Josh Freeman Contract Details

December 2, 2012; Denver, CO, USA; Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman during the first quarter against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

For those who like concerning themselves with the specific details of professional athlete contracts, here is the skinny on the deal Josh Freeman got after yesterday’s furious negotiations. He receives a prorated $2.83 million salary which means he will get $2 million for the remaining 12 games of the season. His contract also reportedly has no clause preventing the Vikings from slapping the franchise tag on him at the end of the season if they so desire.

Add up the money Freeman got from the Buccaneers and the money he’s getting from the Vikes and it totals almost $10.5 million. This for a guy who, in 3 games in 2013, completed his passes at a 45.7% clip with 2 TDs and 3 picks. But of course that was the result of a terrible environment in Tampa Bay. Greg Schiano as we know had it out for Freeman and deliberately sabotaged him. Bill Musgrave and Leslie Frazier have a much better plan for how to use him. And if it doesn’t work out? Matt Cassel.

And where does this leave Christian Ponder, the third-highest-paid QB on the Vikings’ roster? With the rib issue, the easiest thing would be to stick him on IR. That of course does not help you with your salary cap, which will need to be shuffled around. It’s been suggested that Adrian Peterson would be willing to restructure to free up some money. Nice of Adrian, helping the Vikings free up the cap space to bring in a new quarterback. Is it possible Percy Harvin wasn’t the only one who hated Ponder?

Like The Viking Age on Facebook.
Follow TVA on Twitter.
Subsribe to the Fansided Daily Newsletter. Sports news all up in your inbox.