NFL players know how many catches or yards or sacks they need in the season finale to reach certain bonuses. You would too.
Baltimore Ravens edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney had a lot on the line Saturday. He needed a half of a sack to push a $1 million bonus to $1.75 million. Then late in the second quarter, he reached Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph and made three-quarters of a million bucks for a sack.
Clowney knew it. He started celebrating in the rain, and it wasn't just because he got a sack in a tie game. Even the NFL's social media account acknowledged it.
That gave Clowney 9.5 sacks for the season. He needed nine to hit that large bonus. Clowney had already made a $1 million bonus for seven sacks, and he added $750,000 by hitting nine. Clowney's one-year contract for this season was just $2.5 million, so the bonus money was was significant.
Clowney has had a very nice season for the Ravens after posting just two sacks for the Cleveland Browns last season. His sack on Saturday gave him plenty of reasons to dance.