Pittsburgh Power Fined $100,000 for Salary Violations
Adam Markowitz
Tuesday October 14, 2014
The Pittsburgh Power made the jump last season from a 4-14 team to a 15-3 team. If they are going to be making a jump in the right direction this year, they're going to have to do so with peering eyes watching their every move. The Power have been fined by the Arena Football League a total of $100,000 for three separate incidents in violating the salary structure for coaches and players.
Though no statement has been made public by the AFL, sources have confirmed to ArenaFan.com that a memo was sent to all 13 teams regarding the crackdown on salary cap violators, and as was demonstrated in the Pittsburgh fines, infractions will be heavily penalized. This memo was sent out shortly after new commissioner Scott C. Butera officially took his post with the AFL. The $100,000 fine represents more than a quarter of the estimated league dues for the 2015 season.
AFL Director of Communications, BJ Pickard stated that the league does not comment on internal disciplinary matters.
It is unknown at this time whether other teams have been found guilty of violating the salary structure, though the league has launched an initiative to uncover any wrongdoings for all 13 teams that are slated to play for the 2015 season.
Teams are all given a budget for coaching staffs, and though there is no maximum that any one coach can make, the entire staff has to fit inside the parameters of a league-wide budget. Teams often pay coaches to have job titles such as Director of Player Personnel or General Manager to get an extra check and to either give extra money to head coaches or to leave extra money for assistants. The coaching staff money can be split however the team sees fit, which is why some teams carry three coaches, while others carry four or five on their team.
Players are signed to standard player contracts. For the 2015 season, veterans will earn $875.00 per game if they are active and $625.00 per game if they are inactive. Rookies will earn $820.00 per game. Players can earn up to $1,000.00 in contract bonuses on an annual basis for signing multi-year agreements. No more than five players on a team can be earning signing bonuses for three year contracts. Contracts of two-years are unlimited as are rookie contracts. Starting quarterbacks also earn an extra bonus of $300.00 per game.
