Because of various incentives included in their contracts, Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and wide receiver Calvin Johnson have triggered changes to their base salaries in 2011.
For Suh, he has achieved an unknown incentive that triggered an increase of $1 million in the base salary of his contract next season. He was originally set to make $405,000. Instead he will make a base of $1,405,000. The incentive that triggered this increase could be related to playing time or achieving a certain amount of sacks or something like making the Pro Bowl.
Unlike Suh, Johnson's base salary in 2011 will actually decrease because of an incentive he triggered in 2010. He was going to make $10,450,482 originally, but now he will make $8,875,000. That is a decrease of $1,575,482.
Interestingly, the incentive that triggered this decrease also triggered an increase of the same amount in 2012. This means that as long as he finishes out his contract, Johnson will not receive any less money; he will just have to wait until 2012 to get back that $1,575,482. Adding that number to his previous 2012 salary gives him a new total of $14 million for the final year of his contract.