Bill Belichick's salary has been a major topic in New England this week.
It came following Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk tweeting that his salary is "believed to be north of $20 million."
Florio joined The Greg Hill Show Thursday morning and gave some more intel.
“I don’t have an exact number, and here’s why: the highest-paid coaches in football get paid a salary that is reported to the league and then other money is funneled to them through companies that are related to the team, owned by the ownership of the team," he said. "And I’m not saying this is precisely what’s happened in New England, this is what happens league-wide. The best coaches get supplemental income that no one knows about. People will say, well why is it a secret? Why is it a big deal? There’s no salary cap, it’s not like you have to give somebody a briefcase of cash under a table because you’re going to get in trouble for blowing the coaching salary cap, it’s more about blowing the curve.
"Owners have done a very good job of keeping coaching salaries from growing at a rate commensurate with player salaries. It should be that coaching salaries go up and up and up, there’s no cap and I think a good coach is far more valuable to a team than a good player. I think that if you’re going to have a $25 million quarterback — pick the name, Philip Rivers, Drew Brees, Tom Brady — Bill Belichick is worth $25 million or more because of what he brings to the table, although this past year people may disagree.
“So, my belief is whatever you hear about Bill Belichick, whatever you think he’s making, he’s making more than that. Same with Sean Payton, Pete Carroll. The top coaches in the league are making more than we realize because they keep it all very secret so that the coaches who aren’t at the top of the food chain don’t get emboldened to ask for more. When a great player gets a big contract, the rising tide lifts all boats and other players can get more in the wake of that great player. I think the goal is: let’s keep it quiet so these younger coaches, these coaches with less experience and less accomplishment don’t want as much.”
Belichick's contract is one of the biggest secrets in sports and it looks like it will stay that way.
