Joe finds it very odd that Jermaine Phillips' new contract doesn't jibe with his performance and the pay of those around him

Bucs fans should be scratching their heads at the one-year contract reportedly signed by safety Jermaine Phillips last week.

The St. Pete Times and other publications say the deal is worth a mere $1.25 million.

That’s chump change considering Phillips is in his prime and arguably the Bucs’ best member of the secondary. And you could have made a case for him getting Pro Bowl consideration last season.

Something seems terribly wrong here.

Sure, Phillips is injury prone, missing five games last season with busted forearms. But the Bucs just signed linebacker Angelo Crowell, a guy who missed all of 2008 with a knee injury. for a one-year deal worth $3.25 million.

The Bucs also signed safety Will Allen in February for a minimum contract value of $1.83 million.

Last Joe checked Allen is behind Phillips on the depth chart.

Cornerback Phillip Buchanon also recently signed a 2-year, $8.5 million deal with the Lions. And he was hardly the player Phillips is.

Either Phillips has a horrendous agent or there may have been issues with Phillips passing a physical for another team. 

Joe is not of the mind that the Bucs somehow just got lucky with a great deal.