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The Green Bay Packers love putting bonus language in their veterans' contracts. Although rookie deals do not have offseason workout bonuses or active roster bonuses, general manager Ted Thompson and contract expert Russ Ball have put these tools to use in essentially every possible contract, and will continue to do so.
These bonuses have multiple effects on the roster and salary cap structure of the team. First, workout bonuses ensure that veterans actually show up for the voluntary offseason workout programs. When you have a six-figure check coming to you if you make the trip, you're coming. The other factor is that the roster bonuses gives the team a small semblance of insurance against players getting injured and being inactive on gameday. In total, the Packers will roll over an extra $1.2 million in salary cap space to 2017 because of injured players not collecting these bonuses.
Sure, we would rather be talking about the Packers' matchup in the Super Bowl today instead of bonus language, but here we are. Instead, we have to find some other items in the Falcons-Patriots matchup that have some connection to the Packers, which we've done in today's Cheese Curds. We also find a great look back at the Packers' Super Bowl-winning squad from 20 years ago (it doesn't feel like it has been that long), as well as a new edition of a TV segment that has become a hilarious staple of Super Bowl week in recent years.
Nick Perry led Packers' weekly bonuses; team total over $6 million - ESPN
Ted Thompson and company love the weekly roster bonus, especially for players who have had injury issues in the past; Perry certainly falls into that category, and he made nearly a million dollars on weekly roster bonuses; meanwhile, Sam Shields lost out on almost a half-million.
Personalities made '96 team special | Packersnews.com
Think back to the Packers' championship team from 1996 and just try to remember all the different big egos and personalities in the locker room. Sure, Brett Favre and Reggie White were the two biggest, but you had other role players like Desmond Howard and Andre Rison, plus outspoken veterans like Santana Dotson. It must have been a dream come true to cover that team.
Through the Lens | Packers.com
Packers fans - and photography enthusiasts - should enjoy this examination of some of team photographer Evan Siegle's favorite shots from the 2016 season.
The Shared Vision That Saved the Atlanta Falcons | The MMQB with Peter King
In Atlanta, the GM and head coach have forged a great relationship, and both current and past results around the league demonstrate how critical that is to team success. That isn't an issue for Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson - at least not publicly, as both men always say that they have a great working relationship.
Why Falcons have NFL's best play-action attack | PFF
The crux of the Falcons' play-action success starts with the outside zone run, a concept they used on nearly half of their running plays all season.
Marshawn Lynch and Conan O’Brien played video games again, joined by Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski - SBNation.com
When I realized that Marshawn Lynch's personality was genuine and not just a schtick, that was the turning point for me from being annoyed by him to embracing him. He's back with Conan for another hilarious segment playing video games.
Lady Gaga promises 'tremendously athletic show' - NFL.com
I suspect Gaga is "sneakily athletic" and the first one in, last one out of the studio. In all seriousness, what do you think this line about a "tremendously athletic show" means?