Eric Wright’s Bucs Days Could Be Finished
November 27th, 2012
Eric Wright’s career with the Bucs could be turned upside down after being slapped with a four-game suspension by the NFL.
It’s is very possible that troubled Bucs cornerback Eric Wright has played his last game with the Bucs.
It seems that Bucs rock star general manager Mark Dominik has a nice little clause written in wright’s contract, per Adam Schefter of ESPN, via Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com that if Wright was popped for PED’s — he was nailed for taking Adderall — the Bucs could release him after the 2012 season and his two-year contract with the Bucs would be null and void.
In short, the Bucs would be released from owing Wright some $7.75 million next year that was previously guaranteed.
Wright, per Schefter, appealed his positive test for Adderall claiming he had misplaced the medical paperwork. Joe calls that nonsense. Doctors — at least those practicing with a license — keep accurate records of everything they give to patients. Everything.
If Wright misplaced the paperwork, all he had to do was get another copy of said paperwork from his doctor’s office, simple as that. Unless said (ahem) doctor doesn’t have a license to distribute prescription medications.
Granted, Wright’s suspension is four games, four crucial games, and he is eligible to return for the Bucs season finale against Atlanta. But if the Bucs are out of the playoffs at that time, what’s the point?
Below is Wright’s written statement concerning the suspension released by the Bucs, via TBO.com.
“This is a result of taking Adderall at the end of July for health issues I was experiencing,” Wright said in written statement released by the team. “I am extremely disappointed that the suspension was upheld at my appeal.”
“I apologize to the Glazer family, General Manager Mark Dominik, Coach Schiano and the entire Tampa Bay Buccaneers organization, my teammates, our great fans and my family, who have stood by me through this entire process. I will continue to prepare myself and look forward to rejoining the team.”
November 27th, 2012 at 8:11 am
Joe,
Give Wright a break. This is all Dr. Talib’s fault!
November 27th, 2012 at 8:16 am
Am I the only one who finds this adderrall excuse BS?
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/07/31/is-adderall-becoming-the-new-excuse-for-steroids-users/
November 27th, 2012 at 8:48 am
Wright already got out of a DUI in the offseason. I say make him walk the plank. He’s not very good, he’s overpaid, and he’s had multiple off field problems since his signing.
Our corner situation is dire and must be seriously addressed this offseason, but Wright is not a part of the solution. If we can cut him without consequence after the season, DO IT.
November 27th, 2012 at 8:49 am
Good riddance! Money could be much better spent on someone or can actually stay on the field AND play CB. Wright is no better than average from what I’ve seen, and definitely does not seem to fit the Shiano’s vision of a Buccaneer Man. BTW, if I were bettin man, I’d bet Wright was the pez dispenser, not Talib. Wright has a long history with drugs more potent than Talibs MaryJ.
November 27th, 2012 at 8:56 am
Well at least the Vincent Jackson signing has worked out. The others not so much.
November 27th, 2012 at 9:02 am
Great stuff, cut his ass at the end of the season.
November 27th, 2012 at 9:11 am
The Nicks signing was also good, even if he’s injured. He was a monster on the field, even when playing hurt. It was a really good offseason for Dom other than Wright.
November 27th, 2012 at 9:13 am
@TBuc, this is really the only bad FA signing so far, Nicks couldn’t help that he got injured. Wright will be gone and we’ll draft a CB and a Safety and probably sign one of each in FA. Believe me, I was prepared for a 6-10 to 8-8 season, what Schiano has done is nothing short of amazing, especially with 1 remaining starter on our O-line. What we are seeing is someone who can actually evaluate college talent and drafts well, unlike the last two geniuses we employed as HC.
November 27th, 2012 at 9:14 am
He contributed to the worst pass defense in the NFL. Let him walk.
November 27th, 2012 at 9:39 am
Hey Eric….get the hell off my team
November 27th, 2012 at 9:40 am
If Wright could actually play defense, it might be a different story. But in this day, when you breathe on a WR it will get you 15 yds. The CB’s that seem to be the most effective are the ones that cheat and hold, grab and get away with it, because all Officials suck. Certain players and teams get away with everything short of murder on the field. It just happens that the Bucs aren’t one of them.
I can’t stand refs and this is National Refs Suck week.
November 27th, 2012 at 9:45 am
Yes yes yes!!! Comes back week 17 F cut him!!
November 27th, 2012 at 9:46 am
How many teams have the opportunity to cut a guy they drastically overpaid as a result of his underperformance, with injury issues and ongoing baggage inside and outside of the game? Very few. Christmas came early, Dom.. Get rid of him immediately. I’m sure that 7 plus million can be well spent on another player…CB, pass rusher, etc.
November 27th, 2012 at 9:46 am
Good on Dominik. Still, I think that leaves $15 mil he collects. As I have stated before that should be addressed in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
November 27th, 2012 at 9:55 am
We could Trueblood him. Tell him to take a pay cut and restructure his contract or be shown the door.
He IS better than Lewis.
November 27th, 2012 at 10:11 am
I just read that his contract was guaranteed for skill and injury, so since he got injury (or playing injury cause he knew that) do they still have 2 pay him?
November 27th, 2012 at 10:26 am
Tom, no $15 mill …contract null and void due to ped’s
November 27th, 2012 at 10:28 am
@Tom… I put the same thoughts up elsewhere. A player misconduct clause should be written in all NFL contracts.
Just like with any other job, illegal drug use should have it’s consequences.
November 27th, 2012 at 10:30 am
@Mbaby, you’ve basically read right, however, according to Schefter, there was another clause in the contract that stated if there was a suspension, the 2nd year is no longer guaranteed.
I don’t think he’ll be cut before the year is over, because he is guaranteed the money for the last game of the year, the one after his suspension is served. If the Bucs are in the playoff hunt at that time, it doesn’t make sense to have released what would be your best CB (not saying a lot for this group) when you may need that Win to get into the playoffs, then not to mention the playoffs themselves.
I absolutely believe he should not come back next year, but unless we’re eliminated from the playoffs while he’s suspended, cutting him during the season this year doesn’t make sense.
November 27th, 2012 at 10:30 am
Dominik is good For at least one terrible signing year. Looks like this one will allow the team to recoup some of that cash to spend on a better corner next year. If Biggers, L Johnson, L Lewis and Gorrer (who?) are holding their own as well as can be expected, it tells me that the system has more to do with it than the players. Cut this bum now!!
November 27th, 2012 at 10:56 am
I say dump him. We’re coming into a free agency year that will have Brent Grimes, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Sam Shields and Jason McCourty available. All four are better coverage guys than Wright and we could probably get them for the same or lesser price. I say great timing.
November 27th, 2012 at 11:02 am
Curious to see how Dominik handles this, as he’d been wanting to get Wright for the last few years, and finally signed him this off-season. Being that he referred to Wright as “my guy” a couple times during the intro news conference, wonder how he feels about “his guy” now.
November 27th, 2012 at 11:18 am
@Tom, the only money Wright collects is his $7.25mil, plus his $500k workout bonus. He loses over $1m for his suspension as well. Therefore, he only collects around $6.5mil. The $7.5m that was supposed to be guaranteed for next year is no longer guaranteed due to the suspension, and he didn’t get a signing bonus, meaning the team can cut him next season and pay nothing. That is my understanding from what I’ve read at least.
November 27th, 2012 at 11:54 am
Yippee we can get a corner that can actually cover someone or another D-lineman or two. Has anyone questioned the hiring of Sheridan ?? He was fired 2 years ago by the Giants a season in which his unit gave up 427 points, the second-most in team history, including games in which the Giants surrendered 31, 48, 40, 31, 45, 41 and 44 points. Does this sound familiar ??
November 27th, 2012 at 12:32 pm
Ramdog- let’s not crucify Sheridan before we give him him some players to work with. Say the names of our cornerbacks out loud then ask yourself if there is a DC out there that could do better? Last I checked we have maintained the best run defense in the league. That’s worst to first! Given the remaining talent on the defensive roster I think Sheridan deserves a medal!
November 27th, 2012 at 1:44 pm
Cut him loose. Count your losses…It was a terrible contract anyways, well, except for the clause that the contract becomes void if said knucklehead breaks said rules.
November 27th, 2012 at 3:11 pm
Let’s hope Wright is the last one!
November 27th, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Agree with Mark 2001. He’s not a good player. No need for this fool. Cut.
November 27th, 2012 at 5:18 pm
If i thought he was a good player Id say keep him around. But really from what Iv seen of him this year hes nothing special. Id say cut him and do a complete overhaul of that position in the off season. If we could get some decent play from that position i think we would be hard to beat.
November 27th, 2012 at 6:24 pm
between the money allocated against the cap to talib and wright this year, we can do a nice little rebuilding job at the CB position without hurting our ability to make other moves. we probably have enough budget for this year’s cortland finnegan, a 1st round pick in the draft, and a marginal starter to compete for the #3\slot role. there is maybe one guy among the bucs’ holdovers who has starter type upside, this position needs more outside help than any other spot on the roster. honestly, CB might be the only position where we are crying out for something more than a solid role player or backup.
November 28th, 2012 at 12:48 am
Still better than the Mike Nugent and Derrick Ward signings.
November 28th, 2012 at 2:23 am
talk about a poison pill…
so which buccaneer gave him the adderall knowing about the contract clause? lmao
what a way to get out of it.