Mixed News On Carl Nicks
February 1st, 2014
It’s great to know the human armoire, Carl Nicks, isn’t stuck in bed riddled with the nasty MRSA infection that helped poison him and the Bucs’ 2013 season.
And it was great to learn yesterday that Nicks is “rehabbing” daily at One Buc Palace, per the Twittering of beat writer Roy Cummings. But the ugly news is that Nicks is doing any kind of rehab in late January, 10 weeks since he had surgery to remove the recurrence of MRSA in his foot.
Last summer, Nicks told Joe and other Bucs beat writers that his toe/foot problem, the one he had surgery for in 2012, was a permanent situation that was as good as would ever get. Nicks said it could be managed with rest and pain relief, and Nicks said he certainly could play well through it.
In late October, a Bucs player close to Nicks told Joe (in confidence) that Nicks was doing great after his MRSA surgery and was expected back on the field in November.
But Nicks never played again or even returned to practice, and the Bucs never served up details of his condition.
So Joe hearing now that Nicks is “rehabbing” daily isn’t as sweet as it appears on the surface. Healthy players aren’t part of any team-supervised training this time of year.
Per FOX Sports, the Bucs owe Nix around $6 million guaranteed in 2014, if he’s injured. If he’s officially considered healthy, the Bucs can move on without consequences from the massive guard with a massive contract.
The super gray area here is Nicks never landing on injured reserve last season. Considering the Bucs put all kinds of guys on IR, including Da’Quan Bowers in Week 17, keeping Nicks on the active roster likely was a maneuver related to not officially declaring Nicks “injured.” Therefore, that would give the Bucs a chance to cut him and not pay out the $6 million, though Nicks surely would contest such a move.
Regardless, the Bucs need to fix their offensive line. Their guards didn’t produce. Their tackles and center were average at best. And there appears to be no left guard behind Nicks worthy of playing time.
Lovie Smith didn’t have much luck building an offensive line in Chicago. This big task is going to fall heavily on new Bucs general manager Jason Licht.
February 1st, 2014 at 9:12 am
Tampa seems like the place old Saint offensive linemen go to die.
The center we got from them did not work out too good either.
Talk about bad luck for us in Tampa, huh ?
Carl Nicks was an awesome offensive lineman, when he was right.
A real road grader, and guardian of Drew Brees, who pancaked his opponents 1/2 the time.
February 1st, 2014 at 9:19 am
Joe’s for the last 5 years during the superbowl week, why weren’t you asking great front office people, how are the Bucs supposed to win the division with the worst GM in the division?
February 1st, 2014 at 9:33 am
#worstcoachingstaffinthedivision
February 1st, 2014 at 10:00 am
@ buc_realist
I don’t know how you can say Litch is the worst GM when he hasn’t had a chance to do anything and never been a GM. Every great GM had their first GM job. Gotta have faith
February 1st, 2014 at 10:07 am
@canadian
Did not know that Litch was a GM for the last 5 years, to my knowledge he has been a GM just over 5 days. Also the question was in the past tense your second clue. For me to explain this to you makes me sad.
February 1st, 2014 at 10:08 am
TBR. That horse is dead, pls move forward like the rest of us.
February 1st, 2014 at 10:13 am
@CaptainStagger
#worstinthedivisioningeneral
February 1st, 2014 at 10:40 am
@ canadianbucsfan
He was talking about Mark Dominik, that’s why he said “for the last 5 years.”
February 1st, 2014 at 10:45 am
This is going to be a quiet mess – especially since the inherit regime that brought him in is now gone.
As bad as I hate to see him gone and I had high expectations for him, I say we get him healthy as can be and release him or agree to a financial settlement with he and his agent.
This is a lose – lose.
February 1st, 2014 at 10:45 am
I in preseason that this guy would play no more than 7 games in 2013. And was laughed at.
He’s not going to play football ever again. Especially for the Bucs.
Its time to move on.
February 1st, 2014 at 10:56 am
@The_Buc_Realist – GMs don’t play or coach on gameday. Dominik was saddled with Raheem. Don’t be stupid.
February 1st, 2014 at 10:56 am
The guy doesn’t miss a game for over 4 straight years
, comes to the Bucs and may be done forever. Lose-lose
February 1st, 2014 at 10:56 am
@ Buc Realist
Surely you aren’t referring to Licht….your criticism of the “Pop Star” is well documented (the single subject of hundreds of posts)….but I you are already starting to complain about Licht before he has made any decisions….that is truely rediculous!!!
February 1st, 2014 at 11:53 am
@tampabaybucfan
I only said a joke ” that when he gets fired they should just get Shawn Merriman in the office and do the ( licht’s out dance )” . other than that i have said very little, as he has shown very little, I am sure that after free-agency and the draft that I will find something to criticize at that point. Jk by the way.
Go Bucs!
February 1st, 2014 at 1:23 pm
Nicks can’t play, can’t be cut and will be an anchor around the Buc’s neck for years to come.
The previous regime was criminally negligent handling this problem and to make it worse, they extended his contract and infected him with MRSA.
Mr Nicks is in the drivers seat.
They should build him an elevated throne on the 50 yard line, give him a golden goblet, some turkey legs to chew on and a golden throne. Crown him the King of Football! He even looks like Henry the Eighth.
February 1st, 2014 at 2:09 pm
When Glennon got good OL play he was a beast
February 1st, 2014 at 2:21 pm
I don’t believe it was ever PROVEN that the infections STARTED in Tampa, I don’t know how you could even prove suck a thing. And I believe I heard about that giants kicker previously dealing with an infection while he was in NYG. He can’t hold that against the Bucs organization.
February 1st, 2014 at 2:25 pm
I think you guys are giving up on Nicks waaaay too soon. Much like most of you gave up on Gerald McCoy.
February 1st, 2014 at 3:26 pm
I think you guys are giving up on Nicks waaaay too soon. Much like most of you gave up on Gerald McCoy.
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Much like you have given up on Glennon.
February 1st, 2014 at 3:48 pm
“I’ve had a chance to talk with Carl and I’ll just say that he’s excited about the coming season and his rehab is going well,’’ coach Lovie Smith said. “Carl is one of the guys who has been through here daily, getting ready to go. He’s been a dominant football player for a while and we have to get him back out on the football field, and that’s what we’re trying to do.’’
Logically if a player is rehabbing he’s trying to get healthy, he wouldn’t be rehabbing if he was healthy… lol 😉
Instead of taking something positive and making it negative, I’ll take it for what it is. I believe he’ll be back with the Bucs next year.
February 1st, 2014 at 4:34 pm
Denver and New England had more STARTERS on IR than the Bucs. YA, it sucks having injuries and stuff but organizations with DEPTH and real franchise Quarterbacks seem to manage ok.