Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 3-14-17

Sports
DeSean Jackson Had To Fork Money Over In Tampa To Get His Favorite Jersey Number
Adrian Peterson Visiting With Seattle Seahawks
Hopefully, DeSean Jackson was taking notes when his agent hammered out a three-year, $33.5 mil- lion deal with the Bucca- neers on Friday , because less than 24 hours after agreeing to the deal, Jack- son had to strike a deal of his own.
The second negotiation, which was arguably just as important as Jackson’s contract negotiation, in- volved a deal for the jersey number that Jackson wanted in Tampa.
After wearing No. 11 for three seasons in Washing- ton, Jackson decided that he also wanted to wear the number in Tampa. However, there was one slight problem with that plan: The number had already been given to Adam Humphries, which was good news for Humphries, because the easiest get-rich quick scheme in human history is selling your jersey number to a rich free agent.
For instance, who can for- get the time that Darrelle Revis paid Mark Barron
For Humphries, it was the first time he had ever been involved in a jersey deal.
“It was kind of fun. I’ve never been in a situation like this before,” Humphries told TampaBay.com. “De- Sean gave me a call, asked me how much I liked No. 11, if I wanted to keep it, how it would be cool if he got it from me. We had some fun going back and forth, me asking him how much it meant to him.”
In the end, the big win- ners here were the kids of Tampa. Yes, Jackson did fork over money for the jer- sey, but that money didn’t go to Humphries, but to char- ity.
Buccaneers, DE William Gholston Avoid Free Agency With 5-Year Extension
WILLIAM GHOLSTON
Tampa Bay Buccaneers de- fensive end William Ghol- ston has signed a five-year contract extension rather than test his worth in free agency.
The versatile fifth-year pro who started 25 games over the past two seasons could earn an average of more than $5 mil- lion per year under the terms of a deal Gholston said he “couldn’t say no to” on Mon- day.
The 6-foot-6 lineman, a fourth-round draft pick in 2013, also plays tackle and is considered one of the Bucs’ best run-stoppers.
Gholston was eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on Thursday. He said he has matured and grown up in the Tampa Bay organization, so he was not eager to start over with another team.
Gholston led Bucs defen- sive linemen in tackles last season, making 14 starts be- fore missing the final two games with a dislocated elbow. In 57 games, including 36 starts, he has 10 sacks.
The Seattle Seahawks broke the ice and are bringing in the All Pro running back Adrian Peterson for a visit on Sunday.
For those who sense a trend coming on, Seattle is also bringing in Jamaal Charles, Eddie Lacy and Latavius Murray this week.
Peterson is an interesting fit for the Seahawks, who, de- spite favoring a brand of power football, still run many of their plays from the shot- gun -- a slightly less favorable
ADRIAN PETERSON
starting point for Peterson than a straightforward I for- mation or single back forma- tion where the quarterback is under center.
DESEAN JACKSON
$50,000 for No. 24 after Revis was traded to Tampa. There was also the time where Deion Sanders bought a BMW for a Cow- boys teammate who had the No. 21 that Sanders wanted.
Anyway, Jackson had to work out a deal to get No. 11, and that’s exactly what he did on Saturday. After the two sides worked out the deal, Humphries an- nounced it on Twitter.
Brandon Marshall, Giants Agree To Deal
Buccaneers Agree To Terms With DT Chris Baker
Wide receiver Brandon Marshall is done with the Jets, but he’ll reportedly still be playing his home games at MetLife Stadium.
According to multiple re- ports, Marshall has agreed to a two-year, $12 million deal to join the Giants as a free agent.
Marshall’s arrival gives the Giants an enviable receiv- ing corps for the 2017 season. He’ll give the team an upgrade over the departed Victor Cruz as an outside receiver opposite Odell Beckham
BRANDON MARSHALL
and Sterling Shepard adds another threat in the slot as the Giants try to get more pro- ductive on offense than they were while advancing to the postseason last year.
Baker, No. 27 on Around The NFL's top free agents list is joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, according to Good Morning Football's Peter Schrager. The Buc- caneers later confirmed the two sides agreed to a multi- year deal.
This has quietly been an excellent offseason for the Buccaneers' defense. After retaining coordinator Mike Smith, who had head coaching looks, the team pivots toward a dominant presence against the run and pass. Baker has played in at least 14 games each year since the 2012 season.
Baker joins Gerald McCoy and key free agent acquisition Robert Ayers which, on paper, looks like one of the more formidable fronts in the division right now. Having just finished a three-year deal worth $9 million, Baker seems like he's in line for a raise. It will be a worthwhile investment for Tampa Bay, a team that has already been shopping in Washington.
Cowboys Free Agent Safety J. J.
Wilcox Agrees To Two-Year,
$8.5 Million Deal With Tampa Bay
CHRIS BAKER
While the rest of the foot- ball world awaits some reso- lution on Washington's front office situation, the team continues to watch free agents walk out the door.
The 29-year-old Chris Baker had 4.5 sacks last year for Washington and six the year before as their most disruptive interior presence. Baker played 782 snaps last year and will be a dynamic addition to Tampa Bay's budding defensive line.
Defensive tackle Chris
The Dallas Cowboys are now down two safeties in free agency.
A day after starting safety Barry Church signed a four- year deal with Jacksonville, Cowboys reserve safety J.J. Wilcox agreed Saturday morning to a two-year, $8.5 million deal with Tampa Bay, according to a source.
Wilcox arrived at Tampa Bay on Friday for a free agent visit and also had a free agent visit lined up with Seattle. But the Buccaneers didn't let Wilcox get out of town with- out a deal in place. The Cow- boys had not been pursuing Wilcox early on in free agency while he looked around for a new landing spot.
Wilcox developed a repu- tation in Dallas for his hard hits but inconsistent tackling and lapses in coverage. He was one of the final players who squeezed onto the 53- man roster when the Cowboys
J. J. WILCOX
made their final cuts just be- fore the start of the 2016 sea- son.
Wilcox, 26, was paid $1.8 million last season with the Cowboys in the final year of his rookie deal. Wilcox lost his starting job in 2016 to first-round pick Byron Jones after he had started the previous two seasons for the Cowboys. Wilcox fin- ished last season with 53 tack- les, seven pass breakups and one interception. Wilcox was a 2013 third-round pick out of Georgia Southern.
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