Chad Kelly just got $354 richer.
To help make up for players on cheap contracts out-performing their salaries, the NFL pays out performance-based bonuses each year. Some players — like Connor McGovern ($445,424) and Justin Simmons ($408,952) — earn large bonuses this way.
Other players — like Kelly — earn considerably less.
Kelly will receive a $354 check from the league, according to KUSA-TV’s Mike Klis. A total of 65 members of the Broncos’ 2018 team received bonuses and all of them — with the exception of Kelly — received at least $2,243.
Kelly had a base salary of $225,886 last year and he earned a total of $638,156 during his two years with the team, according to Spotrac.com. His small bonus from the league is perhaps a reward for dressing for a grand total of one game in 2018 (he was called in for a kneel-down in Week 6).
Denver released Kelly last fall after he was arrested and charged with first-degree criminal trespassing on Oct. 23. The troubled quarterback has remained a free agent since then but appears to be making a comeback bid. He will turn 25 on March 26.
