The Bills wanted to upgrade their quarterback position, even if it meant increasing the amount of money they were devoting to it.
A source with knowledge of the contract tells PFT that the Bills will pay Tarvaris Jackson a base salary of $1.75 million in 2012. Jackson also receives $15,625 per game that he’s on the active roster, which amounts to an additional $250,000, if he’s on the active roster for every regular-season game.
Jackson also can earn up to another $1 million, based on playing time and team improvement.
The new contract replaces Jackson’s former deal, which would have paid him a total base salary of $4 million in 2012.
In contrast, Vince Young would have received a base salary of $1.25 million, a $300,000 roster bonus if he had made it onto the 53-man roster for Week One, and per-game roster bonuses of $6,250 (for a total of $100,000). That’s a maximum of $1.65 million for the third overall pick in the 2006 draft.
Of course, Young already pocketed $350,000 via a signing bonus. But that money wasn’t coming back whether they kept him or not.