Las Vegas Raiders placed “Addendum G” in Jimmy Garoppolo’s contract, what does it mean?
Though the Raiders have placed faith in the veteran signal caller to lead them forward, it appears that faith has its limits and perhaps rightly so.
On the surface it may seem like the former 49ers QB has got a new lease on life. On the other hand, his new team seems to be safeguarding against the possibility of a negative outcome. To be fair, with his recent spate of injuries and his age, one can’t blame them.
Raiders place clause in Jimmy G’s contract
As you may have seen, the Las Vegas Raiders turned heads this offseason when they decided to part company with their quarterback, Derek Carr. The team then completed their eyebrow raising move, by signing then San Francisco 49ers quarterback, Jimmy Garoppolo in free agency. Part of the reason for the surprise where Jimmy G was concerned, wasn’t his stats or age, but rather the fact that he was fresh off of yet another injury ridden campaign in which he played very few games due to a foot injury. Indeed, it’s actually an issue with which Garoppolo is still struggling.
So much so in fact, that as recently as March - just after he signed with the Raiders - it was reported that he had had an operation on the problematic foot. If you’ve wondered why the two-time Super Bowl champion hasn’t yet taken to the field for OTAs with his new team, now you know. To add further uncertainty, it’s now been revealed that the franchise has in fact put a waiver in the playmaker’s contract - referred to as “Addendum G - which appears to specifically address his foot injury.
What does “Addendum G” mean for Jimmy G?
As per reports, the addendum starts by clarifying that Garoppolo has formally acknowledged that he would be unable to successfully complete the team’s physical due to the preexisting injury. Further to that, it also states that Garoppolo has also assumed the risk of any further injury and moreover assumes the risk of “permanent disability.”
Yet, perhaps the most eye-opening aspect of the contractual clause, is that which relates to the Raiders maintaining the right to terminate the agreement “for any reason related to the Waiver and Release attached as “Addendum G.” In case that’s not clear, what that means is that the Raiders can cut ties with Garoppolo at any point if they deem his injury to be a hindrance. Needless to say, the speculation about whether Tom Brady’s former backup will even see a snap for his new team has now intensified. On the other hand, it’s worth noting that Addendum G can be voided if he manages to achieve the following requirements: pass a physical, be active for a minimum of one regular season game and most importantly, he can’t suffer another injury to his left foot.
What else should we know about Jimmy G’s contract?
Rhetoric aside, there’s one important thing to consider here: When Garoppolo was offered a deal by the Raiders, it was to the tune of an $11.25 million signing bonus, along with a base salary of $11.25 million for 2023. Once the franchise understood the finer details of his foot injury, however, they withdrew the signing bonus and added it to his base salary, meaning in principle he was now set to earn $22.5 million in 2023. Such a move understandably protects the team against signing a player who ultimately can’t play, which is to say the only way Jimmy G gets paid is if he plays. In truth, as much as Addendum G is not the common practice, it’s by no means difficult to grasp, especially when considering what the Raiders are prepared to invest in the veteran QB.