Tidbits from the article: "Columbus hopes to announce this week that Testo has joined the Crew after agreeing to a one-year contract (with an option year)." "Marshall, the Crew’s first pick in January in the SuperDraft as a 19-year-old central defender, received favorable reviews for his first under-23 tournament. Wingert was panned after the Mexican game for several defensive blunders at left back." "Meanwhile, Buddle who turns 24 in May, is ready to move on. 'I can focus on the Crew all season and try to make the full national team,' he said. 'There’s no more under-anything teams for me.'"
Something about Testo only having a one year contract doesn't sit well with me. You would think after all the trouble that they went through to sign him they'd lock him up for a bit longer.
Maybe he doesn't WANT to be "locked up" any longer than that. If the $30k we heard was correct, maybe he thinks he's worth more and wants the chance to prove himself and get some real money in a year or two. I'm quite certain the Crew would have been only too happy to lock him into coolie wages for the next five years. But Testo had the advantage in that, as a discovery, he doesn't have to sign the "standard" rookie "eat a lot of peanut butter" contract. If the Crew had been willing to offer decent money, I'm sure he'd have been only too happy to sign up for a couple more years. So they reached a compromise: he signs up on the cheap, but he gets a shot at more in a year or two.
I'm sure that is probably the case. I just don't feel like going through another forward search next summer as Testo goes on the Jeff Cunningham Backpack tour of Greater Scandanavia.
It says that there is an option year in the contract. I imagine that that additional year is at a much higher salary, and is contingent on how well Testo does this season. If he goes and scores 10g or 5a, I'd be amazed if he wasn't making 75k next season. Talk about a pay-raise.
didn't the New York Times article say it was for four years? oh well, i'm just glad that hole is filled.