Greg White gets contract extension

DE Greg White's sole protest against the Bucs' decision not to extend his contract over the summer was to report a day late to training camp.

After that, the exclusive-rights free agent backed down and played under his one-year minimum-salary contract.

Until now.

White recently signed a two-year contract extension that gives him more security and substantially more money, keeping him with the Bucs through 2010. He will make $370,000 this season but has numerous incentives for sacks. White stands to make $2.5-million under terms of the deal, according to agent Jack Bechta.

Having posted 2.5 sacks through two weeks, White is on pace to surpass his team-leading eight sacks in 2007. Concerns about consistency could have played a role in the Bucs' initial reluctance to grant an extension, considering last season was White's first in the NFL after several years in Europe and the Arena League.

White was at the mercy of NFL rules which are unfavorable toward undrafted players who excel early in their careers. Because he was not a full-time NFL player until last season, White was not eligible for free agency and was prohibited from negotiating with any other club. The Bucs were required only to offer him a one-year contract worth $370,000 to retain exclusive negotiating rights, an offer White reluctantly signed.

The deal does not include any guaranteed money nor an upfront signing bonus, so it is a low-risk deal for the Bucs. All in all, both parties should be pretty pleased about this outcome. Kudos to the Bucs for getting the deal done.

Comments

[Matt]

You'd like to think the Buc's were doing the right thing, but after White got another 2.5 sacks in the first 2 games they know if they didn't try for a relatively modest extention now White may end up with 12-15 sacks for the year and it could cost them a fortune at the end of the season to resign him.

[An Intrigued Bucs Fan]

Excellent point, Matt

[shane]

very good point matt but who knows greg may holdout again if he does record 12-15 sacks, but I'm sure the Bucs would have no problem with tearing up this contract and giving him a new one that is incentive based but with at least 4.5 mill in guaranteed money and worth 1.75 mill for the first year+incentives with a 3 mill signing bonus

[willem]

This is good for all partys involved yes they could have keep him on his for nfl standard bargain minimum of 370K but now with a incentive laden and increase for next year
white is happy with the bucs,
what means white is motivated to play for the bucs
what means he is going to have a monster year.
what means trouble for the oposing quarterbacks.

GO BUCS... GO WHITE

[common snese]

good, about time...

now, how about a starting position for the guy considering he leads the team in sacks, but no where near the playing time as other d-linemen....

[Kurt]

Allen continues to impress me with his prudence and timely signings.

[DMS]

It is about time! That man is a monster!

[bobbyd]

I hate it when the team makes good business decisions. I wish they would simply throw gobs of money at players.

[d]

Right on, common snese, hehehe.
White should start at RE, Gaines at LE.
This is not rocket science. What gives?

[James]

Jeff Garcia take note... bum.