Jones tops Packers in performance-based pay

While James Jones waits to find out his NFL future, the veteran receiver took home a nice bonus Monday for over-performing on a veteran minimum contract last season.

Jones, working on a one-year, $870,000 contract with no bonuses, played 65.39 percent of the Green Bay Packers’ total snaps (offense, defense and special teams combined) in 2015. His contrasting high production and low pay resulted in the 31-year-old receiver being awarded a team-high $251,736.54 through the league’s performance-based pay program..

Jones returned to Green Bay a day after final cuts and proceeded to lead all Green Bay receivers with 890 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in 16 regular-season games. The next highest payouts were defensive back Micah Hyde ($204,231.48), center Corey Linsley ($200,450.49) and tackle David Bakhtiari ($197,264.55).

Performance-based pay is a league-wide bonus that primarily benefits players who make low salaries but play a disproportionately significant roles on their teams. Each team this season had a $3,802,500 pool, and the money is distributed via a formula based on a player's playing time and contract.

The structure allows even the Packers’ top players to receive some of the proceeds with quarterback Aaron Rodgers ($8,773.40), and Pro bowl outside linebackers Julius Peppers ($9,906.99) and Clay Matthews ($12,789.83) also taking home a little extra cash.

The following Packers received a portion of the payout:

DB Micah Hyde $204,231.48

C Corey Linsley $200,450.49

T David Bakhtiari $197,264.55

TE Richard Rodgers $184,922.33

ILB Nate Palmer $178,031.98

ILB Joe Thomas $174,228.17

OLB Jayrone Elliott $144,624.94

CB Casey Hayward $144,194.01

ILB Jake Ryan $129,384.69

WR Davante Adams $119,465.45

CB Quinten Rollins $116,144.80

WR Jeff Janis $111,364.35

S Chris Banjo $111,121.86

FB John Kuhn $106,706.01

OL JC Tretter $100,384.83

DL Mike Pennel $100,161.63

CB Damarious Randall $90,685.51

S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix $89,512.80

FB Aaron Ripkowski $88,705.58

CB Demetri Goodson $75,346.56

RB Eddie Lacy $71,046.76

WR Ty Montgomery $63,059.48

T Don Barclay $48,170.10

TE Justin Perillo $43,246.55

G Josh Walker $41,974.97

RB James Starks $40,604.96

G Lane Taylor $38,798.59

DE/OLB Datone Jones $34,310.89

T Bryan Bulaga $34,293.00

WR Jared Abbrederis $30,332.90

OLB Mike Neal $28,974.19

DL Mike Daniels $28,625.87

WR Randall Cobb $27,948.60

DT B.J. Raji $26,158.65

G T.J. Lang $26,010.32

G Josh Sitton $24,224.94

OLB Nick Perry $22,849.03

S Morgan Burnett $21,823.40

OLB Andy Mulumba $21,595.55

DL Letroy Guion $21,576.55

RB Alonzo Harris $21,573.62

LS Brett Goode $19,380.35

CB Ladarius Gunter $18,616.21

P Tim Masthay $15,699.99

TE Kennard Backman $14,809.93

LB Clay Matthews $12,789.83

CB Sam Shields $12,511.40

RB John Crockett $10,268.69

TE Andrew Quarless $10,157.25

OLB Julius Peppers $9,906.99

QB Aaron Rodgers $8,773.40

DL Josh Boyd $7,923.19

K Mason Crosby $5,767.10

S Sean Richardson $5,772.59

DT Bruce Gaston $4,669.21

LS Rick Lovato $4,544.19

ILB Sam Barrington $3,996.30

QB Scott Tolzien $1,045.89