can football teams cut people they just signed without losing money?

Question

cuz the panthers have wayyy too many guys cuz htey sign more people than required at some positions like 6 safetys

Answer 1

depends on the contract... if there is a signing bonus then the player gets that money automatically when he signs, so when you cut him a week later he still has the money from the signing bonus but he doesn't get paid his annual salary


and teams usually overstock their roster and make cuts after preseason

Answer 2

Every team is 'over stocked' as you put it right now. Very normal prior to going into training camp. Most contracts have a signing bonus of some kind. A cut player would keep that but the balance of the contract money is contingent upon them making the team, hence if they are cut the contract is voided.

Answer 3

It can be in the contract that they can be cut and they'll be paid this amount of money, whatever. But a lot of players that have been signed (like undrafted rookie free agents) are not paid very much at all to begin with - unless they later survive the cuts after preseason.