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The contract numbers for new Bucs cornerback Richard Sherman have been revealed. As Pewter Report initially reported on Twitter, Sherman’s one-year deal is worth north of $1.2 million.
Pro Football Focus’ Doug Kyed reports that Sherman will be making $1 million in base salary with half of that guaranteed. He also has $25,000 per game bonuses, as well as incentive money tied to his playing time percentages and if the Bucs make he playoffs.
Full breakdown:
– Base salary: $1M ($1.2M prorated over 15 weeks)
– $500,000 guaranteed
– Per game bonuses: $350,000 ($25,000 per game for 14 games)
– Play-time incentives:
45% + playoffs = $300,000 or
55% + playoffs = $600,000 or
65 % + playoffs = $900,000
Total: $2,250,000 https://t.co/tFV2oc5Dc3— Doug Kyed (@DougKyed) September 29, 2021
With injuries to starting cornerbacks Sean Murphy-Bunting and Jamel Dean, Sherman could start for the Bucs right away opposite Carlton Davis III. Sherman will practice with the Bucs on Wednesday and will play Sunday night when Tampa Bay battles New England.
PFF’s Brad Spielberger added more context to Sherman’s contract incentives as it pertains to the Bucs’ salary cap, which is believed to be a little less than $3 million worth of cap space now after his signing.
Sherman only played 32% of snaps in 2020, so his incentives tied to snap percentages start at 45% (plus Bucs have to make playoffs)
This enables Tampa Bay to keep those incentives off the 2021 cap as they're NLTBE ("not likely to be earned")
$1.35M base, $1.125M 2021 cap hit https://t.co/34yy0pOhIy
— Brad Spielberger (@PFF_Brad) September 29, 2021
Pro Football Focus, which broke the news of Sherman’s signing on his podcast, added more information about Sherman. Specifically, his new jersey number in Tampa Bay. With running back Giovani Bernard wearing No. 25, which Sherman wore in both Seattle and San Francisco, the Bucs’ newest cornerback will be wearing No. 5 with the Bucs.
Richard Sherman wearing the new No. 5️⃣ in Tampa 👀 pic.twitter.com/E3qCq1E71n
— PFF (@PFF) September 29, 2021
The reason why new #Bucs CB Richard Sherman won't be wearing No. 25 in Tampa Bay?
Giovani Bernard has No. 25 and the NFL forbids players from changing their jersey numbers once the season starts.
So Bernard couldn't even give Sherman No. 25 if he wanted to – or was paid to.
— PewterReport (@PewterReport) September 29, 2021
The last prominent Bucs player to wear No. 5 was former quarterback Josh Freeman, who donned that number from 2009-13. Perhaps Sherman can make that number more memorable.