Pay Up
February 2nd, 2014
A new deal now?
New Bucs general manager Jason Licht made it clear that if he is going to target free agents, then they will be free agents that deliver value, not necessarily the best player at the highest ransom. So when Bucs fans ask Joe if Licht is going to get, say, player-X, Joe offers words of caution.
Some say the best free agents a team can get are the guys they already have on the roster who are some of the best in the NFL. Using this premise, ESPN’s Pat Yasinskas believes the Bucs shouldn’t monkey around much longer and wrap up Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David to long-term deals.
This offseason would be the perfect time to lock up linebacker Lavonte David and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy (perhaps Tampa Bay’s two best players) to long-term contracts. McCoy is heading into the final year of his contract. David is under contract through 2015, but he already has outplayed his rookie contract.
David, a first-team All-Pro, is only scheduled to make $705,000 in base salary this season. He already has earned a hefty raise, and the Bucs would be wise to take care of him. If they wait, chances are David will have another big season and only drive up his price tag.
It’s really hard to argue this. You are talking, at worst, two guys who are in the top three at their positions in the NFL, young dudes, better teammates you will not find. These are the kinds of guys who you lock up to build a winning foundation.
This just in: The Bucs haven’t had a winning season since 2010. So, yeah, you could make a valid argument the Bucs are rebuilding with a new coach and a new general manager.
February 2nd, 2014 at 10:08 am
It’ll be interesting to see if they wait to pay up. I think getting them a deal this offseason is best so our two best players on the team can avoid distraction from the financial side of things…. Let me focus on playing the game, PAY THE MAN!
February 2nd, 2014 at 10:09 am
It’ll be interesting to see if they wait to pay up. I think getting them a deal this offseason is best so our two best players on the team can avoid distraction from the financial side of things…. Let em focus on playing the game, PAY THE MAN!
February 2nd, 2014 at 10:12 am
Working it out with McCoy would indeed free up some space. Working out a new deal with Lavonte David would use up cap space since he is already cheap this year. Better to wait a year on him so maybe we can draft a guy that can potentially replace Revis and clear a huge chunk of space.
I would not restructure the Revis contract because it would likely convert it to a standard contract, and we would not be able to cut him each year.
February 2nd, 2014 at 10:30 am
We can’t lock up David after his 2nd season until next year.
February 2nd, 2014 at 10:35 am
The big head scratcher for me was the Mike williams contract. Can’t remember the number but it seemed a little high for an easily replaceable WR. You can find his equivalent just about anywhere. I don’t like outside receivers under 6″3 unless they are lightning fast. He should play in our slot role and we need another big body on the outside. But yes sigh McCoy and David now before it get’s more expensive.
February 2nd, 2014 at 10:44 am
Agree that Bucs are rebuilding. That´s why they dont need to make a strong win-now push again. It´s maybe not what V-Jacks Joseph Pen etc want, but it is what it is.
With that being said, Bucs should consider to draft the Best player available at his position, which surely is also a position of need (needs everywhere, even DT, considering Lois Nix III from Notre Dame could very well be there at the 7th – Imaging having another real strong beast with some good push ext to McCoy..
Good picks: QB: even consider moving up to get Bridgewater, just an outstanding QB; OT/OG Greg Robinson natural monster blocker and Jake Matthews; WR Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans as VJacks future replacement; TE Ebron; HB Later Rounds; DE/SLB Anthony Barr or Mack or Clowney; maybe MLB Mosley; Secondary also many ways to go – though i am not sure who i would take..
February 2nd, 2014 at 10:45 am
Lock all out young starters this year, let the expensive overrated contract runs out and put us in position to win in 2015.
That way we fix the salary cap, see if Glennon is a starter, and see if mine williams is still into football. Plus graham from no will be available after its franchise tag year.
Please don’t make a big splash in fa, fix the holes first and secure our future!
February 2nd, 2014 at 11:21 am
“Good picks: QB: even consider moving up to get Bridgewater, just an outstanding QB; OT/OG Greg Robinson natural monster blocker and Jake Matthews; WR Sammy Watkins or Mike Evans as VJacks future replacement; TE Ebron; HB Later Rounds; DE/SLB Anthony Barr or Mack or Clowney; maybe MLB Mosley; Secondary also many ways to go – though i am not sure who i would take..”
You should be pretty easy to please come draft day. Honestly though, I agree. There are some very good “non-quarterbacks” at the top of this draft, just stay put or move back a couple picks and accumulate good players at good value.
February 2nd, 2014 at 11:25 am
A new deal for McCoy should be a given. He’s the to layer at his position, especially now in a defense that is catered to him. David waits a year.
February 2nd, 2014 at 11:34 am
I say no to Bridgewater. I would go with Bortles, Manziel or Carr before him.
February 2nd, 2014 at 11:47 am
This is an excellent point. Despite the fact that Lovie’s D has certainly evolved to make up for adjustments that the O has made over the years against a very possible D its heart is still a prolific Three Technique and McCoy has all that potential. The two years wasted under Schiano should burn him a bit as he played very well in what amounted to wasted efforts. I think this move – at least half of it any way when it comes to McCoy will be Lovie’s first directive and Licht will follow suit considering McCoy’s contextual value and what they’re trying to achieve – an immediate turn around.
As for David, it is a travesty that he played his first two years under Sxhiano and has potential that is virtually limitless. The fact that his past season – historic by some metrics – didn’t get the attention and adulation it deserved (Matt Williamson from BSPN did love him though) is IMHO the fat lip on the two black eyed face of the Schiano era. Locking him up now though is premature as he is locked up for the next two years. That’s more a result of the structure of the CBA than anything else. Considering his Brooks like potential though, come 2015, he’s priority one. The man is the perfect answer to the new QB architype and I look forward to watching him chase down Kap, Wilson, and Sham Newton for years to come in big time games.
Lovie’s hiring bodes well for a return to relevance and it feels good to have an adult and a professional in charge and feel good about the Bucs again moving forward.
Joe, this is my first comment on the site and I want to say thank you. I’ve loved it for two solid seasons and it’s good to know honest assessments are out there. I grew up in the Culverhouse era and fell in love with the Bucs during the 92 season under Sam Wyche. We know how that ended. Your history and perspective are much appreciated. Go Bucs.
Thanks.
February 2nd, 2014 at 11:51 am
I disagree with the idea we’re in rebuild mode. Our cap situation is great, and we’ve got a great blend of youngsters and vets. The key to the off season will be filling a few holes but mainly to build depth. We need some serious pass rushers as well as a couple big play makers at WR.
I feel like Lovie and co. can win NOW. And build for the future at the same time.
February 2nd, 2014 at 12:12 pm
you can’t give a guy you drafted a new contract untill after his 4th year. So no new contract for david. That is why russell willson is playing for like 500k this year and next… its the new CBA.
I love mccoy and no way do i ever let play in another uniform, but his rookie contract came in the old cba deal ( not that it matters) so he has been paid in a very big way over the last 4 years. He stays so pay the man but make it cap friendly. I don’t no if you offer him something now or let him play with his old contract # this year and if worse comes to worse, franchise him next year??
February 2nd, 2014 at 12:17 pm
No way we are in re-build mode, we’ve got too much talent. These players are all going to come with they’re A-games next season. They’re excited, they want to play hard for a solid NFL coach with experience. A lot of our players from last year that fans think are washed up will improve. Yes we do have a few holes before we can start adding depth, but this team is ready to win. Pick up a QB in the draft and let him and Glennon compete. If Tedford’s offense can succeed in the NFL then one of two young qb’s will flourish. If I had to choose a qb to draft it would be Bridgewater to win now, but I don’t know how long he will last. Then again every year the league is protecting QB’s more and more so maybe it would be foolish not to take him or Manziel. I know I would prefer not to draft a pocket passer. Give Glennon a chance but the league has for sure developed in the favor of the running QB over the last few years.
February 2nd, 2014 at 12:45 pm
“you can’t give a guy you drafted a new contract untill after his 4th year.”
So this is in the CBA ? Or is this your opinion that the team ‘shouldn’t’ do it ? I hadn’t heard that the team is prohibited from extending a rookie contract until after the 4th year. Interesting offshoot of the CBA , if true…changes things immensely.
February 2nd, 2014 at 12:53 pm
Bucs are ready to challenge, unless they draft a 1st round QB.
February 2nd, 2014 at 1:10 pm
Joe
Are you serious ? We can’t even lock up David if we wanted to, he has to complete his third season first, your slacking..
February 2nd, 2014 at 1:45 pm
I have no idea why I am posting about this subject on the biggest pro football day of the year. Nonetheless as I have posted before, fans should not get all excited about bringing in big time free agents this year and for now we only have 5 draft picks. I couldn’t agree more with the notion that we need to develope the talent we have. Lock in David and McCoy. Draft for depth. Licht is not going to pay ransoms to top free agents and hopefully Carl Nicks will be our starting left guard in 2014. We have a new coach, a new GM, and hopefully a new philosophy. WE ARE REBUILDING. LIVE WITH IT…………
February 2nd, 2014 at 1:47 pm
Lovie can coach this team to ten wins if we get some breaks injury wise for a change.
February 2nd, 2014 at 2:17 pm
“Value”….is not directly related to price/larger number….that quote does mean the Bucs are not going to throw down big…to get their value
February 2nd, 2014 at 2:27 pm
Joe it comes down to this, do we want GMC & LVD to play for someone else and we have two rookies there or do we want arguably the best two at their positions in the league here for a good number of years? It is kind of like what would have happened if we let Sapp and Brooks go at this point in their careers, it would have been called the “Tampa What” defense.
February 3rd, 2014 at 2:29 am
@ fritz… its not an opinion, its how the nfl works.