Bucs Putting The Squeeze To Donald Penn

June 10th, 2010

Though some may cite Aqib Talib, Joe was of the belief the Bucs best player last year was left tackle Donald Penn.

Facing some of the game’s top sack artists, Penn totally shut these guys down and clearly was the light in what turned to be a someone dim performance overall by the offensive line.

Hoping to take advantage of his play, Penn, a restricted free agent, hopes to get a massive payday commensurate with his play. It’s not happening. Yet.

Penn is sitting out OTAs but per Anwar Richardson of the Tampa Tribune, Bucs executives are not moved by Penn’s stance.

The team extended its restricted free agent tender offer to Penn, giving him until Tuesday to sign the one-year contract worth $3.168 million. But, if he does not sign, Tampa Bay will exercise its option to offer him 110 percent of last year’s base salary, which would be about $100,000 less than the current offer.

“Our hope and our intention is to get Donald signed by (Tuesday),” Dominik said. “We’re not asking Donald to show up for (voluntary workouts) and do anything other than be out in California like he has been. He has himself in good shape. We’ve been out there a couple of times.

“I’m happy and proud of what Donald has done, but in the league, 85 percent of free agents have signed their tenders.”

Joe has written this before — and been flamed as a result — so Joe is writing the same and prepared to duck as well.

Until the new CBA with the player’s association is signed by the NFL, Penn’s not going to see a payday from Team Glazer. He just isn’t. With the 2011 season very much in doubt to a potential labor stoppage, Joe would be shocked if Penn tried to hold out this season.

59 Responses to “Bucs Putting The Squeeze To Donald Penn”

  1. JimBuc Says:

    As are most teams in the league. Let’s see if anyone recognizes that fact.

  2. tampa2 Says:

    I hope that Penn takes the 110% offer and tells the Glazer’s to shove it up their collective arses next year! It doesn’t pay to be a good player on the Buccaneers, that has been proven! With a little luck, maybe the Glazer boys will have to sell the team this year. Then maybe we can get an owner that wants to win games, not just put it all in the bank to cover their financial blunders.

  3. JimBuc Says:

    It doesn’t pay to be an RFA in the league these days. PERIOD. Most are not get extensions. Penn actually has a weaker argument than many others. There are Pro Bowlers getting the same treatment.

  4. JimBuc Says:

    30 seconds on Google:

    Cleveland: “Absent Browns haven’t signed tenders”

    http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5271399

    San Diego: Two Pro Bowlers getting squeezed by team

    http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/06/09/chargers-pro-bowlers-plan-to-hold-out/

    New Orleans: Saints LT

    http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/messages/chrono/22394228

  5. Louie Says:

    The Bucs don’t have a backup plan. Make ’em sweat Penn!

  6. d-money Says:

    Louie

    “The Bucs don’t have a backup plan. Make ‘em sweat Penn!”

    How is he going to make them sweat? He has no leverage. He could sit out the season but then he won’t get a penny and then if there is no 2011 season that would be 2 years with no pay and not playing. No chance in hell he is that stupid.

    He’ll sit out until the last minute and then he’ll sign. Just like every other RFA in the league will have to do eventually. This is not a Bucs only situation.

  7. d-money Says:

    Also i have a hard time felling sorry for someone who has been offered $3.168 million to play football.

    Especially a player on a team who had one of the worst O-lines in the league last year.

    Shut up and take the money.

  8. Matt Says:

    @d-money “How is he going to make them sweat? He has no leverage.”

    Uhh, really? They’ve got scrubs behind him. Freeman will get murdered if he sits out.

    It’s never going to happen, but don’t say he has no leverage.

  9. Gary Says:

    Thank you Louie and Tampa2 for proving what I have said many times… you assholes would rather the team fail to prove your points! You 2 bitches really should stop calling yourselves fans.

    How in world can you hope our best OL leaves next year tampa2? How about hoping he ends up signing long term and becomes a beast?

    Why would you want the Bucs to sweat Louie? The idiot needs to recognize the NFL landscape and get his formerly fat ass into camp.

    I understand people being angry over the fact that it is come to this, but wishing he holds out or leaves next year makes you a hater through and through. To that I say fuck off!

  10. Patrick Says:

    If we lose Penn or if he holds out next year, then our offense is gonna be screwed. Freeman, Cadillac, Ward, and Graham will all be slaughtered!! We need to lock him up now!

    By the way, has Cadillac been signed yet??

  11. Louie Says:

    @Gary, no need to respond to you any further. People can ready your comments and tell what type of person you are. Just today, you’ve trashed Hovan, Penn and your fellow commenters. Do you respect anybody or yourself?

  12. RahDomDaBest Says:

    Joe said: “Penn’s not going to see a payday from Team Glazer. He just isn’t.”

    Well, then this increases the chance that Team Glazer won’t be able to sign Penn in 2011 whe things eventually get worked out. And when they do attempt to re-sign Penn to a real contract, then he and his agent will want above market value for Penn, considering the other NFL options will be better locations for the frustrated Penn. So Tampa will have to pay that wait and see penalty to keep Penn.

    Cause and effect.

    My opinion, is they should lock him up to an NFL low salary for a LT… Penn can’t now, at this point, command a high salary as some other first round picks… but Penn is an NFL starting LT. So it would be wise to sign him to a nice 3 year deal, at the bottom of the 31 other LT salaries… and if Penn doesn’t perform, then draft a LT with thier top pick next year and make Penn beat out the 1st round pick while eventually making way for the rookie. Penn would serve as a solid back-up in the mean time.

    Otherwise, all we have is Xavier Fulton. Not wise risking an entire season’s offensive performance with an unproven LT all based on poor resource management by Team Glazer.

    Sieze the day Team Glazer… else blame yourselves on being nit picky and not locking up your home grown, developed talent.

    Hence POOR resource management… penny wise, yet pound foolish.

  13. bucfanjeff Says:

    Joe, you are 100% correct. Penn only hurts himself by holding out in the unusual uncapped year and CBA deadline looming.

  14. JimBuc Says:

    Matt: You agree that there is no way Penn will not play but then say that does not mean has has no leverage? Uh, yes it does.

  15. Gary Says:

    Louie,

    I don’t usually use profanity like that, but your comments really ticked me off. There is no logical way that any person claiming to be a fan of a team would want to hope for the team to fail in some way. (this is more directed at Tampa2 wishing Penn leaves, rather than you which simply wishes Penn extends this showdown to teach the Bucs a lesson).

    And I didn’t trash Hovan. I never said he didnt do good things for us, just that releasing him was the right move at that time. If you don’t agree, then you simply didnt watch this team.

    And again, I didnt “trash” Penn. He is our best OL, as I said in the post. I simply think he isn’t being smart (maybe you didnt like “idiot”) to prolong his signing when many other RFAs are going through the same thing. That is a matter of opinion of which you are allowed to disagree on, no problem.

    But rooting for “your” Bucs to fail by Penn “making them sweat” and possibly ending up in a holdout and/or a very angry player which misses time in camp or OTAs is simply ridiculous.

    Its one thing to constantly have to ignore your negative rants about each and every post on this site… but quite another to ignore the fact that your rooting for this team to fail so you can be happy about your predictions.

    I apologize for the profanity, that was Juvenile, but its hard to control oneself after dealing with your garbage repeatedly. Won’t happen again.

  16. BigMAcAttack Says:

    I agree with d-money.

    $3.2 Mill is pretty good coin in any situation. I can’t begin to name the list of things I would do for $3.2 Mill over the course of a year, but it would be pretty vile if necessary, and not that I’m a prostitute, but a whore, most definitely. For $3.2 Mill, I could even afford club seats and a parking pass. WoooWooo!!!!

  17. d-money Says:

    Matt,

    You’re right when you say they have no one behind him but my point about having no leverage is that they know he isn’t going to sit out because he won’t get paid for almost two years if there is no season in 2011.

    And he isn’t that stupid to give up $3 million to make a point.

    The big thing is if he isn’t happy with the rules and the current CBA situation don’t get pissed at the Bucs for protecting themselves. Complain to the NFLPA reps who are negotiating the new CBA and the ones who negotiated the last one.

    If they had been able to work out a new CBA before the deadline we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

  18. JimBuc Says:

    D-money said:

    “The big thing is if he isn’t happy with the rules and the current CBA situation don’t get pissed at the Bucs for protecting themselves. Complain to the NFLPA reps who are negotiating the new CBA and the ones who negotiated the last one.

    If they had been able to work out a new CBA before the deadline we wouldn’t be having this conversation”

    EXACTLY, although your statement will be very unpopular with the Glazer- bashing crowd, who seem to think the Bucs treatment of Penn is unique.

  19. Eric S Says:

    Like I’ve said in previous posts, it really comes down to whether the Bucs want Penn past this year. To me it doesn’t seem like they do want them in 2011 and beyond. He wants 6 mil a year. It is not an unreasonable request for a decent starting LT. If Penn just signs the tender and has a good year, his price tag will no doubt go up. If they franchise him, his salary would be over 10 mil for 2011. I really couldn’t care less what other teams are doing with their RFAs. Who cares!!! All I care about is what the Bucs are doing.

    All I know is the Bucs were the cheapest organization by far during the 2005-2009 period. They showed once again they were cheap this offseason. 6 years of not putting money into the product takes a toll on the team and the fanbase. Unless of course you work for the Glazers or are one of the Glazers.

  20. d-money Says:

    Eric S,

    “All I know is the Bucs were the cheapest organization by far during the 2005-2009 period”

    Thats a nice little stat that everyone likes to throw around but unfortunatley it’s not true. They may be toward the bottom but to say they are the cheapest is just false. Check your facts.

    http://content.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/salaries/totalpayroll.aspx?year=2008

    For instance In 2008 the Bucs had higher payroll than the Colts, Patriots, Broncos and Packers among other teams. The low payroll argument doesn’t cut it. It really isn’t a good way of judging a franchise.

    How the money is spent is the best barometer and that is where the BUcs have faltered during the time frame you mentioned.

    And now we are paying the price for all those years of unwise spending and poor drafting.

  21. lightningbuc Says:

    d-money,

    You may want to check your facts. Eric was talking about the period – not year to year.

    http://blogs.nfl.com/2009/06/26/moneyball-nfl-style/

  22. d-money Says:

    lightningbuc ,

    Gotcha. But if you even read the article that you linked to you will see that it proves my overall point that spending on payroll isn’t really a good judge of a franchise….it states…

    ” Of the top three spending teams, only Seattle has had playoff success in this span, reaching a Super Bowl and dominating its (weak) division for a good stretch. There is a sheer disparity between clubs — Dallas’ Jerry Jones spending $115 million more than the Glazers in Tampa Bay, for instance — and in some cases, teams spent $10-$20 million more per season on average than a foe, often with no additional wins to show for it.”

  23. d-money Says:

    LightningBuc

    And of the teams on the list that you linked to the difference from 15 to 32 is only about $55 million over a 5 year period.

    only aproximately $10 million a year difference in from team 15 to team 32.

    So i still stand by the fact that the low payroll argument is hogwash. It is only relevent as far as how the money is spent and how the team drafts. Those are the bigger problems witht this team over that period.

  24. JimBuc Says:

    Eric S said:

    “I really couldn’t care less what other teams are doing with their RFAs. Who cares!!! All I care about is what the Bucs are doing.”

    The reason what the rest of the league is doing matters is only because it undercuts the notion that the Bucs are doing something underhanded or are being “cheap.” MOST teams will not extend players because they don’t even know what the CBA will look like let alone whether there will be a 2011. That is the isue with Penn, not just the money. I am guessing that concept is lost on you (intentionally or otherwise) given that you try to dismiss it with this shot: “Unless of course you work for the Glazers or are one of the Glazers.” 🙂 Silly (and weak). Not sure why everyone feels the need to ignore the facts about the league, nor so I underrstand why anyone that presents the actual facts is castigated as a Glazer-stooge?

    In any event, if you (and lightningbug) actually want to talk facts, lets talk about the “cheapest payroll” comment as it relate to Penn. Penn makes more than Marcus McNeil, a two time Pro Bowler:

    Marcus McNeill, 2006-2009: 62 starts, 2 Pro Bowls, $3,184,190 total salary

    Donald Penn, 2006-2009: 44 starts, 0 Pro Bowls, $3,824,134 total salary

    How is that possible if the Bucs are so “cheap?”

    Not everything is “cheapness.” Some of it is just business and, even more, the same business that every team in the league is engaged in.

  25. lightningbuc Says:

    Obviously spending a great deal more on payroll doesn’t always correllate to more victories, but at least then you know your owner is trying to win. You can debate whether they are going about it the right away or spending wisely, but you can’t debate if the Jerry Jones’ and Daniel Snyders’ of the NFL are committed to winning. Doesn’t mean they will win, but they are committed to trying to. Same can’t be said for the Glazers over the past 6 years or so.

  26. JimBuc Says:

    By the way, the Chargers have also put the squeeze on McNeil. In fact they went even further by signing Tre Thomas. Do the Glazers also own the Chargers? 😉

  27. JimBuc Says:

    Funniest comment ever:

    “but you can’t debate if the Jerry Jones and Daniel Snyders’ of the NFL are committed to winning”

    Under Daniel Snyder the Skins have been arguably one of the most dysfunctional teams EVER, spending money like drunken sailors with NOTHING to show for it. One of the most storied franchises in the league is total crap under Snyder. Great example of “committment to winning.”

    You actually illustrated d-money’s point. Well played. 🙂

  28. d-money Says:

    We can debate all day whether or not the Glazers are comitted to winning. I think the difference with them and the other guys is they put their trust into the people they hired to run the team.

    I’m a huge Gruden fan but I don’t think he and Allen made the best draft and FA moves.

    I mean take the draft moves alone in the last ten years all the wasted draft picks and the lack of picks due to getting Gruden from the Raiders over that period of time would account for just about $10 million a year.

  29. lightningbuc Says:

    I’m so tired of hearing about the ’10 NFL free agency, RFA, CBA, etc etc blah blah blah. That is so convenient for those arguing for the Glazers to fall back on. But the 5 years previous to this, the Bucs weren’t, for the most part, major offseason players either and they wouldn’t have been this year even if a new CBA was in place. What’s the excuse for those seasons?

    And d-money, you say ONLY $10 million. Only $10 million means maybe a guy named Piscitelli doesn’t even make the team. $10 million means your top receiver isn’t a 7th round rookie. $10 million every year for 5 years could have gotten another 2-3 above average players.

  30. Louie Says:

    That dysfunctional franchise beat our dysfunctional franchise last year. Synder’s problem has never been a lack of spending. It was a lack of a quality front office and coaching. They FINALLY have that now.

  31. lightningbuc Says:

    JimBuc,

    You really are a huge moron and obviously do have a reading problem as Louie pointed out yesterday. Have someone re-read my post to you. I made it a point, for simpletons like you, to word it very carefully so as only to point out that spending can be equated to the owner’s committment to TRYING (that is T-R-Y-I-N-G) to win. Get Hooked on Phonics before posting further.

  32. Eric S Says:

    I was off by a year. It was 2004-08. But their payroll wasn’t robust in 2009 and it won’t be in 2010. Marcus McNeil does deserve a pay raise as well. He should get more than what Penn is asking for. I hope TB doesn’t become like SD. SD has a jack ass for a GM and he treats players like garbage. Do you really want to be like them?

    Yes I realize all the teams in the NFL all their issues with their RFAs. It is the way of the game right now. But I am concerned with just TB and what they want to do in the future at LT. If they want Penn for beyond 2010, they should talk about a long term contract. If they want to count on the draft or gasp a free agent in 2011, then keep doing what they are doing. I just don’t think Penn will be here if he just signs the tender and plays for that 1 year contract. That is my opinion. I keep hearing from other posters about what other teams are doing. Blah blah blah. I personally want to know what they think the team should do instead what other teams are doing. Do you really want to count on the draft/free agency for protecting Freeman in the distant future? That’s a scary thought.

  33. d-money Says:

    ightningbuc,

    Again you haters have a knack for only reading part of the post. My point about only ten million was that the Poor drafting and lack of homegrown players to resign would account for that ten million.

    You can say what you will but the real reason the Bucs are at the bottom of payroll is more due to poor drafting than the Glazers being cheap. But its easier for you guys to say they are cheap than to actually look at the reasons. The fact is that good teams spend their money resigning the players that they drafted. Not breaking the bank in free agency like Dallas and Washington. If you draft poorly then you have no players to resign to big contracts thus causing the lower payroll.

    You guys should be happy that the Glazers have finally realized that you can’t just throw away the draft picks and expect to be in the playoffs year after year. A couple more drafts like we had this year and I can garauntee that the Bucs will not only be in the top half in payroll but also back in the playoffs as contenders every year.

  34. BigMacAttack Says:

    I agree with d-money again. Is it Thursday? Huh?
    The Union and the CBA is the #1 problem and Penn’s contract is another symptom. The players were stupid enough to hire Demaurice Smith, who is a lawyer, not a player. He doesn’t love the game or care about the game. All he cares about is the money and that is a big problem. Unions are a big problem. The owners are the Employers and the players are the Employees. As long as working conditions are humane, fair and not substandard, employees should never dictate what their Employer has to pay based upon their profits or anything else. Everyone has taken a hit in this economy except Pro Athletes. They just want more and more all of the time. The majority of the players don’t make the big bucks anyway, and every player I have heard speak on it thinks rookie (high draft) salaries are ridiculous anyway. I think the players are too well compensated already and they should relent to the few Owner demands. The pension talk is a lot of crap, because most workers in this country made less than pro athletes, even years ago, and they don’t get pensions. Govt employees do get pensions, and they are a major financial burden on our Country. Entitlements will be the lead ball and chain dragging down a recovery. I love Football as a fan, but I would prefer to see the Union castrated and the players locked out, with new players brought in. I don’t hate the players, just the Unions and everything they stand for especially corruption. De Smith is a D Bag and every time you hire a lawyer, you’re going to get F_cked. Vasoline, K-Y, Dry, doesn’t matter, he’s gonna F_ck you.

    Donald Penn, De Smith is your lawyer, and he is F_cking you and laughing all the way to the bank. Sign your tender and STFU.

  35. JimBuc Says:

    Lightning bug — keep taking shots, seems to be your specialty.

    I understand that you meant trying to win. That’s the point. Is that really what you want? You would feel better if you were a Skins fan because you knew Snyder was trying to win — even if he never did? Really? That’s ridiculous. Particularly because the GLAZERS and the BUCS DID WIN. You get that, right? There is a SB trophy itting over at OBP. Snyder has nothing.

    Ridiculous, and another example of how perception does not match with the facts. Snyder spends money like crazy but has almost nothing to show for it. Glazers have a SB trophy and one of the most competitive teams over the last 10-15 years. Happens to be down right now, but does not chnang the facts that the Glazers have everything and Snyder nothing, in terms of trophies.

    Let me put it in even simpler terms. The Skins and the Bucs battled last year for Fat Albert. Who got him? Snyder becasue he spent more. How did that work out for the Skins?

  36. JimBuc Says:

    Eric S– good points, but what makes you think the Bucs and Penn are not talking? What we are observing right now is part of the talk. It is the way the game is played.

    Besides, players do not leave an existing team BUT FOR MORE MONEY and I am sure you would agree that the Bucs will have the first opportunity to sign him to a long-term deal because he is on the Bucs. He will play this year because he absolutely has to and the discussion will continue.

  37. JimBuc Says:

    d-money is correct, but d-money the “Glazers are cheap” crowd will never accept that argument. That’s just the way it is. People attach themselves to conspiracy theories because of their simplicity.

  38. JimBuc Says:

    Curious why no one ever considers whether the player is to blame? Why is it always the team? What if Penn is asking for $12 million? None of us are privy to the demands. So why is it always the team that is to blame?

  39. Eric S Says:

    That is a misnomer about Haynesworth. He did not have a bad year for the Skins. He actually did have a good year. I wish the Bucs did sign Haynesworth. The run D would have been a hell of a lot better and there’s no doubt that would have translated to more wins. Count me as a person who is sorry that the Bucs didn’t get this done.

    Reports are that Penn is asking for 6 mil per year. If the Bucs are concerned about his weight, they can put a clause in his contract about that.

  40. lightningbuc Says:

    d-$$$,

    So if the draft picks turn out to be busts, which a lot have, then since they didn’t need to spend the 10 million on previous years draft picks, then why didn’t they go spend it on free agents?

  41. Louie Says:

    @lightningbuc, I was waiting someone to ask that $10M question!

  42. BigMacAttack Says:

    I saw Joel Glazer at Aldi Supermarket the other day.

  43. Louie Says:

    Joe, question for you (or anyone else who knows the answer): Penn’s not under contract right now, but the Bucs are the only team he can play for, right? So, unless he signs his contract how can the Bucs fine him for missing the mini-camp or training camp? Bucstats raised this question on his site.

  44. Joe Says:

    Louie:

    So, unless he signs his contract how can the Bucs fine him for missing the mini-camp or training camp?

    Bucs aren’t threating to fine him. They are threatening to lower their salary offer.

  45. d-money Says:

    Lightningg Buc,

    Over that period of time they did spend some money on free agents…

    Jeff Faine, Cato June, Antonio Bryant, Kevin Carter, etc…

    And that goes back to my point about spending the money you do spend wisely. Of the free agents picked up over those years Jeff Faine I believe is the only one still with the team.

  46. Louie Says:

    @Joe, I was thinking more along the lines of, what if’s. For example, if the Bucs wanted to fine Penn, could they if he hadn’t signed his contract?

    Also, it looks like the Mad Twitter has already made that mental jump with an article titled: “Team Tell Penn Sign or Face Fines” that includes the following statement: Dominik indicated the club will fine Penn $15,000 per day if he misses the mandatory minicamp this month or does not report to training camp.

  47. Joe Says:

    Louie:

    Joe, I was thinking more along the lines of, what if’s. For example, if the Bucs wanted to fine Penn, could they if he hadn’t signed his contract?

    That would be like asking, “What if BP told President Romney… ?”

    Mitt Romney’s not president. So BP can’t tell Romney anything.

    The Bucs can’t fine a guy who’s not under contract. What they can do is lower their offer to him. Yes, it’s semantics. Half-dozen in one hand, six in another. Either way, the Bucs hold the hammer.

  48. Apple Roof Cleaning Says:

    Just GIVE the man the freaking money he deserves, PLEASE ?

  49. Louie Says:

    Sorry to bother you, Joe. How am I suppose to know what kind of goofy rule the NFL might have on RFA’s? People have been saying Penn has no leverage and I’d have to agree if they could fine him for missing camp. Since they can only lower his offer by about $100K. So, if he’s willing to give that up, he could sit out until the start of the season without any further penalties — possibly forcing a trade or a new contract. Just my opinion.

  50. Joe Says:

    Louis:

    Joe is confident Steve White will disagree, but Penn has little bargaining power at this point. Sure, he could sit out this year. But there likely will be a labor stoppage next year. Like all players, there is a limited window to make money. So would Penn be willing to kiss away potentially two years of a limited time of earning big money he likely will never be able to match anywhere else at any other time in his life? That’s one helluva gamble and not a real smart one.

    Penn’s best bet is to suck it up this year, hope there is a CBA in place for 2011 and then tell the Bucs to shove it. Penn, and all other RFA players, are at the NFL’s mercy because of the uncertain status of 2011.

    If a CBA is in place, that changes.

  51. lightningbuc Says:

    Joe,

    Did you just advise Donald Penn to tell the Glazers/Bucs to shove it next year? Hater!

  52. Eric Says:

    “money will never be an issue”

    Unless were dicking around with a guy cause of a lack of CBA.

    But, everybody else is doing it (Except Denver), so that makes it OK.

  53. Joe Says:

    lightningbuc:

    LOL, no. But if Penn is that hacked off at the Bucs, then sure, he can tell them to take a long walk off a short pier into the Gulf of Texaco.

  54. Eric Says:

    Colts sign RFA Bethea to long term contract…………………..gues some teams do take caae of their players.

  55. JimBuc Says:

    Louie — he would never sit out because he would lose a year

  56. JimBuc Says:

    Eric — you are surprised that a company that is engaged in a labor dispute with its employees is not extending their employees’ contracts? Really? I am guessing you have handled enough negotiations to know better than that.

  57. Eric Says:

    Yea but what about Bethea? Long term deal. Broncos O-lineman, Long term deal.

    I think we are dealing with fire cause this is Freeman’s blindside and critical to our season. Why can;t the bucs step up like the Colts and Broncos?

  58. Louie Says:

    Read my comments, I never said he would sit out the season.

  59. Mr. Lucky Says:

    I guess elephant man Penn wants to work for peanuts!