Russell Okung #76 of the Carolina Panthers waits between drills during a training camp session at Bank of America Stadium on August 24, 2020 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) NEW YORK - In May 2019 NFL player Russell Okung tweeted "Pay me in Bitcoin" and now that appears to be happening.The Carolina Pathers tackle will receive half of his $13 million salary in the cryptocurrency.The arrangement comes by way of bitcoin startup Zap, according to industry site coindesk.The company's Strike product will apparently receive a direct deposit from the Carolina Panthers and it will be converted to bitcoin.Okung has been a long-time proponent of bitcoin and encourages other professional athletes to embrace it as a.