re: Nasty Nick Fairly done?

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A signing bonus is a signing bonus, they ain't getting that money back.

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Oh really.

Someone needs to go back 17 years and tell the arbitrator: LINK

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Arbitrator Sam Kagel ruled that Sanders owed the Lions only one-sixth of the $11 million bonus he received in 1997 because he's missed only one season so far.

Unless he returns to football, he will owe $1.83 million on future reporting dates.

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NFL CBA 2011-2020

Section 9:

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(vi) Retirement.

Should a Forfeitable Breach occur due to player’s retirement, a Club may demand repayment of all Forfeitable Salary Allocations attributable to the proportionate amount, if any, for the present year and the Forfeitable Salary Allocations for future years. If the player fails to repay such amounts, then the Club may seek an award from the System Arbitrator pursuant to Article 15, for repayment of all Forfeitable Salary Allocations attributable to present and future years. Repayment of Forfeitable Salary Allocations attributable to future League Years must be made by June 1st of each League Year for which each Forfeitable Salary Allocation is attributable. If the player returns to play for the Club in the subsequent season, then the Club must either (a) take the player back under his existing contract with no forfeiture of the remaining Forfeitable Salary Allocations, or (b) release the player and seek repayment of any remaining Forfeitable Salary Allocations for future League Years.

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Recent example:
Chris Borland

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Borland received a $617,436 signing bonus when he inked a four-year rookie deal with the Niners coming out of college. He'll be returning $463,077 to the team assuming his three-quarters number is spot on.

That's a huge chunk of change, but it's likely the 49ers could've recovered it from him anyway, although litigating the money back from Borland would've been a messy affair.

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It's an option but it's not imperative as it can lead to bad P.R.