James Jones Three-Year Contract Worth $9.4 Million
Wide receiver James Jones' deal reportedly included a $1.5 million signing bonus.
Five days after wide receiver James Jones agreed to a deal with the Green Bay Packers, terms of his contract finally became available today.
According to Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, Jones' three-year contract is worth $9.4 million with $3.75 million in first-year pay.
"Jones’ contract had a $1.5 million signing bonus plus a $1.3 million base salary and $950,00 roster bonus for this year, for a $3.75 million first-year total," writes Dougherty. "Next year he’ll make a $2.3 million base salary and $200,000 roster bonus ($2.5 million total), and in 2013 he’ll make a $2.95 million base salary and $200,000 roster bonus ($3.15 million total)."
It's been speculated that it took so long for the specifics of Jones' contract to become public that it was probably underwhelming.
With a deal averaging slightly more than $3 million per year, Jones is making perhaps slightly less than most anticipated.
Jones had said in an interview with the Press-Gazette that he "wasn't out there chasing the money" and expressed satisfaction about being in Green Bay.
While one might infer that he was putting on a good face for the media, he can take solace that a couple of his teammates lobbied on his behalf and the Packers' management thought enough about him to bring him back, which didn't happen to several other players who were either released or left via free agency.
As long as Jones can stay healthy and productive, he figures to have at least one more chance at free agency in three more years, though he now faces the challenge of joining an even deeper receiving corps than a year ago with the addition of second-round draft choice Randall Cobb.
Comments (11)
August 05, 2011 at 12:01 pm
http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2011/8/4/2343970/steve-breaston-kansas-cit...
"We're told Breaston received $5 million to sign and a $700,000 base salary in 2011. His $1.8 million base salary in 2012 is guaranteed for injury only and he has a $1.3 million roster bonus in 2012. It appears the Chiefs could get out of this after one year and less than $6 million but I can't envision a scenario with that happening.
In 2013, his base salary is $3.8 million, in 2014 it's $3 million and in 2015 it's $4.1 million. He has $200,000 workout bonuses from 2012-2015 and $1 million reporting bonuses in 2014 and 2015. He has another $500,000 in escalators available each year from 2012-2015."
TT and Russ Ball are genius. While other teams are overspending on borderline talent, with most of the money being projected to the future, essencially mortgaging it, they pay an upcoming, talented young receiver, with knowledge of the playbook, market value, with most of the money being paid upfront, when there's enough cap room to sustain it.
August 05, 2011 at 01:02 pm
To look at this from a different perspective, Jennings' 4-year deal in 2009 was for just under $27M with a signing bonus of over $11M. Last year DD got a 3-year deal worth just over $17M, and an immediate roster bouns of $5M. Clearly JJ did not get a starters' contract. And I don't care what he says. If someone says it's not about the money, it's about the money. I guess no one wanted to give him starters' money after the drop in the NFC Champ game, which every GM in the league must have seen.
Also, let me see if I got this straight. You would say that JJ has a $9.4M contract with $1.5M considered "guaranteed," in the form of the signing bonus? Or would you call it $3.75M "guaranteed" b/c that is the first year abount, including signing bonus. I'm assuming the first, because if he gets cut in training camp (however unlikely) he would not get the first year salary b/c those come as game checks.
August 05, 2011 at 09:54 pm
I recall commenting to my wife twice when James Jones droped a sure touchdown pass that he cost himself a million dollars on that play alone. It appears that estimations was too low.
August 05, 2011 at 02:41 pm
yea they are smart but they should have done the same with cullen....we WILL notice he is gone i said it all off season he should have been priority number 1. go back and look when he played he made raji matthews hawk bishop zombo/walden all better. not many players that do that. but that deal is very good for the packers. i think by week 8 if not the beginning of the season he emerges as the number 2 WR
August 05, 2011 at 03:43 pm
I doubt anybody that frequents this site didn't want cullen back, but its a prototypical thompson move. Jenkins is on the wrong side of thirty and has missed significant time the last couple years, he just wasn't gonna get another contract from ted. They must feel good about the young guys we have, and we just gotta roll with it. Dont be surprised if cullen's stint with philly is forgettable.
August 05, 2011 at 03:22 pm
For a unrestricted FA WR with Jones skill set, anything under 4 mil a year is a pretty good deal for the Pack.
I agree that Cullen Jenkins should have been re-signed especially when you see he got less than 4 million on whats basically a 1 yr deal with an option for the next four years.
TT may regret that unless Mike Neal becomes what everyone hopes he can, in the only two games he played last year he had 1 sack and 1 forced fumble and a few tackles. Lets see what hes got and if he himself can stay healthy.
August 05, 2011 at 03:32 pm
That's good value for the Pack, and just enough so James can keep some food in the house and gas in the car. Winner, winner.
GBP 4 LIFE
August 05, 2011 at 03:42 pm
I'm not sure why there's an assumption out there that Jenkins and his agent wanted to come back once the Packers decided to take wait and watch the market develop surrounding Jenkins.
I got the impression from Ted Thompson's (coded as always) press conference this week that Jenkins and his agent basically said that ship had sailed. Thompson said, 'he chose to go to the Eagles'. In Thompson speak, that tells me (true to form once you let a player test the market) he wanted to come in late and match. Agent/Jenkins said, thanks but no thanks. If you REALLY loved me that deal would have been on the table in season.
PackerAaron
August 05, 2011 at 03:48 pm
I completely agree with this take CSS.
August 05, 2011 at 05:32 pm
I see where you guys are coming from, but I disagree. Jenkins had his girls in school in GB. He KNOWS that GB can win another super bowl. And he has many good relationships on the team, putting aside his feelings for Ted. I just can't see him taking a deal that Ted offered to match in order to stick it to Ted.
August 05, 2011 at 08:43 pm
Just for juxtaposition, here's something I found interesting:
James Jones salary per year: $3.13333 Million
Michael Koenen, Tampa Bay punter, salary per year on new deal: $3.25 Million
Go Ted.