Vincent Jackson signs 5yr, $55+Million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers

[SportsFromA2]

Free-agent wide receiver Vincent Jackson has signed a five-year, $55.55 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Jackson was one of the top wideouts available in free agency once San Diego decided not to give him the franchise tag. It didn't take him long to hook up with Tampa Bay and quarterback Josh Freeman, in whose honor Jackson got all those 5s in the deal; Freeman wears uniform No. 5.

The contract, negotiated by Schwartz and Feinsod Agency, will pay Jackson $13 million in each of his first two years, then $10 million for the third year.

Jackson will provide a deep threat for Freeman, whose other receivers, Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn, are more short-range targets.

Sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter earlier Tuesday that Tampa Bay is also trying to sign free-agent guard Carl Nicks.

Jackson, 29, received the franchise tag from the Chargers in 2011 and went on to catch 60 passes for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns.

It was Jackson's third season of more than 1,000 yards receiving, including three of his past four years. His 2010 season was derailed by a near season-long holdout over a contract dispute.

In 91 career games, the 6-foot-5 Jackson has 272 catches for 4,754 yards and 37 touchdowns.

Nicks, a two-time Pro Bowler at guard, was a member of The Associated Press' first-team All-Pro team in 2011, along with the Saints' other starting guard, Jahri Evans. That hasn't happened since 1953, with Detroit's Lou Creekmur and Dick Stanfel.

While Nicks is just cashing in now, Evans signed a seven-year, $56.7 million contract with the Saints in 2010.

The Saints drafted the 26-year-old Nicks in the fifth round of the 2008 draft.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/76...-year-55m-deal

[det2orl]

What the heck. I thought he was signing with the Skins?

[GF-22a]

Well the skins said they were gonna sign him

[oldstyletom]

Well the skins said they were gonna sign him

[ACfromtheD]

Nicks and VJax? No excuses season for Freeman.

[General283]

This season will just prove to TB management what everyone else already knows: Freeman sucks

[MoOff24]

Good to see they finally decided to try to put some pieces around Freeman.

[Eruff24]

Good to see they finally decided to try to put some pieces around Freeman.

Going into the draft Morrison should be the pick to anchor a brutal secondary....

Signing Nicks was also a huge pick up

[General283]

Good to see they finally decided to try to put some pieces around Freeman.

Joking, right? M. Williams, Benn, Winslow, Blount. They've had talent on offense.

[MoOff24]

Joking, right? M. Williams, Benn, Winslow, Blount. They've had talent on offense.

Compared to what a lot of QBs have around them, that's not very good IMO. Zero great/near the top of their position players in that group. You could argue Winslow is I guess. Blount and Williams both significantly overachieved as rookies and honestly don't know if they will ever get to that level again. Last I read the Bucs were looking to take a RB early in the draft.

Offensive supporting casts from last season I would take over what the Bucs had:

Packers
Lions
Giants
Eagles
Cowboys
Saints
Falcons
Panthers
Patriots
Jets
Dolphins
Bills
Ravens
Steelers
Bengals
Texans
Colts
Chargers
Raiders
Chiefs (if healthy)

So, almost bottom 10 supporting cast IMO.

[General283]

Compared to what a lot of QBs have around them, that's not very good IMO. Zero great/near the top of their position players in that group. You could argue Winslow is I guess. Blount and Williams both significantly overachieved as rookies and honestly don't know if they will ever get to that level again. Last I read the Bucs were looking to take a RB early in the draft.

So you're fan of Freeman? Everyone in the world agrees that guy has regressed. He had equal or better talent on offense in 2011 than 2010 and performed like dump. That's on him