Screengrab YouTube // ESPN
Last week the XFL revealed how much they were going to pay players and apparently one player didn’t think it was enough to keep him in the league.
According to several reports, the average salary for the XFL was going to be $55k with some players earning more or less depending on skill.
XFL players will make an average salary of $55,000 a year, the upstart league wrote in a memo distributed to player agents.
The memo states that players who are drafted and retained by XFL teams will become full-time employees as of December 4, 2019, and if they remain on a roster they will remain employed through May 31, 2020. Between the base salary, a bonus for being active on game days and a bonus for being on the winning team, the average player will make $55,000 a year.
JUST IN: The XFL has just sent agents of prospective players salary information. With AAF not around, the money is less. First contract is from Dec. 4 to May 31. Guaranteed pay on standard contract is $1,040 a week. Max per week is $4,947, including active roster + win bonuses.
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) October 11, 2019
Former NFL player Shawne Merriman went on to criticize the league for offering so little money to players.
XFL average salary is suppose to be $55,000. Good luck finding top talent for that, you’re better off coming over to Lights Out Xtreme Fighting where there is no roof on the ceiling, and you damn sure can make a lot more that. pic.twitter.com/pBkTFPR8n6
— Shawne Merriman (@shawnemerriman) October 11, 2019
Apparently, one player agrees with Merriman’s sentiment. Former AAF standout Corey Vereen informed the league that he was dropping out after getting drafted because he was disappointed in the base salary. In a letter released by his agent, Vereen claims that the salaries presented to agents last week was nowhere close to what he was told they were going to be at the XFL combine earlier this year.
After careful consideration, @meanvereen has decided to forgo his @xfl2020 opportunity. Corey has stayed in great shape for his next football opportunity. Unfortunately that opportunity will not be in the XFL with the current pay scale. We wish the @XFLWildcats the best of luck! pic.twitter.com/CVF1Ugcv0x
— Logan Brown Sports (@LBSAgent) October 23, 2019
On Wednesday, October 16,2019 Corey Vereen was selected by the Los Angeles Wildcats in the 8th round of the NFL Draft.
Corey was extremely excited about the opportunity the XFL presented after having immense success in the AAF and receiving a camp invite from the Arizona Cardinals.
However, on Friday October 11, 2019, the XFL league office made players and agents aware of the player compensation and payroll schedule for the new league. The salary schedule did not come close to matching what was talked about rampantly throughout the XFL combine workouts and was discussed online by many different sources. The base salary is $27,000 with per-game active bonuses of $1,685 and weekly win bonuses of $2,222.
As a proud graduate of the University of Tennessee with a degree in Computer Science, Corey has been working in his career field comfortably while remaining in shape to pursue his football endeavors. Corey has chosen to forgo his XFL opportunity and continue working in his career field. We wish the upstart league the best and would be open to the idea of playing when salaries reach an appropriate medium
Not a good look for the XFL.