Its been a busy week of business for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, first they tried to trade, and then ultimately cut troubled cornerback Eric Wright. They followed that up by signing former Madden cover boy Peyton Hillis. Now today they have made an even more significant move, signing their star wide receiver Mike Williams to a 6 year deal (5 year contract extension).
“We are pleased to have Mike signed to a long-term contract that ensures he will continue to be part of the exciting young core of players we are building around,” Buccaneers General Manager Mark Dominik said in a release. “Mike has earned this contract through his hard work and production the past three seasons and we are looking forward to seeing him continue that career development as a Buccaneer.”
Williams had been looking for an extension all off-season, and seemed frustrated at times at the lack of progress the talks on an extension were making. That saga has ended now, and the Bucs have ensured it does not become a distraction during the team’s training camp.
The six year deal that Tampa announced as being worth $40.25 million includes the 2013 season, a year for which Williams was under contract, so this is essentially a 5-year extension. The deal takes the 26-year-old wide out through the end of the 2018 NFL season.
Williams will be entering his fifth season with the Bucs after being drafted in the 4th round of the 2010 NFL Draft out of Syracuse. In his career Williams has 193 receptions, for 2731 yards and 23 touchdowns. Last season Williams started 16 games, and had 63 receptions for 996 yards and nine touchdowns.
With Vincent Jackson at the other wide receiver spot, and Doug Martin in the backfield, the Bucs have surrounded quarterback Josh Freeman with plenty of talent at the skilled positions. The young quarterback enters his own contract year with that backdrop, and needing to produce to get his own new deal with the Bucs.
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Main Photo Credit: Jeffrey Beall, Wikipedia, CC
