According to Jenny Vrentas of The Star Ledger defensive end Mike DeVito has restructured his contract allowing for salary cap savings:
His (DeVito’s) cap number, and total compensation, reduced by about $600,000 in the restructure. Since he is due a guaranteed $2.5 million, it is essentially assured that the team will not cut him.
Vrentas also reports DeVito will have an opportunity to recoup the decrease in salary by reaching a playing time escalator:
However, the contract also includes a $750,000 escalator, based on playing time, so DeVito has the opportunity to earn his money back.
The ripple effect from first round draft pick Quinton Coples had already begun as the Jets recently released reserve defensive end Ropati Pitoitua.
DeVito was vulnerable to a restructuring before the Coples addition as noted in a March 13 Jet-Nation article:
Mike DeVito might be approached for a restructuring, he is set to make $3.1 million in 2012 and none of it is guaranteed. The Jets may ask him to lower his salary … in return the team will fully guarantee the contract.
If he did not agreed to the restructuring DeVito may have been the one released, not Pitoitua, but he now has a guaranteed salary for 2012.
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