Lions’ dispute with Bucs over Johnson involves ‘de-escalator’ clause 
Detroit Lions defensive end George Johnson (93) is blocked by Tampa Bay Buccaneers tackle Demar Dotson (69) during an NFL football game at Ford Field in Detroit, Sunday, Dec. 7, 2014. (AP Photo/Rick Osentoski) By Roy Cummings | Tribune Staff Published: April 14, 2015 TAMPA — You almost have to be a lawyer to understand some of the machinations of the NFL nowadays. Well, Mike Florio, the founder of ProFootballTalk, is a lawyer and with the help of an unnamed NFL source, he appears to have figured out why the Lions are disputing the contract offer the Buccaneers made to restricted free agent defensive end George Johnson.Per Florio, the three-year, $9 million offer the Bucs made to Johnson contains some “de-escalator’’ clauses that could drop the value of the deal to $7 million.What the Lions want to know, according to Florio, is whether they can retain Johnson by matching the cheaper three-year, $7 million offer instead of matching the more expensive version.An arbitrator has been assigned in the case and has 10 days to reach a decision. After that the Lions would have two days to match the deal the arbitrator decides is valid.Johnson is five-year NFL veteran who has never started an NFL game and nearly quit the league for lack of playing time before having a breakout six-sack season with the Lions last year.The Lions originally gave Johnson an original-round tender worth $1.542 million for the 2015 season, which gave them a right to match any subsequent offer but denied them compensation should Johnson sign elsewhere. [email protected](813) 259-7979Twitter: @RcummingsTBO
