AFL players score hefty raise in new CBA

Most Arena Football League players will receive significant game-day raises eventually reaching 131 percent under the new five-year collective bargaining agreement, according to documents obtained by the Tribune-Review.

Game salaries will increase from $400 to $830 starting next season and will top out at $925 in 2017, the final year of the deal.

But starting quarterbacks will lose 85 percent of their per-game bonus, which will drop from $1,675 to $250 next year. Such bonuses will increase to $350 by the end of the contract.

A new feature of the CBA will let teams offer players multiyear contracts that include roster bonuses of $750 per season on two-year deals and $1,000 per season on three-year contracts.

Players, who currently live for free in housing provided by the teams, will lose that privilege and have the option to pay $150 per player per week per room — based on single occupancy. Team-provided housing will include furniture and utilities.

Other features of the CBA:

• Reducing the roster by one to 20 active players but adding an inactive player for a total of four.

• $75 per week for veterans during training camp.

• $500 for travel fees when a player is traded.

• Arbitration for fines of more than $100.

• This season's pay will increase to $585, beginning with the final four games of the regular season. Starting quarterback bonuses for those games will be $1,090.

Jerry DiPaola is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at jdipaola@tribweb.com.