Saints players to get Katrina bonuses
 

Saints players to get Katrina bonuses from league

WWL Reports


The NFL and NFL Players Association have agreed to a specially negotiated bonus for New Orleans Saints players for the 2005 season for performing under unusual and unanticipated conditions arising from the Hurricane Katrina tragedy.



The bonus will be $40,000 for each Saints player who has been on the roster (active, inactive, PUP, IR, or practice squad) for the entire regular season. Players on the Saints' roster for less than the full season will receive $2,350 for each week on the roster.



These bonus payments will be funded by the performance-based pay system, normally geared to playing time and salary, which is part of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement. Under the annual performance-based pay system, additional bonuses will be given to those Saints players who achieve certain playing goals for the 2005 season.



Following Hurricane Katrina in August, the Saints played the 2005 season under unanticipated conditions that included residences and practice facilities, personal and family travel between homes in New Orleans and San Antonio, and home games in three different stadiums.



On a related matter, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue's office reconfirmed today that the Saints' 2006 playing schedule will not be finalized until January.