ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Rosters spots are serious business for NFL players lacking job security. For some, the next 30 hours or so will determine whether they'll earn $17,352.94 per week or whatever the real world pays.

The minimum NFL salary is $295,000. Players get paid in 17 installments, one for every week they spend as a paid member of the organization.

NFL teams must trim rosters from 75 players to 53 players by Saturday afternoon. Teams can establish eight-man practice squads beginning Sunday. Practice-squad players earn a minimum of $5,200 per week during the regular season and playoffs.

Once a player signs with a practice squad, he can practice with the team. He becomes eligible to play in games only if a team signs him to its 53-man roster. Practice-squad players are free to sign with any team's active roster at any time during the season.

The chart shows each of the Seahawks' players with practice-squad eligibility, according to the team (I'll hit all the teams in the division as the day continues).

I was surprised to see Ray Willis' name on Seattle's list, but practice-squad rules can be confusing, and exceptions sometimes apply to relatively experienced players. In this case, Willis is a lock to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

To be clear: Players need nine games on the 45-man (active) roster to burn their practice-squad eligibility, even if they have multiple accrued seasons, as Willis does.

I've categorized each player based on his perceived likelihood of earning a spot on the 53-man roster. Those are rough characterizations. Teams still have not made decisions. It's conceivable that a player listed as a "keeper" could face his release.