Contract Numbers For New Bucs

March 4, 2008 @ 1:30pm

The contract for new Bucs center Jeff Faine can void after two years (Getty Images)

How big was was the signing bonus the Buccaneers gave new starting center Jeff Faine? How much cap space will new tight end John Gilmore and defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson take up in 2008? Get the answers to these questions in this PewterReport.com article.

The highest signing bonus Tampa Bay doled out in free agency a year ago was $3 million, which was given to both quarterback Jeff Garcia and left tackle Luke Petitgout. In 2008, the Bucs were less conservative with their checkbook when signing center Jeff Faine to a six-year deal worth $37.5 million on Friday, February 29.

PewterReport.com is reporting that Faine’s deal includes a $12 million signing bonus and a roster bonus of $1 million in 2009. The deal is also voidable after 2009 if certain triggers are achieved.

The 26-year old Faine, who will be Tampa Bay’s starting center this year, will play for a $1 million base salary in 2008 and have a cap value of $3 million. In 2009, Faine’s base salary is again $1 million, but his cap value swells to $4 million due to the $1 million roster bonus that year.

In 2010, Faine’s cap value grows to $7 million, which is the first year that his contract becomes voidable.

Newly signed tight end John Gilmore, who is known for his blocking and his ability to play on special teams, received a $1 million signing bonus for his three-year deal. He will be paid a base salary of $750,000 and have a cap value of $1,083,333 in 2008. Gilmore’s base salary climbs to $1 million in 2009 and $1.25 million in 2010.

The two-year deal for defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson, who is expected to compete for playing time primarily at left defensive end due to the release of Greg Spires and Kevin Carter, consists of a $300,000 signing bonus, a $200,000 roster bonus if he makes the team and a $750,000 base salary in 2008. His cap value in 2008 is $1.1 million and climbs to $1.9 million in 2009 due to a $1.75 million base salary.

OTHER BUCS FREE AGENCY NEWS
The Chicago Sun-Times is reporting that the Buccaneers traded away a sixth-round pick to the Chicago Bears in 2009 for the rights of quarterback Brian Griese. … PewterReport.com is reporting that the team is still very interested in re-signing cornerback Sammy Davis. Davis, a former first-round draft pick by San Diego, signed a one-year deal with the Buccaneers and is currently an unrestricted free agent. … The Buccaneers are also still interested in re-signing offensive lineman Matt Lehr, defensive end Kevin Carter and tight ends Anthony Becht and Jerramy Stevens. … Tampa Bay has also expressed some interest in former New York Giants and Philadelphia cornerback William James. No visit has been scheduled at this time.

MORE FREE AGENCY VISITS
Keep track of all of the Tampa Bay's visits that PewterReport.com has been able to confirm on the Bucs Free Agency Tracker on the PewterReport.com message boards.

LATEST PEWTERREPORT.COM FREE AGENCY HEADLINES
Dunn Visits With Bucs

Bucs Trade For Griese

Bucs To Visit With S Wilson

Bucs Officially Sign TE Gilmore

Bucs Sign DE Wilkerson

Faine Officially A Buc

Bucs Express Interest In OT Harris

TE Troupe To Visit Bucs On Saturday

Henderson To Visit Bucs

TE Gilmore To Sign With Bucs

Bucs Attempting To Line Up Visits With Douglas, Moore

Bucs Want To Meet With CB Florence On Friday

Bucs To Visit With DE Wilkerson

Bucs Interested In Hackett Among Other FAs

Bucs Close To Signing C Faine

MLB Koutouvides To Visit Bucs Friday

Want the inside scoop on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' 2008 offseason plans? Want to find out who the Bucs are targeting in free agency and the NFL Draft this year? Subscribe to PewterReport.com's Pewter Insider by clicking here.

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Comments

rayehnle

I like every move so far. I hope Dunn goes somewhere else. He is undersize and at this point will not help the Bucs. Good move on new Quarterback. Much fun.

3:34pm, March 4, 2008

shaftusn2007

Ya, what I'd like to see Tampa do is stop bringing back the old Buccaneers (Dunn/Griese). What we need to do is start spending some of the 41 million on some offense playmakers....Moss would have been nice....

4:33pm, March 4, 2008

tnl1990

The Bucs have at least 4 glaring needs.....DE, CB, WR(with speed) and RB. They have 2 maybe 3 draft picks that might be able to offset this need. They are going to have to address the balance in free agency. They have to also find some depth to replace or upgrade what they don't already have or have let go. With the exception of Faine the current signees are all "depth" players. I don't support uncontrolled spending but we should have worked harder on the d-line and d-back free agents. Then we could have addressed the balance in the draft. This draft appears deep at RB and WR. Its worth paying higher free agent prices for the pro level proven DBs and D-linemen. I hope we have a better plan than hoping some new releases or trades might occur. GO BUCS!!!

6:25pm, March 4, 2008

rgreen

I'm changing my stance...I wanted the big "splash" play in FA, but now I will preach patience. Something big is in the offing. Maybe it's the sale of the Bucs, maybe it's the big trade, I dunno. I've got a feeling, and the last time I had this feeling Rhonde took one for 90 yards to shut down the Vet. Let's hope for Fitz or Lito and one hell of a draft. Keep and eye on Shaun Alexander as well. With locking up Duckett for 5 years, something is in the works there. Not saying that we need him, but he's not done in this league and he will want to prove/redeem himself. Graham, Bennett, and Caddy (if healthy) are not the answer, although I think I could be the answer behind that line if they all can pleassse stay healthy! GO BUCS!!!

6:33pm, March 4, 2008

bradha

i think that the bucs have something up there sleve

7:34pm, March 4, 2008

epcolson

I sure hope they do...they must. We've only visited with one WR with legs and no hands. Henderson would have been no more than a #3 WR for us. Hackett would be a good #2 WR but it doesn't look like we're that interested in him. Maybe they are. I don't think Javon Walker was the answer with the enormous contract he got with the Raiders. Yeash...I guess we'll draft a #2 WR and pray he learns the system before week 10. Same thing for a CB. I like the Griese signing especially after I saw the numbers. Good job Allen. There's not really a RB out there I like enough to replace Graham yet. Maybe someone will drop one. I say draft a RB in the 3rd or get a vet on the cheap. We have power in Graham and speed on 3rd down with Bennett...Dunn would just be an inbetween with 50 year old legs. I'm dissapointed we couldn't do more but it just wasn't there for us this offseason....at least not yet.

9:03am, March 5, 2008

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Contract Numbers For New Bucs

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