Second Look At Elevated NFL Practice Squad Salaries

Earlier this month, we took at look at the increased practice squad salaries that Green Bay Packers quarterback Graham Harrell, New England Patriots safety Ross Ventrone and Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Rudy Carpenter received from their clubs.

Ventrone has since been added to the 53-man roster, and some new practice squad players have joined Harrell and Carpenter in the Elevated Salary Club.

As originally reported by Pat Yasinskas of ESPN.com, Buccaneers defensive end George Johnson should have been included in the first look. Johnson was initially earning $10,000 per week before the Bucs increased his weekly salary to $22,059 per week, which over a full 17-week season would be worth the league minimum salary for a player on the 53-man roster.

Another oversight on the initial list, and another practice squad player being paid as if he were on the 53-man roster ($22,059 per week), is Minnesota Vikings cornerback Domonique Johnson. In 2010, the Vikings paid several practice squad players (Seth Olsen, Thomas Welch) at an increased rate, so it's not surprising that they're doing so again this season.

The Patriots remain on the list as they are paying tight end Garrett Mills a practice squad salary of $14,062.50 per week. At that rate, if he remains on New England's practice squad for the full 16 weeks, he'll have earned $225,000 this season.

Rounding out the current look is New Orleans Saints running back Joique Bell. Waived and re-signed to the practice squad last week, Bell is earning a $10,000 per week salary on the practice squad. In addition to having what's essentially a nine-man practice squad -- I've lost count of how many times quarterback Sean Canfield has been released and re-signed to the practice squad over the last 20 weeks, but it's in the double digits -- the Saints are another team that has shown a willingness to compensate practice squad players at a higher rate. Offensive tackle Jermey Pernell and wide receiver Adrian Arrington received elevated salaries from the Saints last season.