Patriots cost Trent Brown big contract incentive by benching him

Jul 26, 2023; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots offensive tackle Trent Brown (77) makes his way to the practice fields for training camp at Gillette Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports

New England Patriots offensive lineman Trent Brown was benched for Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills, and the decision will have a dramatic impact on his earning potential.

Brown was removed from the injury report on Friday after being listed with an illness earlier in the week. He was still a healthy scratch for Sunday after the Patriots made him inactive.

According to longtime Patriots salary cap expert Miguel Benzan, Brown will now be unable to earn any of the $6.5 million in playing-time incentives he has in his contract this season. Benzan provided a full breakdown of the incentives:

Trent Brown's incentives
750K 65% Playtime
750K 70% Playtime
1M 75% Playtime
1M 80% Playtime
1M 85% Playtime
1M 90% PT
750K 95% PT OR Pro Bowl original ballot

In early November I tweeted that Trent Brown could only earn the 65% playtime incentive. Today ended that chance

— Patscap (@patscap) December 31, 2023

Brown has battled injuries this season that have limited his playing time. Benzan noted last month that Brown would only be able to earn a maximum of 65% of his playing-time incentives. By making Brown a healthy scratch in Week 17, the Patriots mathematically eliminated the possibility of Brown earning any of that money.

The timing of the decision from Bill Belichick hardly seems like a coincidence. Brown is set to become a free agent at the end of the season. In an interview with Sophie Weller of A to Z Sports this week, Brown expressed frustration with the Patriots over the way his contract has been handled. He said he expected to have a new contract by now after what the team told him when he signed his most recent 2-year deal in 2022.

“It would have been done when they said it was going to get done. When I signed the last one,” Brown said. “The one I signed two years ago, I was told that I would, if I had a good year then I would; we should get it fixed. It never happened.”

Brown said he understands why he has not gotten a new deal, as the Patriots have had “a lot of moving parts” over the past two seasons.

The Patriots have had an extremely disappointing season. Their offensive line has been an issue, though Brown has mostly played well when healthy.

Even if Belichick does not return to New England next season, it seems all but certain now that Brown will depart in free agency.