Byron Leftwich will earn $2 million guaranteed in 2009, reports ESPN.com.

“The Professor,” John Clayton of BSPN, is reporting the specifics of Bryon Leftwich’s contact with the Bucs. In short, it’s good for $7.5 million over two years.

Leftwich’s deal is for $7.5 million, a source told ESPN.com’s John Clayton.

Leftwich, the source indicated to Clayton, will be scheduled to make $2 million this year. He will have a $3.5 million roster bonus in 2010 that has to be paid at the start of the free-agency period. If they pay it, Leftwich could make $5.5 million in 2010.

Mike Florio, the creator, curator and overall guru of ProFootballTalk.com, claims Leftwich’s contract is near-equal to McCown’s and, based on his contract, McCown will start.

But, as a practical matter, it’s a one-year, $2 million contract with a team option for a second year at $5.5 million. He’ll make $2 million this year, and there’s a $3.5 million roster bonus due in early 2010.

It’s likely no coincidence that Leftwich’s total package matches the value of the two-year contract given to the largely unproven Luke McCown. But McCown will earn $5 million this year, via a $2.5 million signing bonus and a $2.5 million base salary.

If the respective contracts mean anything, the team regards McCown as the favorite to win the starting job.

By the way, who said Leftwich didn’t have any wheels?