Jake Plummer Could Owe Buccaneers $7 Million

In 2003, Jake Plummer signed a seven-year, $40 million contract with the Denver Broncos. He played four years under that contract, then was traded to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and then he announced this month that he's retiring.

But that doesn't mean the remaining three years of Plummer's seven-year contract are simply voided. In fact, as Peter King explains, it could mean that when the Bucs traded for the rights to Plummer, they also traded for the right to force him to pay back three-sevenths of the signing bonus he received in 2003. If a player chooses not to fulfill the life of his contract, he has to give back to his team a prorated portion of the signing bonus he received. And even though it was the Broncos who paid him that money, it would be the Bucs who get the money now that they have his rights.

That might seem unfair to Plummer, but on the other hand, the Broncos could say it's unfair to them that Plummer took their money as a signing bonus but is now failing to fulfill the terms of his contract, therefore lessening his value in a trade. If Plummer wants to stay retired, he might just need to write an awfully big check.

Previously at FanHouse:
Jake Plummer Really Retires This Time
Jake Plummer: My Take
Jake Plummer Officially Announces Retirement
Jake Plummer Traded to Bucs -- Really. Maybe.
Peace Corps Could Be Next for Broncos' Jake Plummer