Could Broderick Jones flunk his 4th year, and be forced to return to the Steelers again next year.

Could Broderick Jones flunk his 4th year, and be forced to return to the Steelers again next year and do it all over again? Sorry Brod, you failed the 4th grade and have to come back next year and do it all over again.

I am still trying to figure out if Broderick stays on the PUP list, and then gets IR'd for the season, if the clause about a player being in the final year of his contract, then the current year is "Tolled" and the player will return to his team without the year counting against his contract.



Contract “Tolling” Rule
Under the NFL CBA, a player’s contract is not tolled (suspended and carried over) while on PUP — meaning the season passes normally for that year — unless:

• The player is in the last year of his contract, and
  
  
• He remains physically unable to perform football services as of the sixth regular season game, and
  
  
• He is not activated during that regular season or postseason NFL+2.

In that case, the final year of the contract is “tolling” — it’s delayed to the next season, similar to a medical redshirt in college. The player is still paid his full base salary during the tolling period

 

I mean if he IRs the entire season away, I wouldn't be surprised if his career is over.

 

FYI- Broderick's Cap cost next year would be $1.5 million. Why wouldn't the Steelers take a chance on Broderick for $1.5 million against the cap in 2027?

 

Interesting. I thought his contract expired at the end of this season due to them not picking up his 5th year option.

 

If his contract tolls, it makes sense to at least bring him to camp.

First thing to see is whether or not he starts camp on the PUP.

I believe that you're correct that for his contract to toll, he cannot be cleared to play at any point in the season. So needs to start on PUP. Then go straight to IR. Has to stay on IR all year.

If all that happens, I think his contract tolls. Although there's probably some way for him to grieve it if he thinks he's been on IR improperly?

And if his contract tolls, there's basically no reason not to at least bring him to camp if he's physically able.

 

It normally would.

But contracts can "toll" if a player doesn't ever play in the last year of their contract due to injury. "Tolling" means that they basically have to "repeat" the last year of their contract with their current team. They get paid the same amount again in the "bonus" year. I assume that if you opt to cut the player, this contract is treated as pure salary so there's no penalty cap wise at that point. But I don't know for sure.

Shazier's contract tolled at one point and the Steelers held on to him for the extra year even though they knew he'd never play again. They didn't have to do this, but it let them pay him for another year.

 

I also believe the Steelers added the one more year to Shazier's contract to make him eligible for the NFL's retirement Package and Insurance plan.

 

When I read your OP I was thinking exactly this

He was improving before he got hurt and that is a cheap investment for an OT