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Pearson Rejects Bucs Offer


TAMPA – Tampa Bay offered restricted free agent S Kalvin Pearson a 1-year deal worth $927,000, but it will not be enough to sway him from testing the free agent market.

Pearson, who earned $516,360 last season, rejected Tampa Bay’s offer and still intends to become a free agent on February 29. He is seeking a long-term deal, but Tampa Bay is seemingly unwilling to offer him that stability.

“We’ve had a lot of phone calls from about three different teams, but we really expect it to pick up on Friday,” Pearson’s agent Michael Hawthrone said. “We have a contract offer, but we’re not going to sign it.”

Pearson, 29, led Tampa Bay with 21 special teams tackles - 19 on defense - last season. He started in Tampa Bay’s season finale against Carolina. He recorded a career-high 16 tackles in Tampa Bay’s 31-23 loss.

What might work to Pearson’s advantage is he entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2002, meaning no team that offers him a contract will have to give Tampa Bay any draft picks in exchange. Essentially, a team only has to offer Pearson more money than Tampa Bay.

As a result, Pearson will see how he fairs in the free agent market, and with safety Sabby Piscitelli expected to fully recover from his broken right foot this season, Tampa Bay is in no rush to sweeten the pot.

Send Us Your Comments

Posted by  Quentin, Tampa,FL on 02/26  at  11:12 PM

I don’t know about starting and playing at a high level, since he’s pretty bad in coverage. Still, I liked the guy. He was a big hitter, he really threw his whole body into it when he tackled. He played with a lot of heart, and I was pullin’ for him in ‘06 when Phillips was struggling.


Posted by  Jason, Cranford, NJ on 02/26  at  03:27 PM

That sucks! Pearson is a really underrated player, who could start and play at a high-level for any team in the league. We don’t really need him, but I was expecting, since he is a RFA to at least get a second-day pick or two for him from whatever team signs him. Good luck Kalvin!


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