I'm pretty sure if a player retires a team CAN (they often choose not to) but CAN go after the signing bonus, which is what created the rift between WR Calvin Johnson and the Lions for a good number of years. The Lions demanded that money back.

And that's why PFF kept writing articles about QB Matt Ryan wouldn't say he's retiring, even if he knew he wanted to step away from a year (or more) from the Colts, because if he retired, he'd owe the Colts a lot of money back, which is why he kept quiet and forced him to release him.


So if Bakhtiari likes his money, then I doubt he'll be publicly saying he's going to retire. And Bakhtiari is smart to the business rules, I'm sure he knows this one.


If Bakhtiari is released before next season, the Packers save $21.4 million. Error on my part for saying $21.7 million in the prior post.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/green-bay-packers/david-bakhtiari-12390/