Bucs Take “Commanding Lead”
March 26th, 2013
Joe’s not a big numbers guy. Numbers don’t make tackles, run over defenders, pop Adderrall, or roll around big cities packing heat. In short, numbers are boring, unless they involve Rachel Watson’s phone number or Joe’s bank account.
But Joe does understand many fans get off on fantasy football stats and salary cap room.
So with that in mind, Joe hereby delivers the latest from BSPN on how much dough the Bucs can spend in 2013. It’s a lot.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to hold a commanding lead on the rest of the NFC South when it comes to cap space. They’re $27 million under and that could grow by $7.75 million if the team releases cornerback Eric Wright.
Yes, the Bucs still must pay their draft picks, potentially pay Darrelle Revis $6 million or so for 2013, re-sign Ronde Barber and, one would hope, add more depth in free agency along their offensive and defensive lines at least. Plus, some pundits expect the Bucs to extend Mike Williams’ contract and push some of that cash onto this season’s books. And then there’s the whole concept of the Bucs “rolling” extra salary cap room to next season in order to have more flexibility in 2014.
Regardless, the Bucs are free to spend recklessly and/or wisely.
March 26th, 2013 at 4:21 pm
The last part of the article is the key. Spending wisely, not recklessly. There are several core players with contracts coming due in the near future. V Jax and Nicks restructured to free up more cap room, but to my knowledge, that pushes more cap charges into the future. I’m sure there is a financial plan in place to go along with acquiring the players Schiano wants.
March 26th, 2013 at 4:29 pm
A great position to be in….can restructure contracts…pick up good players dumped at the last minute by other teams….can probably set us up well for 2014….unlike the Panthers.(not good).
Be patient…we have the Buc/Bucks!!!
March 26th, 2013 at 4:32 pm
V jax and Nicks contract WILL balloon next season.
But maybe we will pay them straight cash again. Who knows.
I totally support letting our cap room roll over to next season
Build depth. Add youth. Develop players. And be smart.
No need signing old players. Only studs like Nicks, Jackson, Goldson, and Revis.
Then, be smart with depth signings. Like Casillas and Ogletree.
But the way, Ogletree is a baller. Great hands. Real smooth runner. He will be a solid addiition for us. Just watch.
I like our patient approach. It will pay off. Just watch.
March 26th, 2013 at 4:33 pm
Joe,
See Bucs owners Glazer on Forbes List PFT. Yeah, we can afford Revis and the horse he will ride in on!
March 26th, 2013 at 4:43 pm
It’s not about fantasy numbers and guys on your Maddon roster, it’s about talent and when you routinely spend the least amount of money in the league you’re routinely going to have a talent gap.
“I like having room under the salary cap, it will make us competitive in the long run. When we start to spend some it” is a refrain said every year since 2003 or so.
I’d be much happier I’d they signed a few mid level players than to blow it all on a contract or three.
If you think being that far under the salary cap doesn’t impact on field performance then you’ve just got your head in the sand.
35 million dollars!!
March 26th, 2013 at 5:33 pm
No real surprise here.
The only thing that really matters is winning the Superbowl.
March 26th, 2013 at 5:36 pm
@Joe: 6M for Revis? AHAHAHAHA
March 26th, 2013 at 5:47 pm
“potentially pay Darrelle Revis $6 million or so for 2013”
Yeah Joe… where did you come up with that logic?
March 26th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
When is it that teams have to start spending to near the cap limit? I thought it was this league year.
March 26th, 2013 at 5:54 pm
I thought V Jax and Nicks accelerated bonuses to last year’s cap number to free up cap room. I think base salaries may go up a tad but I think the cap hit is minimal and the money is not guaranteed.
March 26th, 2013 at 6:02 pm
@Kaput
Panthers are budged up against the cap right now but not to worry, they enjoyed great success last season according to your theory. (They actually only went 7-9). Look at the teams up against the cap right now. Most did NOT have success last year. Over paying average players is a mistake that Dominik has avoided fairly well in his tenure.
March 26th, 2013 at 6:03 pm
Revis is only owed $6m on the remainder of his contract. The extension is what will cost $$$.
Maybe Dom can pass his secrets along to Oblowme & Reid. They need a Cap in the worst way.
March 26th, 2013 at 6:58 pm
The cap space has really paid off. Dominick has the Bucs poised to finish 3rd or 4th in the division. Sweet!!!
March 26th, 2013 at 7:02 pm
Wow the Panthers suck. They finish 7-9 and have had to let people go to get under the cap, then have to worry about signing draftees!?! What a mess. Now let that new OC Mike Shula offense open it up (he said sarcastically). I can’t wait until we crush Scam Newton and his sad little “first down” jig. HC Ron Riveria might not even last to the end of the 2014 season. I’m so glad the Rock star is keeping the Bucs out of that kind of a mess.
March 26th, 2013 at 7:58 pm
SPEND THE MONIES DOM! SPEND THEM ALL
March 26th, 2013 at 8:06 pm
We sucked too, how does that prove the Bucs did the right thing? In fact, we’ve sucked for a ling time now and have routinely spend precious little -see the correlation?
35 million.
March 26th, 2013 at 8:59 pm
How far off are from being a playoff team?
I “estimate” for us to be about roughly 28% away.
We happen have about 28% of the salary cap being unused.
At what point can Dominick/ Glazer brain trust, look the fans in the eye, and tell us the lack of mother f*cking FUNDING is THE BEST OPTION?
Wes Welker, Cliff Avril, come on down on a 1-2 year deal for about 16m per, yes sir. Why is Myron Lewis on the roster. I want to ask that question every day. It’s not Dom’s mistake of drafting him that pisses me off, it is the reluctance to cut bait and search for a better alternative.
We are what our salary cap says we are: underfunded, empty stadiumed, and oh so “patient”.
“Show me the money, Jerry.”
March 26th, 2013 at 9:06 pm
Being this far under the cap would be excusable if we could contend each year, thus drafting great.
It is a slap in the face to the fans, and everyone involved in watching, playing, coaching, and general managing operation to have owners who don’t put it all out there to win.
Our stadium is probably going to be 72% full on our home opener, hopefully opening the owner’s eyes: you only reap what you sew.
Buy us better players, I know you didn’t misplace your wallet with the soccer team.
Any sport that has flopping as an “art” is boo.
March 26th, 2013 at 9:11 pm
Spending any amount of available cap space won’t solve the one large unknown that is preventing this Buc’s team from competing for a Super Bowl, and that is Josh Freeman.
They can spend the remaining 27 million +7.75 million on FA and if Freeman is in 2011/2012 form, it won’t matter, nothing will bail it out.
or
They can keep the cap space clear, see how Freeman goes, and whether that have to make a change at that position to be competitive, and then finish stockpiling talent for a Super Bowl.
March 26th, 2013 at 9:15 pm
I believe we are 43 good players from being a major contender…2 CBs, a OLB and a DT. The rest would be depth, which we already have some in place.
I think we can already contend for the playoffs. Second year under Sullivan. Fifth year QB Josh Freeman should have his best year. That is when Eli stepped it up…along with many good QBs. This past year he DID break all sorts of offensive records.
Barring injuries, the offense is ready to go. Arizona made it to the bowl with no defense.
So we are ready to compete in the playoffs this year. Superbowl bound? Not unless we plug those 4 defensive holes.
March 26th, 2013 at 9:16 pm
I meant “I believe we are 4 good…”
March 26th, 2013 at 9:30 pm
Steven, hang in there man. Give them one more season. This year they’ll make the playoffs and win the NFC South. Trust me, no really.
March 26th, 2013 at 9:30 pm
Stevek, autocorrect
March 26th, 2013 at 9:52 pm
When u can’t draft u have to sign free agents
March 26th, 2013 at 10:14 pm
Optimis,
Agree on the Freeman comment. Cap space doesn’t need to be saved though. There will be space available next year regardless. Stockpile some talent now.
Forward thinking is great and all, but Dom tends to look 3 years from now too often. If you always look to the future, you never live in the present. Rock Star KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. Im a Rock Star fan but that’s reality.
March 26th, 2013 at 10:20 pm
BTW, with the impending release of Carson Palmer, anyone against signing him as the #2?
March 26th, 2013 at 10:32 pm
Cmurda,
Yeah, you are probably right. Filling in obvious holes in the roster wouldn’t really spend future cap space, and would make the team better. If Freeman shows up in 2013 having the few extra FA players that round out the roster could make the difference in how deep the team goes in the playoffs. If I were GM, it is a gamble I would probably make.
But the Bucs seem to be taking a very deliberate approach to both FA and the draft, only committing to players they really, really like, and hoping that will eventually fill out a roster in a couple years. I am on board with their approach, even though it seems painful some times, especially on some Sundays when the game is close.
March 26th, 2013 at 10:34 pm
remember guys depending whos left on the board when we pick during the draft we could here that we traded our number 13th pick to the jests for Revis on draft day.
March 26th, 2013 at 10:45 pm
so technically our 13th pick in the draft could be Revis.
March 26th, 2013 at 10:55 pm
Andrew 1. Im giving up the 13th overall for Revis all day every day and 10 times on Sunday. I’ve seen what Revis could do in the NFL. I don’t now how Rhodes or Lotulelei will be. Especially if we are in need of a new QB next year. I’d much rather save next year’s first. The cherry on top is a first this year is more valuable to the Jets now and our first next year could be more valuable than this year’s to us. In addition, this year’s 13th overall should demand less additional compensation than a package with next year’s 1st.
March 26th, 2013 at 11:02 pm
@ Cmurda
I agree with most of what you said except for when you said our pick next year will better. that implies we finish even worse then our current 7-9 record next year and I just cant see that happening. If that does happen though, I fear the worse. the Glazers might decide to clean house again which would set us back another 10 years. I know Doms head would be the first on the chopping block
March 26th, 2013 at 11:06 pm
I think if they choose to be conservative, the question we must ask is, “Does this mean they have already, in their minds, committed to keeping Josh Freeman long term?”.
March 26th, 2013 at 11:10 pm
Andrew1 that doesn’t imply that we will have a worse record it means the value of next years draft could be more
Beneficial because there will be more talent and better QBs
March 26th, 2013 at 11:19 pm
@ Jacko
what Cmurda said was- “The cherry on top is a first this year is more valuable to the Jets now and our first next year could be more valuable than this year’s to us”
what i took that to mean was that our first round pick next year will be more valuable to us because it could be a higher pick.
if what he meant was our first round pick next year will be more valuable to use because there will be better talent next year than I agree 100%.
March 26th, 2013 at 11:30 pm
I’m saying that if we give up our first for next year’s draft and we need to move forward finding a QB than we will lose out on a top flite 1st round QB in a draft that tends to have some talent towards the top with QB’s. The 13th pick in this draft isnt all that sexy. The value of a first round pick next year even if slightly later still has a potential to land a top 3 QB. This year’s draft is deep with CB talent. The honey badger for example could be had in the 2nd round possibly. So, Revis and the Honey Badger and still next year’s 1st pick hopefully later than the 13 overall will still put us in prime position for a Qb to be drafted.
March 26th, 2013 at 11:32 pm
@Jacko. YUP
March 26th, 2013 at 11:35 pm
ok i got you and I agree with you. I simply misunderstood you the first time.
March 27th, 2013 at 12:02 am
Macabee:
And what exactly does the Glazer family’s net worth have to do with the salary cap?
March 27th, 2013 at 12:30 am
The Glazers spend less on the Bucs, than the others spend on their teams!
Yay! Start the Party!
A fine Tampa Bay tradition! Culverhouse was always the cheapest owner also.
Man, us Buc Fans are sooooo lucky! We almost NEVER have to worry about exceeding the cap! Only making sure we spend the bare minimum- to make the “floor” of the Cap!!
And apparently, some of these fans realize it! They are applauding the Bucs frugal spending- like it’s some kinda financial Lombardi!
If that’s the Case, we should be building a huge Statue of Hugh Culverhouse in Downtown Tampa, and adding him to the Ring of Honor!!
” Never Wasted money on Football team!”
March 27th, 2013 at 5:48 am
This isn’t Monopoly, it’s Professional Football and we suck at it. We seem to pat ourselves on the back for having cap space, while we nearly break the record for having the worst pass defense in the history of the sport. We could have had a real upgrade in our pass defense, yet we choose to focus on Revis who is 5 months off an ACL injury and damaged goods. You won’t fill the stadium by continuing to lose…….
March 27th, 2013 at 7:26 am
It would really suck if the Bucs were in the same position as the Ravens. Coming off a Superbowl with five consecutive trips to the playoffs and having to rebuild. Thankfully Rock Star and the Glazers have a plan to keep that from ever happening in Tampa.
March 27th, 2013 at 8:16 am
@Joe from to your Macabee Question:
The Glazers spend like it is crazy on Soccer Talent. They are beyond rich. Why is it that Myron Lewis is on the roster, Joe? Why do we have some crappy players on this team still? Cut bait and sign somebody for the love of god. Antione Cason got 1.5m per 1 year.
Hell, we could have signed Talib for 1yr 5m and just cut Wright.
The Glazers only spend about 72% of the salary cap, and really expect to sell out the stadium.. And we wonder why they send a home game to London twice now.
They are all about the $$Money and 0% about the GLORY and PRIDE of being a CHAMPION.
The Bucs are just another RESOURCE. This is Buc Football we are talking about. These fools need to step it up.
March 27th, 2013 at 8:18 am
Mark Cuban, please come buy the Bucs.
March 27th, 2013 at 8:21 am
Joe,
I know you guys wouldn’t ask that question, but ask the apprentice who works for you that did to explain where the 21 million to pay Jackson and Nicks in 2012 came from in order to create enough cap space to be able to afford a Revis?
http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-contract-restructuring-takes-advantage-of-loophole-2013-2
March 27th, 2013 at 9:03 am
Just call it what it clearly, a team that doesn’t spend money. It’s not complicated, unless you want it to be.
35 million under the cap isn’t an accident, nor is being at the bottom of spending for a decade.
35 million!!
March 27th, 2013 at 10:22 am
Spending money for the sake of spending money will not a championship guarantee. Wake up people. The Bucs have a minimum they have to spend and they will get there, on their time table, not yours. Look at what the Rays have done with little money. Its about chemistry and finding the right players, with the right skills to work in a system. It’s coaching, it’s luck, staying healthy and capitalizing on opportunities. What a bunch of whiny little bitches. If you want instant gratification, take a hot shower with a fresh bar of soap. Sheez
March 27th, 2013 at 2:12 pm
@bigmacattack
You must love mediocrity! Your right the Rays do a great job with very little. The Rays have better management. The Glazers/Rock Star do very little and have way more to spend. There is the sense among Glazer/Dominick apologists that there is this master plan that disgruntled fans just can’t comprehend. Well WTF is it. Every year its the same old excuses.
March 27th, 2013 at 5:20 pm
C’mon, nobody loves mediocrity. 31 teams every year are disappointed, and 20 of those are really unhappy. The Eagles proved last year that trying to buy a dream team of big names won’t get you there. It’s March and there is time to fill voids without knee jerk reactions. I like big CBs and good ones are few and far in between. It seems like every day is just a big bitch Fest of Ye of little faith. Just because some of us are optimistic, doesn’t make us wrong. Look what a sucky team with a sucky coach did on 2010′. They were one bad PI call from the playoffs.