“Not Hearing Great Things” About Nicks
April 21st, 2014
More light will be shed on the Carl Nicks situation tomorrow at One Buc Palace to be sure. Will Nicks, the human armoire and former All-Pro left guard, be on the practice field working with his teammates in shorts and helmets?
One insider isn’t expecting great news.
Speaking today on WDAE-AM 620, Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud was asked what he’s hearing about the mysterious rehabilitation of Nicks from MRSA and multiple foot surgeries. Stroud answered in almost a hush tone.
“I’m not hearing great things. I’m not hearing great things,” Stroud said of Nicks. “There’s no reason to cut him because quite frankly the acceleration on his salary cap is not going to help them. So you give him every chance right up until the start of the season, and maybe beyond if you want to put him on the [physically unable to perform] list.”
Joe doesn’t know what to think. The Bucs have said multiple times that Nicks is rehabilitating regularly at One Buc Palace and that they’re encouraged and hopeful, but the Bucs are never specific about what Nicks is actually doing.
Is he performing any weight-bearing exercise, or is he just riding a bike and working his upper body in the weight room? Can he run? Heck, can he walk smoothly?
The only sure thing about Nicks is that he’s got another 4 1/2 months to get healthy, and the guy is still young enough, 29 in a few weeks, and is a true elite talent when healthy. But counting on Nicks is pure fantasy at this point.
(You can listen to Stroud’s full audio below.)
April 21st, 2014 at 2:39 pm
He’s done.
MRSA ruined LeCharles Betley’s career in Cleveland.
Maybe K2 brought it with him?
Either way, this is a sad thing to have happened to our Bucs.
Our former Trainer or GM were both let go. Thankfully.
2013 was terrible, especially with Freeman’s rampage.
April 21st, 2014 at 2:43 pm
I still have high hopes we need him on this years team healthy
April 21st, 2014 at 2:43 pm
Who cares about a weak OL or a Glaring hole in the WR corps. Just draft JF and all our problems will be solved.
Did anyone see what I did there?
April 21st, 2014 at 2:44 pm
Let’s hope Nicks will recover…we don’t have much choice….and should be seriously looking for a replacement/backup.
April 21st, 2014 at 2:46 pm
this might be the single worst free agent pick up, next to maybe derrick ward in franchise history. 20 bucks says we cut him and the saints resign him for pennies and he becomes an all pro again. SMH
April 21st, 2014 at 3:03 pm
I was looking forward to watching him play. He’s really the most experienced road grader we had and I was imagining Martin blasting through defensive lines off of his blocking. But if this is true then it’s time to unfortunately move on.
They should have a contingency plan if the big fella can’t go. … I hope!
April 21st, 2014 at 3:10 pm
MRSA my arse. the guy got paid and checked out. story over
April 21st, 2014 at 3:19 pm
robert6 Says:
April 21st, 2014 at 3:10 pm
That’s dumb.
April 21st, 2014 at 3:19 pm
I’m still shocked that our only moves at G were signing Cousins and re-signing Meredith along with cutting Joseph(Offer him vet min and see if comes back?) and trading Zuttah.. I really hope Licht is not counting on Nicks to come back..
Robert6 thought you weren’t coming back to this site?? LOL
April 21st, 2014 at 3:21 pm
Saw Nicks at a restaurant about 6 weeks ago and he was walking fine. It doesn’t translate to on field activities, but answers one of your questions Joe.
April 21st, 2014 at 3:23 pm
Need to draft 2 OGs. One with the second round pick, and then another later. None of our candidates for starting OG, on either side of the line, can really be depended on.
This is why the best case scenario is trading down in round 1 if the opportunity is present, because they really need to come out of this draft with 2 OL and 2 WR, a LB, and a QB.
April 21st, 2014 at 3:24 pm
Seriously did someone just say maybe K2 brought MRSA with him??
That was so unbelievably stupid I can’t stop shaking my head… Seriously?
April 21st, 2014 at 3:43 pm
Hey if anyone could bring MRSA with him it would be K2. Look what he did to Boston Market.
April 21st, 2014 at 3:45 pm
Nicks is the most dominant lineman in the league when healthy and he’ll becback eventually. After basically sitting out two years the wear and tearvon his knees and ankles should extend gis career a few years. He can be an All Pro into his mid 30s if his toe heals. Hopefully hr can heal up and give us a solid yeR before his contract is up, resign for 3-4m/ and we can have an All pro for a big discount.
April 21st, 2014 at 3:49 pm
^^ Not likely.
April 21st, 2014 at 3:50 pm
Yes not only did he bring MRSA with him in 2009… He left almost 2 months to the day after Nicks got there… Best part… He doesn’t contract it till a year later though… Seriously?
April 21st, 2014 at 3:50 pm
sam says:
“this might be the single worst free agent pick up, next to maybe derrick ward in franchise history.”
I’d have to give that trophy to Alvin Harper.
April 21st, 2014 at 3:58 pm
I refuse to allow more negative sh*t attack our Bucs.
It’s like the Glazers made a deal with Satan and he’s been cashing in since our Super Bowl victory.
April 21st, 2014 at 3:58 pm
I actually wondered if Tynes brought the MRSA with him. No cases reported before him, and he was new to the team.
April 21st, 2014 at 4:07 pm
Just hoping they don’t have to pull a last minute Incognito out of desperation!
April 21st, 2014 at 4:07 pm
This week is a voluntary mini-camp and we are not likely to see Nicks attend. The date to pin on your calendar is June 10 when the mandatory mini-camp starts. And it’s not mandatory if the player has an excused absence from the coach.
No decision will be made on Nicks until after June 1 when the Bucs are allowed to delay part of the dead money cap hit if he is released. He has a guaranteed 6mil injury settlement if he is terminally injured, meaning the injury forces retirement. He has a 7mil salary that is not guaranteed, but becomes guaranteed if he is on the roster the opening day of the regular season because he is a vested veteran.
This is the one position that can change the draft board. So the Bucs will know which way they will go before the draft.
April 21st, 2014 at 4:11 pm
this guy unfortunately may never play in the nfl again
April 21st, 2014 at 4:12 pm
Man, our O-line is a freaking disaster waiting to happen. Again, what was the urgency to give MW away and now we have to use a high pick on a WR instead of a guard1, guard2, QB, OT, TE, or DE?? If we have a great draft which is defined by getting 3 starters, how do we adequately fill all these freaking holes?
Even for those of you who felt MW was in the wrong, why not wait until next year to dump him? I know, spilt milk…
April 21st, 2014 at 4:42 pm
I just do not understand why we have not done more to address the guard position. How is it that we are even worse at guard now than last season?
There are needs everywhere on offense. A second wide receiver. A third wide receiver. Left guard. Right guard. A tight end. And yes, a quarterback for the future.
They have a lot of work left to do to get an offense between the draft, the waiver wire, and released vets.
April 21st, 2014 at 4:49 pm
PRBucFan Says:
April 21st, 2014 at 3:58 pm
I refuse to allow more negative sh*t attack our Bucs.
It’s like the Glazers made a deal with Satan and he’s been cashing in since our Super Bowl victory.
I feel the exact same way. It’s like we are cursed…or have been cursed. Maybe Lovie is the fresh start this team needed. Let’s hope. If he can’t get it right after having a competitive team in Chicago than I give up. The new coach, new uni’s, roster reset…WHAT ELSE CAN WE DO??????
I know Joe’s answer to that question. DRAFT JOHHNY FOOTBALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
April 21st, 2014 at 5:27 pm
I really think we try to trade down and draft a guard. The game is won and lost in the trenches and right now we only have 3 starting caliber linemen. A quality receiver can be had later.
April 21st, 2014 at 5:32 pm
Stroud is NOT the most reliable source. He may well have put this out there to pressure the Bucs into giving a true update.
The man has flat out lied many times.
April 21st, 2014 at 5:33 pm
Those saying we should draft a guard in the first round? Obviously you have not done the research. There are none in this draft worthy of a 1st or 2nd round.
April 21st, 2014 at 5:34 pm
God I hope he gets healthy for his and our sake. All Pro talent but MRSA is no joke. We will have a huge hole to fill if he can’t play anymore. Like Joe said though. He has 4 1/2 months left to get healthy.
April 21st, 2014 at 5:37 pm
@espo
There is no OG worthy of being a 1st round pick. Maybe 27th or later at best. The 2nd round is where to get a stud OG. That should be our option in round 2 unless a big name WR drops to us.
April 21st, 2014 at 5:41 pm
Yankey, Gabe Jackson, and Sua-Filo will all go in round 2. Round 3 has some solid ones as well. Cyril Richardson and Chris Watt could turn out to be good players.
April 21st, 2014 at 6:21 pm
@Bonzai,
Not so my friend. I am not advocating taking a guard with a 1st rd pick, but Xavier Su a-Filo is a pretty good guard who is definitely worthy of being picked in rds 1-2.
My feeling would be to take on in the 3rd rd and sign another in FA.
April 21st, 2014 at 6:51 pm
I am not understanding this whole injury issue. I looked it up and found this –
Plantar plate rupture surgery is simple and immediate recovery is expected. Typically, a protective boot is worn for five to six weeks of healing period. With proper care, you should be able to return to full activity after recovery.
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/facts_5757395_plantar-plate-rupture-surgery-recovery.html#ixzz2zZ1iUWAt
A comment above stated they observed him walking fine, Could this be draft strategy????
April 21st, 2014 at 7:39 pm
Robinson may fall to us at 7. He should start his career at guard.
April 21st, 2014 at 7:41 pm
Omameh is this years Tim Wright. Bank on it.
April 21st, 2014 at 8:07 pm
Or they draft a left tackle n move dotson or collins to guard. Or maybe the rookie to guard. N bring in incognito.or draft two gs with 2 of our 3 highest picks. I think drafting a tackle is how we go about it. But we could be taking a qb lol a lot of speculations but the biggest factor will be draft day n who is on the board I prefer watkins a trade down or tackle in that order
April 21st, 2014 at 8:10 pm
This is getting ridiculous. I guess u have to write about something this time of year. I’ll be happy when we release this clown.
April 21st, 2014 at 8:32 pm
Phillip,
It was more of a joke to K2, not sure if it’s possible.
Just the fact that it is in a PROFESSIONAL team’s locker room is just “god awful” as Tarkenton would say.
April 21st, 2014 at 9:48 pm
I know the dietician assigned to Nicks. He reports that Nicks believes his rehab is going well and he feels “great.”. It is really offensive to call him a clown. He didn’t cause the MRSA. How about showing a little class?
April 21st, 2014 at 11:50 pm
are y’all nuts Revis was the worst ever we just gave away a first round pick for one year service from him and we were 4 and 12 and now he’s gone.oh yeah and a fourth round pick
April 22nd, 2014 at 12:16 am
I trust the inside info from my fellow bloggers here to Stroud’s opinion. If Nix is seen walking just fine and he himself feels good about his chances to return, that is good enough for me. The true proof will be in the pudding when the time comes. Now I would not say that we just have three dependable OL without Nix. Meredith played a year at RG two seasons ago when we had a thousand yard Rookie RB, Doogie, and Meredith should be even better this year. If Nix comes back 100% we have a good starting line once they get Tedford’s system down. If Nix is down we just need another guard to step up and I have faith Chase Daniels can come thru this year after playing on our practice squad for a year. But we do still need a guard in the fifth round and just for backup to get another in Free Agency after cuts.
April 22nd, 2014 at 11:53 am
“It’s like the Glazers made a deal with Satan and he’s been cashing in since our Super Bowl victory.”
Satan Schiano is still on contract and will be paid handsomely for destroying the careers of many a young man.
The Little General not only lost the locker room on Gauntlet Day but he crippled Nicks forever. They’re lying about the injury, can’t cut Nicks and probably will have to pay him for life.
Right now they’re probably upholstering Carl’s giant, 50 yard line, hydraulic, elevated, deluxe, Lazy Boy lounger in the new team colors.
Nick’s lawyers have requested that they change the beginning of the National Anthem from “Jose can you see?” to “Mr Nicks can you see?”
The new rule that let’s you dial up a cheerleader was created by Carl so he can order up a big gulp of icy cold Crown and Coke Zero while bouncing a couple cheerleaders on his lap.