What players earn for making it to the Super Bowl

We think of NFL players as being rich. The league minimum salary is $420,000. They get a little richer just by playing in the Super Bowl, not to mention playing in the post season to get there.

Every year, the NFL sets a predetermined amount to compensate players based on how far their team goes in the playoffs. The bonuses begin with the wild card and divisional playoff games and grow from there culminating in the biggest bonuses for Super Bowl.

When the dust settles this Sunday between the Patriots and the Seahawks, each player on the losing team's 53-man roster is guaranteed a bonus check of $49,000 just for being there.

For the winning the team the payout this year is $97,000, according to the 2014 NFL Media Guide. That means the journey from divisional leaders to Super Bowl champions pays out a total of $165,000 this year. Most of us would take that bonus over our full year's salary.

Read more about it here.