Hayward signs four-year contract

After impressing coaches at mini-camp workouts, speedy linebacker Adam Hayward signed a four-year contract for an undisclosed amount with the Buccaneers last week. Tampa Bay selected the former Portland State star in the sixth round of the NFL draft in April.

“We were excited about being able to draft him and we are even more excited about him becoming a Buccaneer,” said Tampa Bay linebacker coach Casey Bradley. “He has a really good attention to detail. He is listed as an outside linebacker, but I see him as being able to play any of the linebacker positions.”

Although Hayward is slated to earn an undisclosed amount over the next four years, a position on the team is not guaranteed. The only guaranteed money is the signing bonus. For all first-year NFL players, contracts can be voided at any time, depending on how the player performs during training camp and preseason.

“We drafted two linebackers for a reason. We need some younger guys to come in and help our team of the future,” Bradley said. “Now I don’t know where Adam will end up going this year, whether he is a special teamer or a starter or a practice squad guy. It will play out during training camp.”

Hayward is ecstatic about his signing and looking forward to training camp’s challenges.

“I’m excited for camp to start this summer,” Hayward said. “It’s not going to be easy. This is the NFL and it’s going to be lot of hard work, but I want to get my pads on and practice so I can learn the plays and getting them to start becoming second nature.”

Camp begins July 26, and the Bucs will start out with an 80-man roster that is set to be sliced and diced until it reaches 53 remaining players, the NFL’s maximum roster number.

“Like I said, a lot of that will play out during training camp and we are going to be working with 10 linebackers to find out who will be here in the fall,” Bradley said.

Hayward has plans to maintain a rookie blog on the team’s website (www.buccaneers.com) and the site has already featured him as a competent rookie. However, he is not positive that he will make the team.

“I can’t tell right now. I’m really confident in how hard I have worked, and I am not going to settle for anything less then making the team,” the reigning Big Sky Defensive Player of the Year said. “Just like at PSU with (former head coach Tim) Walsh, in order to play here I have to gain everyone’s trust before I can really get my foot in the door.”