Marlon Brown leads Ravens with performance based pay raise

Rookie Ravens wide receiver, Marlon Brown just got a nice fat little bonus that equals more than half of his 2013 salary. Being an undrafted rookie, he was signed to a 3 year - $1.49 million contract that paid him $405,000 for the 2013 season. He's not going to be eating Raman noodles anytime soon, but Brown's net worth just got a nice boost this week as he led all Ravens players in performance based bonuses with $235,461.

The money is deferred until April 1st of 2016 so he won't see it immediately, but it doesn't count against the NFL salary cap limit of $133 million this year. The fund was created back in 2002 as a way to supplement player compensation and reward them for their playing time versus their salary levels.

Each team is allotted $3.46 million to award to their players based on an algorithm of their regular season playing time, full salary, incentives and signing bonus against other players on the roster. Clearly Brown had an unexpectedly great season, ending with 49 receptions for 524 yards and an amazing 7 touchdowns. His play earned him the bonus and it earned him a serious shot at being a starter this year.

Here is the top 10 list of performance based compensation for the Ravens last season:

1. Marlon Brown (wide receiver): $235,461

2. Gino Gradkowski (center): $230,105

3. James Ihedigbo (strong safety): $229,688

4. A.Q. Shipley (center-guard): $194,100

5. Josh Bynes (linebacker): $193,195

6. Torrey Smith (wide receiver): $141,883

7. Eugene Monroe (offensive tackle): $136,442

8. Anthony Levine (strong safety): $125,773

9. Matt Elam (free safety): $117,404

10. Kyle Juszczyk (fullback): $94,333

We all look to Marlon Brown to be at the top of this list for the 2014 season as well. Hopefully he can match it up with a new Super Bowl ring.