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New Orleans Saints center Brian de la Puente and safety Isa Abdul-Quddus ranked in the top 25 of players who received performance-based pay from the NFL for 2012, it was announced Wednesday at the league meetings in Phoenix.

De la Puente, the Saints' starting center, will get the third-most, $289,875. Abdul-Quddus, a special-teams standout, comes in at 25th on the list with a bonus of $233,063.


The program compensates players for playing time that far exceeds their salary levels. More than $110.7 million will be distributed to players for their performance during the 2012 season, with Bengals linebacker Vontaze Burfict, an undrafted free agent from Arizona State, getting $299,465 in additional pay. Burfict played for the rookie minimum salary of $390,000 and an additional signing bonus of $1,000. De la Puente earned a base salary of $540,000 in 2012 while Abdul-Quddus was paid $465,000.

The top 25:

1. Vontaze Burfict, Cincinnati, LB, $299,465

2. Dallas Reynolds, Philadelphia, G, $294,844

3. Brian de la Puente, New Orleans, C, $289,875

4. Bobby Massie, Arizona, T, $283,776

5 J'Marcus Webb, Chicago, T, $275,360

6. Sam Acho, Arizona, LB, $273,715

7. Bruce Miller, San Francisco, FB, $273,426

8. Max Starks, Pittsburgh, T, $272,590

9. Robert McClain, Atlanta, CB, $269,505

10. Austin Howard, New York Jets, T, $261,431

11. Reshad Jones, Miami, S, $256,612

12. Byron Bell, Carolina, T, $255,547

13. Jerrell Freeman, Indianapolis, LB, $255,018

14. Chris Harris, Denver, CB, $254,164

15. Todd McClure, Atlanta, C, $251,204

16. Brandon Fusco, Minnesota, G, $250,856

17. Richard Sherman, Seattle, CB, $249,201

18. Robert Turner, St. Louis, C, $248,067

19. Miles Burris, Oakland, LB, $243,048

20. Josh Norman, Carolina, CB, $242,475

21. Clint Boling, Cincinnati, G, $237,484

22. Craig Robertson, Cleveland, LB, $236,962

23. Danny McCray, Dallas, S, $236,316

24. Mike Harris, San Diego, T, $233,103

25. Isa Abdul-Quddu, New Orleans, S, $233,063

New Orleans Saints players Brian de la Puente, Isa Abdul-Quddus get performance-based pay | NOLA.com

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