Bucs sign WR Jackson for 5 years

Vincent Jackson caught 60 passes for 1,106 yards with nine TDs last year.

Damian Strohmeyer/SI

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Free agent wide receiver Vincent Jackson signed a five-year, $55.55 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, immediately becoming the team's most dangerous receiver.

Jackson was one of the top wideouts available in free agency once San Diego decided not to give him the franchise tag. It didn't take him long to hook up with Tampa Bay and quarterback Josh Freeman, in whose honor Jackson got all those 5s in the deal; Freeman wears uniform No. 5.

The contract, negotiated by Schwartz and Feinsod Agency, will pay Jackson $13 million in each of his first two years, then $10 million for the third year.

Jackson will provide a deep threat for Freeman, whose other receivers, Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn, are more short-range targets.

San Diego gave Jackson the franchise tag in 2011 and he signed for nearly $11 million. He missed most of the previous season in a salary dispute.

During the lockout, Jackson was one of 10 named plaintiffs in the Brady V. NFL antitrust suit filed against club owners.

Then Jackson had his third 1,000-yard receiving season in 2011 on his way to his second Pro Bowl. He made 60 receptions for 1,106 yards and nine touchdowns, and Jackson's yards per catch average of 18.4 was sixth in the league.

The 29-year-old Jackson was a second-round pick (61st overall) by the Chargers in 2005.

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