A Word About Rookie Contracts
May 25th, 2018
Drafted Buccaneers rookies are signing their contracts right and left, including Vita Vea.
Here’s why Joe doesn’t write about this annual happening.
It’s really quite simple. At JoeBucsFan.com world headquarters, a rookie signing his deal is only news if it doesn’t happen. Plus, the Bucs have room for all the contracts under the salary cap, so it’s a non-issue.
All these guys are slotted under the rookie wage scale. They have almost zero leverage and there’s just about nothing to negotiate.
Yes, there’s something called “offset language” that a rookie will occasionally attack with his agent. And that really only has to do with how it’s handled if the guy is cut and then signs with another team. Kind of like how Josh Freeman got to double dip after the Bucs cut him in Year 5 of his rookie contract and then he signed with the Vikings soon after.
But the offset language is rarely challenged because it’s reasonable. Rookies want in, want their fat check and don’t want to cause a ruckus over clauses that are unlikely to affect them.
Joe’s glad Vea got paid yesterday. His family has a neat story of living without a lot of cash in Northern California.
May 25th, 2018 at 2:05 pm
I’m happy for Vea. Like many, he did not grow up with a lot of cash. Word is he also got what? like a 7 or 8mil signing bonus in addition to his 3. somethin mil a yr. He and his family will probably have a nice home there in Tampa Bay. Now show us what you got Vea..Ball out!!!
May 25th, 2018 at 2:13 pm
remember when bosa had a big issue with his contract…..he’s worth every penny…maybe more….
lets get it VITA!!!!!!!
#NOEXCUSESIN2018!!!!!…#PRESSURESONTHECOACHES!!!!….GO BUCS!!!!
May 25th, 2018 at 2:32 pm
If I were a drafted player with the rookie salary construction…I damn sure would not have a agent….I’d do my own negotiating and pocket the difference….unless you are a VERY high profile player likely to have endorsement deals…agents are eating your lunch
May 25th, 2018 at 2:33 pm
“You’re welcome”….. you know…. from the Maui song.
May 25th, 2018 at 2:45 pm
4 years – $14.82M – Fully Guaranteed with 5th year team option. includes $8.86M up front signing bonus.
Vea will earn that amount every year 4-5 years from now if he’s as good as we all hope…
May 25th, 2018 at 3:34 pm
I don’t get the poverty story. California has a very high cost of living. He and his family could have moved to any number of states and lived twice as better.
But I don’t begrudge him his pay.
May 25th, 2018 at 3:46 pm
@Buccaneer Bonzai,
If only it were that easy. First of all, how do you get the money to move? Second, where do you move to? By the way, California does have a very high cost of living, but it also tends to have higher wages, so it typically evens out. It’s very hard to move anywhere when you don’t have money to begin with. It’s a bit of a vicious cycle.
May 25th, 2018 at 4:16 pm
very excited to see our first round pick in action. Not all first rounders are exciting. But they are for me when their 350.
May 25th, 2018 at 9:23 pm
Get it Vita!!