for Packers linebacker Blake Martinez
Tom Silverstein
GREEN BAY – The NFL’s performance-based pay program made Green Bay Packers linebacker Blake Martinez’s season a lot more lucrative.
The system, negotiated in the last collective bargaining agreement, rewards players whose performance and playing time surpassed their pay level based on a point system that compares him to the rest of his teammates.
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Martinez started every game and played 93.6 percent of the Packers’ defense snaps while earning a base salary of $540,000.
As a result, he was rewarded an extra $384,390.54. The money is a combination of the original player performance pool and newly added veteran pool. Martinez received the 25th-highest performance pool payout ($291,170.83) and the third-highest veteran pool bonus ($93,219.71).
Martinez started all 16 games and finished tied for the most tackles in the NFL with 144. He also had a sack, an interception, eight pass break-ups and a forced fumble.
Martinez wasn’t the only one who got a healthy payout. Offensive lineman Justin McCray, who played 56.7% of the snaps, starting eight games, received $229,348.28. McCray played for minimum wage without any signing bonus after signing as a street free agent.
Safety Josh Jones was the rookie rewarded the most. He earned a check of $197,022.42.
On the low side, quarterback Aaron Rodgers pulled in $3,585.19 and guard Adam Pankey received $365.17.
Here is the full list of payouts Packers players received:
LB Blake Martinez -- $291,170.83
OG Justin McCray -- $229,348.28
SS Josh Jones -- $197,022.42
LB Kyler Fackrell -- $182,814.58
LB Jake Ryan -- $166,549.29
DE Dean Lowry -- $165,431.92
CB Josh Hawkins -- $164,342.07
QB Brett Hundley -- $157,805.64
WR Geronimo Allison -- $154,213.23
SS Marwin Evans -- $149,722.51
RB Jamaal Williams -- $142,057.74
FS Kentrell Brice -- $117,271.06
FS Jermaine Whitehead -- $112,547.45
OG Lucas Patrick -- $101,545.74
FB Aaron Ripkowski -- $99,546.62
NT Quinton Dial -- $90,329.72
RB Aaron Jones -- $89,229.33
LB Joe Thomas -- $87,585.16
CB Lenzy Pipkins -- $86,192.87
WR Trevor Davis -- $77,927.97
OG Jahri Evans -- $77,033.46
FS Ha Ha Clinton-Dix -- $71,920.59
WR Jeff Janis -- $71,843.36
OT Kyle Murphy -- $70,943.14
LB Vince Biegel -- $69,437.06
RB Ty Montgomery -- $60,935.73
CB Damarious Randall -- $60,423.18
NT Kenny Clark -- $60,393.56
CB Kevin King -- $59,960.27
TE Lance Kendricks -- $51,633.73
P Justin Vogel -- $46,707.66
C Corey Linsley -- $46,677.80
OT Jason Spriggs -- $44,257.24
LB Reggie Gilbert -- $37,394.80
CB Davon House -- $37,363.93
TE Richard Rodgers -- $36,850.85
OG Lane Taylor -- $36,676.11
CB Quinten Rollins -- $33,661.01
WR Davante Adams -- $27,455.68
WR Michael Clark -- $27,387.60
LB Chris Odom -- $26,502.64
RB Devante Mays -- $23,060.73
DT Montravius Adams --$22,867.49
OT David Bakhtiari -- $22,425.88
LS Brett Goode -- $21,209.43
LB Ahmad Brooks -- $18,550.18
SS Morgan Burnett -- $18,488.06
LB Nick Perry -- $16,589.63
OT Ulrick John -- $15,628.00
LS Taybor Pepper -- $12,485.71
WR Jordy Nelson -- $12,009.37
DT Mike Daniels -- $11,391.54
WR Randall Cobb -- $10,026.17
TE Martellus Bennett -- $8,656.55
FB Joe Kerridge -- $8,162.87
LB Clay Matthews -- $7,801.98
CB Donatello Brown -- $6,597.28
LS Derek Hart -- $6,231.39
DT Ricky Jean Francois -- $5,966.25
K Mason Crosby -- $5,911.66
OT Bryan Bulaga -- $5,722.89
CB Ladarius Gunter -- $4 ,395.00
TE Emanuel Byrd -- $4,060.04
QB Aaron Rodgers -- $3,585.19
QB Joe Callahan -- $2,197.69
OG Adam Pankey -- $365.17