Zac Boyer will be entering his third season covering the Washington Redskins for The Free Lance-Star this fall. Make sure to follow Zac on Twitter (@ZacBoyer) for the latest updates or e-mail him with any questions at zboyer@freelancestar.com.
After Multiple Claims, Tom Compton Has Practice Squad Contract Restructured
By ZAC BOYER
The Washington Redskins restructured the contract of offensive tackle Tom Compton, a sixth-round draft pick out of South Dakota who has spent the entire season on the practice squad, after multiple teams tried to sign him to the active roster.
Compton
Compton said the last attempt came before the Redskins’ bye week, though he didn’t know which teams have tried to sign him or how many have expressed interest.
He had repeatedly chosen to stay with the team because of his comfort with the coaching staff, but also because any team signing a player off another’s practice squad has to keep that player for only three weeks.
“I just figured that it’s something like three weeks and then they’re allowed to release you, so then I’d be out of luck,” Compton said.
Players on the practice squad make $96,900 a year, or $5,700 a week. Compton’s contract, restructured after the most recent claim, will now pay him an annual value of $390,000, or roughly $22,950 a week through the remainder of the season.
Head coach Mike Shanahan said only Friday that multiple teams will try to claim multiple players off practice squads during the year and is a standard practice, but could not give specifics on Compton’s situation. A call to Compton’s agent for additional clarification was not returned.
