Bills Re-Sign Ross Tucker!

[Michael82]

The Buffalo Bills reached a three-year, $2.2 million agreement with guard Ross Tucker, 24, that could grow to $3.2 million depending upon his playing time. Tucker is a great success story for the Bills, a former undrafted player claimed off waivers from the Dallas Cowboys who ended up as the starting right guard the final five games of last season. The 6-4, 316-pounder is projected to be a starter next season. Included in the deal is a $225,000 signing bonus. He was scheduled to be a restricted free agent.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/clayton/qhits.html

[The Spaz]

Well that's a nice depth addition and could do more depending on how he responds to McNally's teaching.

[Jeff1220]

Tucker played pretty well for a back-up last year (better than the starter). McNally must've liked the film he saw of this guy.

[TigerJ]

I think he's supposed to be a smart, dedicated, technically sound guard who's not very athletic. Better than a talented guy who's lazy. It'd be nice to get a talented guy who's also smart, dedicated, and technically sound.

[juice]

Originally posted by TigerJ
I think he's supposed to be a smart, dedicated, technically sound guard who's not very athletic. Better than a talented guy who's lazy. It'd be nice to get a talented guy who's also smart, dedicated, and technically sound.

Like M. Sullivan who can play three different positions. I Guess now he is expendible. Versitile, athletic, and Big, with coaching MS could fill any position.

[The Spaz]

Sullivan can play center?

[juice]

Hasn't he played Lt, Rt and guard in the past? He could fill in in case of injury, size can't be Taught, he can fit in somewhere in a running offense.

[ScottLawrence]

How much will this take off of our cap space?

[Goobylal]

$530K most likely, which represents the amortized SB ($75K) plus what (this year) should be the minimum salary of $455K.

[SABURZFAN]

tucker didn't do a bad job.he did better than pucillo.

[Ebenezer]

Originally posted by ScottLawrence
How much will this take off of our cap space?

Originally posted by Goobylal
$530K most likely, which represents the amortized SB ($75K) plus what (this year) should be the minimum salary of $455K.

A little more than that. The minimum tender on Tucker was $675,000. Why would he sign a deal that gives him considerably less than that. I would bet he signed for about the tender. The cap hit is probably about $700,000. And, at this point, he displaces the 51st rated salary so the actual cap reduction is about $400,000.

[Goobylal]

Originally posted by Ebenezer
A little more than that. The minimum tender on Tucker was $675,000. Why would he sign a deal that gives him considerably less than that. I would bet he signed for about the tender. The cap hit is probably about $700,000. And, at this point, he displaces the 51st rated salary so the actual cap reduction is about $400,000.

Tucker got a contract for 3 years and $2.2M with a $225K signing bonus. So he'll make about $2M in salary (without factoring-in any incentives). Considering that most contracts are backloaded with the first year being the minimum, Tucker's salary this year should be $455K (he has 3 accrued seasons in the NFL), and added to the amortized SB of $75K, I got a cap hit for THIS YEAR of $530K. You are correct that he'll probably knock-off the 51st player, so I figure his net cap hit will be about $230K.

As for the $675K number you mentioned, I assume that that's the minimum qualifying offer for a RFA, which would have allowed the Bills to match any offer he gets (since he was an UDFA and therefore doesn't merit a pick if given the MQO). I don't know for sure why he agreed to a contract that averages a little more than that ($733K a year, again without any incentives being met), but I suspect it has to do with knowing he has a guaranteed $225K in-hand, the chance to work with Mularkey, Clements, and especially McNally, and a real chance to start and earn that $1M in incentives.

[clumping platelets]

The cap hit on 2004 is less than the tender but with the minimum salary for a player with 3 yrs and the bonus money up front, he's making about the same amount as the tender. Bills saved about $150,000 on the 2004 cap by signing him and not tendering him. Get used to this, this gonna be a trend for RFAs

[G. Host]

McNally has seen live a few times

Originally posted by Jeff1220
Tucker played pretty well for a back-up last year (better than the starter). McNally must've liked the film he saw of this guy.

McNally saw a lot more film on him than Bils have for he played for Redskins and Cowboys when McNally coached Giants.

[HenryRules]

Originally posted by SABURZFAN
tucker didn't do a bad job.he did better than pucillo.

He did better than Pucillo, but he did do a bad job.

Watch some of the really good lines play - like KC, Seattle, or someone like that ... you'll see how lacking our performances were. Yes, we had a horrendous coach, but I don't think the talent was there either.

Without incentives, it looks like Tucker's making the minimum ... that's exactly what he should make because for any team with playoff hopes, he's a backup.