Only two games into his contract with the Patriots, linebacker and special-teamer Jonathan Freeny has shown the team enough to earn another year on his deal. According to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link), the Pats have extended Freeny, tacking another year onto his current contract and locking him up through the 2016 season.
After spending the first four years of his NFL career in Miami, Freeny signed a one-year pact with the Patriots earlier this year, worth $1MM — an $850K base salary, along with a $150K signing bonus. According to Yates, Freeny’s second year will feature a raise, including a $1MM base salary, a $500K signing bonus, and $250K in per-game roster bonuses.
Freeny, 26, won’t see much action on defense for the Patriots unless someone gets hurt — through two games, he has appeared in just two defensive snaps for the team. However, he’s expected to be a key contributor on special teams, having racked up 11 tackles in kick and punt coverage a year ago for the division-rival Dolphins.
Freeny’s new signing bonus will be prorated over this season and next, so his 2015 cap hit will increase a little, while his 2016 cap number will be as high as $1.5MM, depending on how many games he plays this season.
Smart move for the Patriots.